The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-19
THE CITY'S FIRE RATES.
The Increased Rate Not TO Be En-
forced Immediately.

lions here - Improvement VIII be
! Insisted Upon The Association
Still Hostile to Savannah's Fire
Chief.
Mr.. w. L. Wilson returned yesterday
morning from New York, where he went
after attending the meeting of the South
eastern Tariff Association in Washington
last week.
Mr.. Wilson attended the meeting of the
associat ion to represent the interests of
Savannah, as he knew that the question
of the increase of % cents a hundred in
insurance rates here wonld come before
the meeting for discussion. This in
crease, it will be remembered
was stayed in March after a
conference between a committee of
Savannah business men with the execu-
tive committee of the Tariff Association
held in Atlanta. A set of resolutions was
drawn up by this committee, calling at
tention to all the points, in which it was
charged that the Savannah fire depart
ment was deficient. 1t was one of the
conditions Of the agreement at this con-
ference that the Savannah fire depart
ment should be inspected by some compe-
tent and disinterested fireman. the result
being the recent ms pection by Chief Hale
Of Kansas City.
By agreement of the conference the in
creased rate was stayed until the annual
meeting Of the association this month, at
which time the action of the city upon
the recommendations of the Atlanta CON
ference were to be considered and the
question Of the abandonment or the en-
forcement of the increased rate decided
upon.
sAvANNAH's CASE PRESENTED.
ut was because felt satisfied that the
increased rate would be ordered into
effect if there were no protest from Sa-
vannah that / attended the conference"
SAID Mr.. Wilson to a MORNING News re-
porter yesterday. 1.-The discussion of the
Savannah rate was about the most in
| teresting local matter that came
before the meeting, and con-
siderable attention was given it.
There was an evident disposition to put
the increased rate into effect, on the
ground that Savannah had done nothing
to remedy the defects complained of. |
took the floor and argued that it was I'M
fair for body sitting in Washington, and
unfamiliar with the local conditions, to
legislate rates for Savannah
The city of Savannah had not refused
to comply with the recommendations of
the conference committee. MIR. Wilson
said: 1T is practical impOssibility to
replace the present six-inch main on Bay
street with larger main until this fall
| on account of sanitary regulations. also
called attention to the fact that Chief
Hale had just completed a thorough in
spection of the city's fire department and
matters ascertaining thereto, and that it
was proper that nothing should be done
by the association in the matter until this
report had been received and acted
upon by the city council. | urged
the appointment of special committee
to come to Savannah and investigate the
| local conditions that they, might see for
themselves what was required for the pro-
lection of the city and whether the pres
ent rate is not sufficiently high This
solution of the matter was agreed upon,
and the president was instructed to APP
point committee of experienced men to
| visit the city for the purpose named. The
committee has not been named yet, but
will probably be appointed in time to visit
the city next month.
AGAINST CHIEF PUDER
1.-THE question of securing Chief Puder's
removal was also brought up and the ex-
pressions of the members as might have
been expected, were not friendly to our
chief. l took the liberty of presenting
this point to them in this light, that the
chief fireman, being an elective officer,
| could not be removed on moments no.
! tice, and that it was unreasonable to ex-
| pect that this should be done. | told
| them that it was only few months when
| the question of electing the chief
! fireman for another term would
| come before council and that then
would be the time to make
! fhoft, se a.
! were desired to do so. also said that as
Chief Hale was engaged upon an inspec-
! ton which included the qualifications and
| competency of the chief and the men un-
| der him, il would be proper TO await his
report. il was the consensus Of opinion
that the chief should have full police
! power at fires in order to prevent any in
| reference of outsiders with the men or
machines"
| MIR. Wilson referred to the case of Bos-
! ton, where horizontal increase of per
| cent. has been ordered on account of the
unsatisfactory conduct of the fire depart
ment, due, 1t is charged to political domi-
nation of the department
| THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
! Mr.. Wilson said he thought the result
of the appointment of the special com
mittee to visit Savannah would be to
| stay the enforcement of the increased
allow the city plenty of time to demon
strate its attitude toward the recon-
! mendations of the conference committee
and of Chief Hale's report
In speaking Of the latter, Mr.
Wilson said: ''Chief Hale has
! gone so much further in his
recommendations than the associa-
ton ever dreamed of doing that / can
hardly see what is to be the outcome of
it. 1 agree with Mayor McDonough that
tireboat on the river is unnecessary, but
it would certainly seem right and proper
for the city to, make some arrangement
with the towboat company by which its
well equipped steam tugs could 30 brought
into service in case of fire on the river
front.
WILL INDoRsE THE REPORT.
Chief Hale's recommendatio ns for the
| purchase of heavier engines and the
increase of the number of men to the
company, will certainly meet with the
Endorsement of the Tariff Association.
II is true that it will cost the city some
thing to do this and that this cost will
have to be betrayed by the taxpayers,
but the property owners will certainly
prefer to pay a slightly increased rate of
| taxation, though do not believe there