Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-01
1anrastrr futelNaenrer.
TUESDAY EVENING. NOV. /, 1881.
A Little Plain Talk.

The statement which Mr.. Goodman
gives us to day from the mayor of Read
ing furnishes nothing essentially new to
the consideration Of the question of the
proper fire department in Lancaster. We
all have known that Reading has VOL
unteer department which is efficient and
we'll disciplined that it is provided with
fire alarm apparatus and is literally
sustained by the city.
The question is whether Lancaster
would have the same efficiency in
volunteer department similarly equipped
and sustained; and our judgment is that
we could not have it Immediately or for
many years, if ever, no matter what we
would pay for it (: and we are ready to
frankly declare that We SO believe be
cause we have not yet seen in our yolun-
teer force the evidence of the capacity
for self-management which has been
conspicuously exhibited in Reading.
The spirit of the fire corps in Reading is
good it is subordinate and fraternal.
This is largely due to the fact that it has
been fortunate in having ardOr,
fraternity and capacity in its leaders.
Similar good fortune would aftera while
no doubt lift volunteer department in
Lancaster out of its rut: but what q Ia
Dor! And where are the organizers ?
Certainly they have not appeared to pub
lie view in a department against some of
whose members it is charged that they
are the very inccndiaricS whom they
pretend to protect us against. Mr.. Good
man knows that this charge is made and
against hangers on of the company to
which he belongs. 1t has been to him
and the good members associated with
him in the Shiiller company, a source of
the keenest annoyance to know that
some of its members or runners have
been accused, on substantial evidence of
being inccndiaries.
If Mr.. Goodman can tell us how lie
proposes to get rid of such men, and to
keep rid of them, he may be able to Sat
isfy us that Lancaster is as fit as Read
ing for volunteer fire service. In
Reading such 4 thing rs an incendiary
fireman, We assume, would bc impoSSi-
ble. The spirit of the corps would not
permit sucha 4 contamination. No fireman
there would dare to even think of such
Il way of creating work for tie depart
ment and amusement for himself. Is it
SO here ? We ask the question confident
ly of Mr.. Goodman, because we know
that he knows that very lately ut least it
has not been SO. We speak frankly to
him and his fellow-iiremcn not with
any desire to disparasc them, but to let
them know what is in the mind of the
people, and to show them that one great
reason for the general desire for paid
department is the lack of confidence felt
in the volunteer department because of
the known ili-conduct of some of the
hangers Oh, if not members, of certain
"f the companies.
If Mr.. Goodman will show our citizens
the man or men who will undertake to
purify the volunteer fire department of
Lancaster and convert its members into
IL cohesive body of workers with no aim
but the efficient discharge of their duty
and with DC men disposed to throw water
on eacl, other rather than OH the fire. and
to burn rather than to save, he will be in
position to claim the attention of the
audience lie addresses.
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