The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-04
The Fire Department.

The Fire Department.
The Union objects to the plan of Chief
Bollman for a reorganization of the fire
department and says, if we are to have a
paid department we should
Organize on proper basis, beginning with a
chief and assistant chief, and having as many fire.
men under them as are strictly necessary, ana no
more. Let horses be provided TO haul the nook
and ladder truck and hose carts, and let the par
aphernalia be concentrated at one or two points
certainly not more than three. Let men De on DUTY
night and day. and make it their business, and let
them be paid fair compensation for their services.
If the city cannot afford to do this, let 1t stick to
the volunteer department until 1t can, and instead
OF offering picayunish sum, etc., etc
1t is so small sum in fact that nearly every man
possessing any sef,respect; to whom II should be
rendered, might well consider himself 1nsulsed at
having such valuation placed on his services.
: Honor and gratitude are lost sight OF when
the v)lunteer becomes a stipendiary-when man
loses the pride of doing a noble action for its own
sake, and enters into an agreement to do II for
wages, no matter If they are small.
The Union evidently does not compre-
bend or appreciate the situation. The
people cannot afford to be taxed for such
a paid department as they have in some of
the large cities, or such as is described by
the Union; butt can make beginning.
Under Chief Bollman's plan the depart
ment would still be as much a volunteer
department as soldiers in the late war
were volunteer soldiers, and would have
precisely the same pride in doing their
duty. And it would bring the whole de-
partment under wholesome restraint and
discipline. Who does not know the scan
dals of past years connected with some Of
our companies and hose houses? The
roughs of the companies used the houses
for scandalously improper purposes
made them a resort for the very
worst elements of the town, anC
shocking examples were set before the
boys of the town who congregated about
the houses and who were ambitious to fol
low the examples of the r0ughs and theil
companions. 10 such a disgraceful anC
dangerous extent had bad practices
obtained, that peaceable people in tht
neighborhood of some Of the houses wer,
anxious to dispose of their property anC
move away; they even feared persona
abuse, violence and ineendiarism from
fremen. This state of affairs had becom,
so alarming that Chief Bollman disbandet
two companies and reorganized with NOR
respectable material-for which he wa
thanked by every property holder an
good citizen of the town. In some in
stances the rowdies of companies hav
been known to take possession of a hos
house on the evening of regular MONTH
meeting at an early hour, lock out the de
cent members; refuse them admittance
then vote them out and admit rowdies i
their places. The plan of Chief Bollma
changes all this, and places the Who'll
matter under the control of the aldermen
where it belongs; placing the matte
where no one can be admitted without hi
capacity and character being first scrutir
lied by the committee on fire and water
placing it where no one can be frema
who is not Endorsed by the council; an
where any man can be suspended or dit
missed by the council, for cause, at an
time. Every good citizen can at one
perceive that we would thus haye vast
better fire department than under tn
present system. The small sum paid eac
man would be something towards his pc
sonal expenses and could be increased
circumstances may warrant and the me-
deserve. The plan of Chief Bolman,
far as we have heard, meets with muc
favor from our best citizens and those VIII
s by their taxes, support the city COVER
: ment.