Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-05

From several parts Of the city and from
suburbs that are practically within the city,
although shut out by an imaginary line
there have recently been transmitted to
the District Commissioners petitions asking
for increase in the foree-human and
mechanical-of the fire department. This Is
the season Of the year when estimates are
prepared for presentation to the Secretary
Of the Treasury and to Congress, and
although both the executive and the legis-
lative branches have been inexcusably mar
row In their treatment of the national
capital. the Commissioners should not per-
nit themselves to be discouraged by past
experiences. There has been altogether too
much Of diffidence In the matter of esti-
mates; too much Of unsound consideration
given to the possible reception of those cal
culations by the supervising and appropri-
ating authorities. Times without number.
the Commissioners have refrained from
asking for something that was needed;
RETAINED merely because they felt con-
WINGED that Congress would not authorize
the expenditure. There should be none of
this in the future. The needs of the city
and nothing but the needs-should be plainly
set forth, and there should be unbroken
insistence in behalf of the estimates until
Congress takes final action. Especially
should this be so as to some Of the more
important municipal features, and among
these none is more conspicuous than the fire
department. Few cities have grown more
steadily than has Washington, but the
equipment of this vital necessity Is away
toward the rear end of the procession. To
afford the citizens the degree of protection
from fire to which the taxes they pay entitle
them. there should be here at least fifteen
first-class steam fire-engines, each operated
by full complement of well-trained men.
Additional hook-and-ladder companies are
also wanted. but up to this time the appeals
of Chief Paris have apparently been
unheard by those who alone are empowered
to make response. Recently the weakness
of the fire department has been demon
strated in a manner truly awful 1t Is
weakness of a variety that need not exist;
a weakness that can be removed entirely by
Congressional appropriation of a sum of
money sufficient to provide the number of
engines and men needed. For its size, the
District fire department Is undoubtedly at
the height of efficiency. but Congress will
be guilty of criminal negligence II 1t expects
the department to do continuously twice as
much as can reasonably be required Of 1t.
A general alarm now calls into service
every available engine. Should another
fire break out after the sounding of a gen.
eral alarm, the second confagration-no
matter how serious 1t might be-would
necessarily be permitted to proceed. Some
of these times blaze will start in one Of
the big government buildings and after
great damage has been wrought, and papers
that cannot be replaced have been destroyed.
Congress may come to the conclusion that
it is simple economy to give this city
N m
bers and equipment with the Importance
and extent of the city. But in the mean
time, the horse will have been stolen. This
Is the time to lock the stable door.