National Republican., 1873-01-07
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
NOW SHALL WI INCREASE rs unulncyp
What the Commissioners Have Had to
Contend with-small Appropriations
..l a.i..~ A.,t... q a.. n .-a..--

What tue COmmissioners Have Had to
Contend with-smail Appropriations
and stlnsy Action Of the legislature.
within the past year there has hardly been a
city In the Union Of any size but what has suf-
fered terribly from the ravages Of ere, and in
each and every one Of them the question now
aeitated by the citizens IL what shall we do TO
increase the eficiency Of the nre department
and prevent recurrence Of these calamities.
New York takes the lead In the speedy purchase
Of large quantities Of new hose for each COM
pany, and the establishment Of several new COM
panles In certain exposed portions Of the city
Philadelphia, too, has made q move, and the
councils insist that certain additions shall be
made to her already extensive department.
In the West Cincinnati, st. Louis and the sls-
ter cities have been and are still using all en-
deayors to have that branch Of the service In the
In this district, which since the Inauguration
OF the paid system has boasted department
second 70 none In the country, there, unfortu-
nately, at the present time exists certain un.
pleasant drawbacks, for which the Legislative
Assembly Ia alone responsible.
As every citizen knows, the department IL
governed BY Board Of Commissioners appointed
qulred 70 report annually to the Legislature. on
taking charge the present board encountered
certain difficulties which were the legacy Of the
retiring municipal government, and Altheugh
the persOnnsi Of membership was fully up TO lts
present high standard, In the matter Of appa-
ntus and Accommodations there was room Tor
speedy and decided Improvement.
THoRou6H INSPECTION
Of the entire department was made, and, satisfied
that the community would willingly second them
ganiEation OF the department, certain additions
and improvements were set on foot and carried
out the board assuming, as matter Of course,
that their action would meet with the hearty and
unqualified approval Of the Legislature, but in
this they were mistaken.
When the Legislature met full report Of their
an proessdins, yS rs submitted nSeompsnled with
Cured. and request that an appropriation 70
cover the deficiency be made. Every claim con.
tained in the blll was Just and proper one. The
/ exgencies Of the occasion had required that
they be contracted, and the credit Of the District
demanded their immediate liquidation. But the
legislative solons couldn't be induced to believe
that way, and when the general deficiency bill
was passed II was found 10 contain Just one hall
the amount asked for by the Board Of Fire Com.
nlssloners. This placed the commissioners In A
dilemma, They didnt care to make any disturb
ance among their creditors, and as the only pos.
slble way OF having an honest settlement they
decided 10 pay out the full amount Of the appro.
Of his claim, and being required TO wait some
Indefinite period In the future for the balance.
This, Of course, was more than people had
| bargained for, and the result was that many re.
fused TO again deal with tho department, and
those who did took good care to place the highest
yalus on their merchandise, That settled the
utuCltnVl Vutstont nut Tue DOAru mad also pre-
sented carefully prepared estimate for the con
tinRent expenses OF the department for the cur
rent year. In this class ls Included repair q
apparatus and houses, feed bill, fuel and manI
other Incidental expenses which must be In.
| Cured. This did not suit the Legislature am
the bills were cut down far below the amonn
asked for, which was really requisite.
What was the resulti In addition 10 certain
repairs rendered imperative by unlooked-fo
| accidents, the horse disease appeared and, not
withstanding the action OF the Legislature
visited every horse in the department.; and wher
u nnally departed left a q mark OF its presence
the dead bodies Of four OF the most VALUABLE
animals, making total unlooked-for loss OF owe
two thousand dollars, which had to be paid GU
Of the small contingent fund.
Independent, however, OF all these facts, tho
department Ia In excellent condition, each com
pany Ia manned by experienced, trained men
the most perfect esprit de- corps exists and 10
promptltude, ability and fidelity the WashlnRtot
department Is second to none In the country. Ii
the past success has Invariably attended thel
Efforts, and they can point with pride 10 the low
figures which marx the losses by nre In this I
city Of such size and importance. That such
state Of anairs may continue is the wish OF ali
but II cannot be done II the commissioners ar,
hampered by the action Of the Legislature. II
closing II Is proper to remark that the Council o
the Legislative Assembly Ia responsible for th
state Of things, the House Of Delegates heinz
willing to do Its part, but retarded In It's effor
by some "penny wise and pound foolish" mem
bera OF the upper House.