The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-06
COST OF THE FIRE DEPARrMErr

Of the many problems now before the
City Council, the most difficult to cope with
is that of retrenchment in the fire depart
ment The necessity for thoroughly eff
ficient system of protection from fire is be-
yond argument. Any consideration of
the subject will embrace that as an ac-
cepted conclusion. If the advantage of
saving life were not to be reckoned, the
economy on reduced insurance premiums
would form sufficient reason for having
the best department that the city can af-
ford.
The sole question is, therefore: What
is the best the city can afford? The char
ter declares that mo tax to provide fire.
engines and other apparatus. and supply
of water to quench fire, or for any of said
purposes, shall exceed three-tenths of one
per centum per annum g mills)."
Fortunately for the city, it had con-
tracted its indebtedness for sites, engine
houses, fireboat and apparatus before this
provision went into effect; but there is
very much danger that any debt now cur
rently contracted for such purposes will
lie illegal beyond that proportion.
If it should be held that this provision
includes salaries of iremen as well as
providing fire engines and other appara-
tus"-and it is not apparent that any
other sQprce of revenue for such purposes
is anywhere else supplied bythe charter
then the available fund amounts to SIS, 600.
At the present rate of expenditure the out
lay for the year will be $4,000 or at the
rate of mills.
This concerns the taxpayers immedi-
ately; but it is Of more lasting Importance
to determine whether or not the system is
commensurate with the necessities of the
city. If it is too large and expensive, it
may as well be reduced. That will be
found generally more satisfactory than in
creasing the rate of taxation to meet ex-
travagance.
The experience of other cities is that the
department is too expensive. Great diff
Guilty is experienced in making any reduc-
ton of expenses, but very efficacious
step in that direction is often taken by a
change in responsible officials. An ex-
emplary instance of this was found in the
police department. Reduction was stren-
uously resisted there until change was
demanded in the Office Of chief, and the
alacrity with which it was then found
possible to re-organize the force did not
fail to arouse public comment.
Departments sometimes get into a rut
from which they can not be lifted without
radical means. 1t would be serious re-
Election upon the peoples judgment if
the department whose heads were elected
directly by them should be the only one
which could not grapple with the difficulty
and reduce expenses when such a reduc-
ton is so obviously necessary.
In another column will be found a syn.
opsis of the accounts of number of cities
as to their fire departments. the data for
which happen to be at hand. No attempt
has been made to select them because of
extreme economy. The following table
shows the population and the entire cost
to each city of its department. That of
Buffalo is the most expensive, and the
mayor accompanies the report with a
warning against extravaganza. due, he
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