The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-02
MENACED BY FIRE.
Chief Scannell Talks to the Citi-
zens' Committee.
A Great Dsal of Time Spent in Discussing
the Situation, but Very Little I'm
portant Work Accomplished.

The committee recently appointed to raise
100000 for the purpose of securing addi-
ti0nal means for coping with fires met yes
terday afternoon at the Chamber of COM
merce, and, after more than an hour spent
in discussion, succeeded in accomplishing
nothing, or practically nothing.
w. w. Montague succeeded in having
carried an innocent-l0oking motion that
pretty effectively killed all that had been
done, although, up to that time, they were
in fair way to make good start.
When the meeting was called to order by
the Secretary he stated that Mr.. Cole, the
Chairman, was out of town, and it was
therefore necessary to select some one in
his stead. F. A. Gibbs was accordingly
chosen, and, on taking the chair, an
nouneed that as he had been out of the city
for some time he was not acquainted with
the nature of the work undertaken by the
committee. He presumed, however. that
as the Mayor was present he could make
some valuable suggestions.
MAYOR POND EXPLAINS.
Mayor Pond stated, on rising, that the
city government had gone to the extreme
limit of the law. The law of the State, I'M
der which they were acting, forbade any
further appropriation for the Fire Depart
ment The hose, he claimed now in use
was as good as that of any city, but the
need for more hydrants was pressing.
Mr. Center realized that the time had
come to act. The city was growing and
spreading out, and lie felt that 1t should
not remain longer in an unprotected state.
He blamed the voters for electng to office
lot of " taX-eaters," who had no interest
in the welfare of the city. and asked what
sense there was in approprlating Sl05, 600
to erect new schoOl-h0uSe when there was
no means TO protect it from fire. He wanted
the money raised, but he wanted it to be
kept out of the hands of the politicians.
CHIEF SCANNELL ON THE FLOOR.
Chief Scaunell, vino was present by in
vitation, expressed it as his opinion that
what the city needed most was more en-
9lneS more MIGRANTS and fuil-paid de-
partment What was wanted was corps
of well-trained men who could ride to the
fire and arrive there in condition to go to
work. Under the present system the fire
men run from six to ten blocks to a ire,
aud when they arrive ON the ground are all
out of breath and unable to perform their
duties well. This, lie thought. should be
relnedied at once. Men were needed most
of al-well-diSciplined men at that-and the
city would not be safe until they were sup
piled.
I'VE ara still' he said, working under
the old law of 1878, and are unable to do
any lulnS ike elective WOIh we are lOlu
that we are doing we'll, but we feel that we
should be in a position to do better Our
water supply Is unsurpassed, and we need
more MIGRANTS In order to utll Ze 1t. Chi
cago and Boston tinkered with this matter
as San Francisco is now doing until those
cities were almost completely wiped out,
and then they made radical changes. Repe-
tltIons OF these great tires are now lmposSl-
bic in those cities
He had prepared schedule showing
hot h. a, a,.,ith iab
was that with the expenditure of S4S, $40
eight fGll-pald engine companies and two
hOOk-and- Ladder companies could be main
tained for one year, While the remaining
$4,000 would put in 5S6 hydrants and pur-
chase two new chemical engines. This
money, he stated would be handled, of
course, by the committee. but they could at
any time have the advice of the Commits
sioners or himself.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
A question then arose as to the posi-
bility OF securing the return OF the money
from the State, and Mayor Pond stated that
it might as well be understood that under
the new Constitution no such appropria-
ton could be made.
MIR. Stone saw way out of the difficulty
by suggesting that 80 cents on the dollar
could be returned The money set apart
for the full-paid men could not be given
back, but that spent for engines and n.y.
drants could. The committee could, he
thought, purchase them and loan them to
the city until the Legislature could author
iZe their purchase. This would enable them
to get back that portion of it.
Mr.. Cutie then moved that committee of
nine be appointed to collect the money, but
this was lost on being put to a vote.
Mr.. Wise moved that a committee OF five
be named by the Chair to collect $780, O0 to
be expended according to the plan blocked
out by Chief Scannell. This was carried,
whereupon Mr.. Montague quietly intro
dueed motion that the sum be divided,
and that all who may subscribe be allowed
to elect whether the amount of their sub
Scription be used for hydrants and engines,
or for paying men. Those who subscribed
to the former fund WILL of course, get back
all, and the latter will be left with the bag
to hold
Without discussion the latter motion was
adopted, and the committee adjourned to
the call OF the Chair