New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-22

ssysbsos@~Asit- iA~Ishsa vote for thissr
dinance because cannot help myself. vi
have been abandoned by the allies VII
volunteered to give ~ ~pecuniary aid and
moral support. and We q find ourselves
confronted With an organization which Nd
government Of this city. whether military
or civil, has ever been able to resist. Lin
our predecessors, We must submit with
what grace we may. l consider that The
adoption of this ordinance is . virtual
abdication ON our part, 20 far ~ the fire Dc.
partment is concerned; but, situated Is va
are, there is no alternative, and if l must
vote at all, I vote yea, under protest.
Nj. Lewis voted yea.
Mr.. Remick: I vote aye because I believe
1t the expressed will of the people that
we should renew this contract with the
Firemen's Charitable Association. l vote
aye because, although not elected by the
people, and perhaps l could not have been,
yet, sitting here a. the agent Of the people,
when I know their expressed will, 1 consider
I nm bound to follow it. In opposing ths
amendments suggested by the Administer
tors Of Police and Assessments, l have done
90 because l did not want to impose any
additional burdens on the city. and in order
that I might not place the ordinance in such
. position that the Mayor would be bound
to veto it. l have had no opinions ON this
subject except such as 1 have cleaned from
other parties whom l acknowledged wore
better competent to judge than /, and whsa
found the public opinion SO generally OF.
pressed through the press in favor of the
passage of this ordinance, 1 vote aye freely
and voluntarily.
Mr.. Delassize said he voted aye for tho
same reason as Mr.. Walton. .
Mr.. Shaw: l propose to vote no ON
the adoption of the firemen's contract, and
to give my reasons for differing in opinion
from 80 many on this subject. The charter
gives it in charge to the City Council '.ts
provide the means and make regulations
for preventing and e~xtinguishing c~onflagra-
lions This comprehends large duties. To
provide the means, if meant to include all
that is necessary, is too great to imposs
solely on . city corporation. 1t is impracti-
cable so to limit this duty. Property must
help to protect itself. This it does by form
ing and endowing fire companies. They
we're organized as a kind of protective
union. Men Of 0roperty and insurance
companies contributed, the city government
did what it could, and thus they were MAIN
tanned.
II the duty is too heavy to rest solely on
the city corporation. it follows that q paid
hre department should not be organized;
for the idea Of a paid department assumes
the exclusive duty and entire expense.
Neither is the Firemen's Charitable A.
ISOLATION able to encounter 90 large q 70
sponsibility. How can it be, if it is too
great for the city corporation 1 do not
think all it's equipments put together, added
to the whole $4,000 per annum to b
granted it, fully adequate to what will
be demanded for the security of a great
city. Its hose is much worn, and its ma
chinery subject to constant wear and tear.
The Chicago fire was q lesson showing the
necessity of more extensive and powerful
organization, to which every interest must
% encouraged to contribute.
Article twenty-four provides that there
shall be NO other companies or organ
izatiens allowed than those under this
association and working under this con-
tract. This is u restrictive regulation
which we have NO right to pass. We can
not prevent or restrict the right of property
holders, public spirited citizens and insur-
ance associations tU organize and maintain
companies; nor can we furnish the c~0ercivo
power which shall make them, willing or
not, belong to the association. That il
their " business. The association il q
good thing-does a good deal Of charity;
but its membership should be voluntary.
md we can not, as a city government,
guard that by saying that nom not belong
ing to it shall work al fires. That provision
IL null and void, even if passed. 1t might
IN q certain event make the city accountable
for the failure to prevent a large c~onflagra-
lion.
l would contract with the firemen to fur
nish q specific thing for a certain time and
1t q hxed sum, and l do not object to any
of those particulars in this contract. But
would not debar, nor can we, further or
CARNATIONS, new machinery, nor restrict
he march of invention, which will sweep
away all present organizations and ma
While l have argued that neither the CITY
Tor the association can assume all the duty
furnish all the means, there is u function
# the Council which can mt ho ooAod -.
'ontracted away-that Of making regula-
ions. The power to make regulations
means the power to change or repeal them
nd make new ones whenever public in
erests demand. How can you make q five
ear regulation All organizations coming
lp to the proper requirements should be
flowed to fight the fire fiend under a proper
nd competent head, a chief and assistant
ngineers, say, whom the city can not give
way the appointment of, for that is part
ng from o control and a responsibility it
as no right, under the charter, to surren.
er. We should not have any politicians
charge of those Offices, and should rive
II the guarantee we have any right to-
y appointing capable professional fremen
r engineers during our own time of Office.
The eleemosynary features of the Fire.
'en's Charitable Association must increase
nth time, and will make it Iuore and moro
Uncut to draw the line between it's char
les and its exDenses ms a oortroctor Tb;.