St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-13
RATES MUST GO UP.
Continued From First Page.

Continued From First Page.
calls mentioned, it did not seem right to
raise the rates. Mr.. Haas said the
men who would be discharged from the
department on the cutting out of
the apparatus would make the differ
ence even if the machines did not. The
rates now in force were made last May,
and each piece of apparatus, the num-
Der OF firemen, the water mains laid
and the number of stone and brick
buildings all entered into the figuring.
The rate was what was known as 81 per
cent or 81 mills. At the time of the last
inspection of the fire department Supt.
HendricksOn, of the union of fire insur-
ance companies, was in st. Paul, and
he expressed the opinion that st. Paul
was fully equipped. with the exception
OF one apparatus in the vicinity of the
cordage works. If the rate had been
liked at 81 per cent any reduct ion in
the department Mr.. Haas said would
be apt
To Increase the Rate.
The rate, Mr.. Haas explained, in
protected district was one and one-half
and in an unprotected district one and
three quarters. President Freeman
said the cutting out of the four chemi-
Gals would reduce the force twelve
men. Both Shandrew and Strickland
said this statement was very different
from the one first made, which contem-
plated the taking out of service of six
pieces OF apparatus and thirty-two men.
1t was on this proposition that the state
ment that the rate would be increased
10 or 20 per cent had been made. Asked
as to what the probable increase would
be on the basis of four chemicals and
twelve men, Mr.. Shandrew said it
would be about 10 per cent on every
thing III the city. He said the matter
had been talked about so much and
magnlfied that it would be hard to con-
vince the companies, owing to excess
sive losses, that the change would not
destroy the efficiency of the department.
Since 1889 the losses had been very
heavy and there were none of the
companies doing business in the
city but were behind. None of the
apparatus or men he thought could be
taken out without affecting the depart
ment. He didn't want to be understood
as saying that there would be an in
crease of 10 per cent, or that the in
crease would not be larger. Mr.. Strick-
land said that the taking of the chemical
from the corner Of Ashland and Vic
toria streets would increase the rate in
that section of the city.
Mr.. Bement said either the president
of the fire board didn't know his bust
ness, or the talk to raise the rates were
a bluff. The statement had been made
by Mr.. Freeman thot the cutting out of
the four chemicals would not interfere
with the efficiency of the department.
If this was not so, as the expressions of
the insurance men would indicate, it
was time there was a change. Mr..
Freeman said he was ready to
Stand by His Statement
and prove to any insurance man that the
taking out of service of the four chem
icals would not injure the department
bit. Pressed little by Mr.. Shandrew,
he said it might effect trihe in the
discharge of the twelve men, but not
sufficient to cause any raise in the rates.
Mr.. Shandrew said that if big fire in
the wholesale district occurred the alb
sence of the men would be noticeable,
and would make the department short
handed. Secretary German, who had
been figuring at this point, announced
that the saving by the proposed change
would amount to $500 for the remain
ing five months in the present year.
1t was suggested that this would
not only effect saving for this year,
but also for next year. AT this the
mayor said the tax levy for next year
would be made so high as to give the
department enough to run them. Mr..
Wheeloch seemed to strike the mayors
idea by saying that the $1,000 saved by
cutting the four chemicals and a like
amount by reducing salaries, would
reduce the shortage to $4,000, which
would have to be taken care of by the
comptroller. The insurance men thought
if a statement was made up showing the
standing of the fire department, the
water mains to be laid or that had been
laid in the last six months, and
that forwarded to the insurance
com missiOners in Chicago it might
help matters some. The meetings
of the commission were usually held on
Tuesdays. and Mr.. Haas was of the
opinion that an answer could be re-
turned by next Thursday at the latest.
giving decided answer as to just what
raise would be made in the rates if the
four chemicals and twelve men were
cut off. The mayor wanted the insur-
apce men to recommend that no in
crease be made in the rates, but they
explained they could not do so. Before
the meeting adjourned the resolution
passed ordering the health department
to keep within the so per cent limit OF
their appropriation was reconsidered.
The meeting then adjourned, to meet at
the cali of the chairman.