Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-30
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
l" 'ntnrIna! Caii> by Representatives of the
COOpNM:rs and of CitN Councils.

-Au Gaik Oy AStnfeSchtal.NCSC the
Companies ana of CITY Councils.
Last evening committee from the Fire
mems Union met the special committee OF
city councils having in charge the matter
Of reorgauizinG the fire depM tment. 1t
will be remembered that at the last meet
ing OF councils it was decided 10y that body
tp retain the volunteer system, with Il
reduction. however. o! the number of fire
companies to five. and the special commit
tee having the subject under consideration
We're empowered to report series of reg
ulationS for the government of the depart
ment. The Firemen's Union, the repre-
sentative organization of all the companies
now comprising the union with the
exception of the Union company, has
manifested the most strenuous opposition
to any plan looking t. the elimination OF
any OF the companies, and it was for the
purpose of giving the iircmen an OppOr-
tunity to express their views and the
grounds of their objection that they were
given 4 hearing by the councils commit
tee.
There were present in common council
chamber last evening MesSrs Barnes, Barr.
Berger, Ostermaycr and Lecher. chairman,
of tie councils committee, while the Fire
mems Union was represented by Jacob
Gable. of the sun .lno. |. Hartman, of
the Washington l.. n. Goodman and
William Anderson, OF the ShihIcr, and
Thos. &. Wiley, of the Empire.
Mr.. Goodman presented . lengthy com
m,lnication. setting forth the views of the
fIrcmens CnicE upon the PROJECT of re-
organization. They are enumerated under
seven heads ana 4 coed idea of them may
Ee gathered from the following abstract
First: The union demand the retention
OF all the present companies. 1t is claimed
that the experience oI the past thirty years
has demonstrated the necessity of all the
existing companies, and that it would BE-
bad policy ~ reduce the force now when
tho population of the city has increased
10, 900, the number Of fires increased in
proportion to the growth of population.
and their dCStructiveE"sS much more So
The discar,liug of the old hand engine:
and the substitution of steam mach.
merry has augmented the efficiency of
the department thrce.Oll, but it is con
cc;ted that the ins;lilicicncy of mntive power
anil the increased expense of maintenance
has operated greatly to lbs sdisadyantaGc, pvc-
venting the tircmen from reachin" = lire
with expedition AMI dispatch. It has not
been practically demonstrated that the
uCisti sO' ~ fl'SNAi
the fact that frequently the entire depart
mcnt has been called into service, and
even then has been unable II times to cope
successfully with the destroying element.
The withdrawal of appropriation and CON
seuuent DISARMAMENT OF SOME companies
would cripple the department and work :.
violent injury 10 its promptitu':, and ell
cheney, because the reduction Of the mum
Ecr of companies would rccnssitate cniar"-
cd districts an.! m increased area of terri
tors for each company To work, whereby
much valuable time wnIid br lost in get
ting into service ut u fire. The present
number would always admit of u reserve
of one or two cOmpai:cS to respond to 4
second alarm. The eli%ibl; location of the
several companies is set ioctli and the as
S!iraTcc given that the department is now
on the high road to- perfection.
Second: Rciter;itinG the request ior an
increase OF appropriation. One thousand
dollars. even, which is the amount proposed
to be granted, while it would be u great ai1.
would not by any means cover the running
expenses Of each comrary-cspeaially ii
the number Of companies was reduced,
ewing to the increased cost of more
thorough equipment which wnuId thls be
rendered necessary.
1Hrd:: Suggesting t., councils the pro
p:iety of the chief engineer bein. elected
by thai body, :inI t. b" granted u com
pensation that would enah!e him to- devote
his entire time and attention to the lie
paltJ1ent tn remove the office from politi-
caEsf0il and aspiration, it il; recommended
that the tenure Of office depend on goOh
behavior of the incumbent the abolish
ment Of the office OF assistant engineers
is recommended, ami I'll" creation nf an
ordinance making the foreman of each
company responsible for the acts Of hi:: OWN
company. he to be uniIcr control of the
chief, thus making these iorcmcn, i'm u
measure, assistant engineers. The
amo,ln. Of salary suggested for the enGi-
neers wouid if Sivcnt the chief lie an adc-
Iuatc compensation.
FJurM Requesting The Immediate in
PRODUCTION of the electric fire alarm.
fIfh:: Recommending. the creation of Il
fire police brigade, tn he composed of five
mcLlbcr.i from each company, detailed for
Il service of Que year, !G: ih" whirl, time
they shall be exempt from active irt duty
i'll their respective COMPANIES. lmne''i
ateiy after their appointment they shall
be sworn into special tire poles. service ; u
captain and two iicut.Eaat:: in be selected
from their own number they sha!! keep
tho space around il,c scene of u fire free
from outsiders, il. oi,icr that the fireman
may have ample room liz which tn work,
qucll all disturbances :smnii@ mrmhcrs of
the companies. and sr3 that the orders Of
the chief eng inCer are OiIcyed.
SAITH StrcnUotIsly nhjcctin4 TO councils
fOrbitl,iing companies 10 rtis. money for
their maintenance and renewal of appa-
ratus, unless cn.nci!:; pay all the actual
running expenses. because the amount Of
appropriation rraposCi q 600 per annum
to each company will mob reach, and the
volunteers came: be expected to- make up
the deficiency cut ni their own pockets; at
the same time balls a,i;i other dcnloralZin..
methods to- raise funds are condemned
i1feaM Asking that The necessary en-
co'iragcmcht bc given to the Empire hook
and ladder company tn organize an! main
tain u salvage corps and wagon. Tho
same amount Of appropriation given to-
the other companies if given to the En-
pirc would answer the purpose anl supply
u great WALT in the department..
FOliowin-: the rca:iin, of the statement
outlined abOvG there was q free inter
change Of opinion among the members Of
the two committees, which lasted for an
hour, and during which every one Of the
lircmcn representatives declared himself
in favGr or Il paid fire department,
if i: was feasible. Mr.. Hartman, of the
Washington, made the argument that If
voted liberal appropriations to
each Gf The existing companies the city
would soon find Itself paying so extensively
for is fire service that tic conclusion