Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-22

slider Ordinance Reorga"iz.n. Fire De-
ment-AdOption Of the Ordinance
Prepared by the Special Com
mined s,ansnsn;, a,sns Ss its
y special meeting OF select and common
councils was held in their respective
chambers last evening for the purpose of
considering the ordinance for the reorsau-
ization Of the fire department., and that
providing for the collection Of delinquent
taxes.
Select Council.
Prcsent-Messrs. Barr. Bitner, Berger,
Franklin, Judith, G. W. Zecher, Philip
Zecher and Evans, president.
An ordinance for the collection uf de-
linquent city taxes, from common council,
was presented, read three times and passed
unanimously.
An ordinance from common council. for
the reorganization OF the fire department
and for regulating the same, was present
ed and read three times and passed by the
following vote }:
Icas-Mcssrs. Barr. Bitncr Berger,
DOerr, Franklin, Judith, G. W. Zechcr,
Philip Zecher and Evans, president.
Nays-Nonc.
Adjourned.
Common CSunciI.
There was an unusually full turnout i'll
| the lower branch, every member being
present with the exception of Messrs.
Boos and Stone. Mr. Middleton arrived
from Philadelphia at 7:ij p. m.. and came
directly from the depot to the council
chamber, where he was 'On time" 10 cast
| his vote in favor of the final passage OF
| the fire ordnance, which has been such Il
bone of contention ever since the Organi
| cation of the present municipal legislature.
The tax ordinance was first taken up and
put on third reading. 1t was passed
unanimously. This measure is designed
to take the duty of collecting city taxes
| out of the hands OF the cOnstables and
| provides that the finance committee shall
have control of the matter and shall ad-
| vcrtise for proposals, the contrac; for col
lection to DC awarded to the lowest bid
ders in the respective wards.
Finding themselves now face to face with
the heavy work of the session, Mr.Johnson
| moved to lay common council ordinance
No. 10 (providing for the call system OF
fire department, designed by the specia,
cOmmittec) ON the table. The motion
was lost by !. vote of Is toS. He then
raised point of order against the con-
sidcration OF the bill, holding that the
measure was precisely similar in purpose
aud effect and almost identical in phrase
ology with one voted down in this body 4
| few weeks ago from this he cOntcndcd
that parliamentary practice and the usages
| of legislative bodies forbade it's cOnsidcra
| tion at this time.
President Lcvcrgood ruled the point
| not we'll taken, stating that this body had
never established any precedent upon the
subject and that council could be u law
unto itself with regard to it. Mr.. John,
son appealed from the decision Of tho
chair, and the vote showed considerable
prcpondcrance of sentiment in favor of the
decision, which stood therefore as the tic
| cisiOn of the house.
The ordinance was tEcn called up for
third reading, when Mr.. Cox offered al
amendment in the shape Of an entire new
ordinance being tho measure he had pre-
scntcd at the previous meeting of council
and which provides for the continuance OF
the volunteer system under the plan dc
viscd by him and published in these col
umns. The amendment was read ut length
when, on Mr.. Ostcrmaycr's motion, it was
laid upon the table. Thcreupon counci
proceeded to consider the "call - ordl
nance, section by section. Sundry amend
mcnts were offered by Mr.. Cox to sections 8,
and (which were uniformly laid on tho
table, and the original sections adopted.
Tho vote on the final passage Of the bill
was rs follows
Icas-MessrS. Albert. Barnes, Brown
Davis, Ditfendcrllcr, Fisher, Hays, Leib
Icy. Lichty, McMullcn, Middleton, Ostcr
mayer, Rcith. SHREDDER, SEuImycr, lacklcy
Levcrsood, prcsidcnt-17.
Nays-AIcssrs. Cormcny, Eycrts, Cox
Franklin, Huber, johnson, ,Smcych, Whits
is.
A majority of all the members elected
to council having voted i'll the atfirmativ;
the ordinance was declared passed. Durin:
its copsi icration there was considerable
sm e,h-making, Mcssrs. Franklin, Johnso.
and Cox speaking vigorously against tn
plan, and repeating the arguments tha
have previously been printed. Mr.. Cox as
surcd councils that the amendments pr"
posed by him wcro not designed to delay
the measure, but to improve it !,
those points wherein it was PAL
pably deficient and that the few day
delay necessary to get the bill int
good shape would not seriously affect it.
working. Mr.. McNIuIIcn, nE the Othc
hand, argued that this matter had beer
hanging fire long enough, and after th'
now plan got into working condition i
would be very easy to make any change
which experience might prove necessary
The friends Of tho bill! in their conscious
power were boistcrously aggressive ant
treated Mr.. Cox and his amendments will
short shrift, and Mr.. Franklin was no
little nettlcd at what he denOminstcG
tho disrespcct shown to tho minority il
this matter. Mr.. johnson spoke very dc
tcrmincdly against the passage cf the bill
saying it was proposed to plunge into &:
measure concerning the expense of which
they were entirely ignorant, and chal
lenged the promoters OF this change Il
point to an instance wherein any maj
would so act when his private business o.
interests were affected.
The bill as finally adopted is as follows
and will convey IN idea of the now system
as it is proposed to put it into effect on tht
1st day Of February next
An Ordinance to Rcorgonizc Mc Fire DcPouf
| nicW and Regulating the same:
SECTION ]. Be it ordained by tho Select an;
| Common Councils OF the city of Lancaster
| that trOm:and after the first day of February
1882, the Fire Department shall consist of ont
| Chief Engineer, tour steam fire engines, fou
hosc-carts and one hook and ladder truck
| which shall be located in such part or part
OF the city hereafter designated.
| SEC. 9. Each company shall consist OF one
engineer, one driver OF engine. one driver o
hosc-cart, one foreman and four hoscmcn, wht
shall hold their positions rs long as they con
duct themselves properly and obey the laws
and ordinances OF the city, and their superior!
| in the department..
SEC. ). The property of each company shall