The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-06
PAID FIRE Department
Views of Mayor Connell, Councilman
a Finn and Chief fcrber.
ORDINANCE BEING PREPARED
Mr.. Finn Says 1t win DC Presented 10
Council During the Present Month.
Changes That May BE Made in
Location Of Companies.

1t is probable that Mr.. Finn's ordin
ance providing for paid fire depart
ment and the abolishng of the present
volunteer system from the beginning Of
the fiscal year 1895, which means April
next, will not be ready to present to the
select council tonight. The outline OF
the proposed innovation published eX-
clusively in yesterdays Tribune was a
surprise to many councilmen and city
officials and has tended to hasten the
efforts Of the advocates of the change.
The substance of the ordinance has
been completed and Mayor Connell will
today confer with Mr. Finn in reference
to details. Other leading councilmen
and city officials will be present at the
conference and the Immediate DISPOSE
tion of the matter will depend upon
their deliberations. The main question
at issue is that Of expense If 1t is de-
cided today that a competent paid de-
partment can be maintained at a cost
of not more than from $4,000 to $4,000
above the expenses Of the present SER
vice, the change will be urged with
vigor.
Some Minor Arguments.
Several arguments are presented by
the advocates of the new system which
are upon extraneous matters, but have
Il bearing upon expense and go far
toward proving that the cost of paid
system will be comparatively small.
For instance: Reference Is made to
the $40 volunteer firemen who are eX
onerated from city, school and poor
taxes. In the event of paid depart
ment II e taxes paid by the $40 men into
the city treasury would make a good
sized sum. 1t Is further argued that
business men at present do not escape
solicitations of money and goods in aid
of iiremen's balls, fairs, picnics and
rafiies. While this seems a small mat
ter when compared to the aggregate
cost of Il paid department it Is argued
that each company secures of its own
effort each year an average of $1,000,
a total of $4,000 for the sixteen COM
panies.
What Mayor COnnell Says.
Mayor Connell said to a Tribune re-
porter yesterday: "On account of my
recent illness Mr.. Finn was unable to
obtain any definite views from me. We
had several conferences upon the mat
ter and finally made an appointment
for going deeper into 'the subject and
considering particularly the necessary
appropriations for a paid fire depart
ment.
Il feel perfectly free to say, however,
that l would like to see Scranton enjoy
ing the benefits of a paid fire service.
By this | do not mean to belittle the
present efficiency of our volunteer sys-
tenn, for it is admitted to be as perfect
as possible; but a paid department Is
more easily managed and permits of a
greater degree of usefulness. Even if
paid department costs $4,000 or $40, 900
more to maintain than our present sys-
tenn, the outlay would be more than
saved in fire losses. | shall advocate
and support Mr.. Finn's ordinance if the
increased outlay Is not too great to be
consistent with the benefits accruing
from it,"
Mr.. Finn would not divulge the de-
tails Of the ordinance but made the as
sertion that according to its provisions.
the proposed paid department will not
require a greater expenditure than the
present system. He said that accord
ing to the present plan two companies
will be taken from the North End, two
from the South Side and possibly one
from the West Side.
Although" said Mr.. Finn, this num-
Der may be reduced, it is proposed to
add one or more of them to the central
city. Several things have happened to
prevent definite consideration of the
matter and l do not think the ordinance
will be presented in select council to-
night, but the subject will not be
dropped. The ordinance will be pre-.
sented sometime during the present
month.
From Fireman's Standpoint.
Chief Of the Fire Department Ferber
Is firm in his advocacy of the change
and claims that the cost will scarcely
exceed the present expenditure. From
purely a firemans standpoint he said:
1T is not an easy matter to MAIN
tain discipline or guide the affairs Of
volunteer fire department, partcu-
larly a department as large as Scran-
toms. The city is large and growing
and different companies in different sec
tions Of the city have as many ideas
and local interests. l have no critl-
Ia, 10 60. hn Oh
ence of the men collectively or indi-
vidually, but 1t stands in reason that
proper management Is impeded when
one with authority, even, attempts to
properly control men who have right
to control themselves. As n volunteer
department 1t is as good as 1t can be,
but paid department is better.
I'm case of paid department there
would be no public whistle and bell
alarms. The alarms would be sounded
only In the company quarters and
homes of fremen who would then be
enabled to arrive at the scene of a
! fire In advance of a crowd, which would
have no opportunity Of hampering the
work Nowadays the crowd is one of
the most serious obstacles we have to
contend with.
Would Keep in Training.
Men paid to fight fire. must fight
fire. That would be their only business
and they would keep in constant train
ing and practice for It, Discipline would
be possible to the greatest degree. 1t
is my opinion that If councilmen will
make an investigation of the matter
they will arrive at the conclusion that
paid fire department will aid ma
terially toward u better and greater
Scranton"