The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-20
STANDS UP FOR WICHITA.
Chief Walden Shows that Wichita Has
Good Fire Prot ectiOn

The letters Of Mr.. ClarksOn in yester-
day mornings Eagle in regard to in
surance in Wichita not only caused in
terest but it aroused a good deal of in
dignatiOn.
Wichita people have been led to be-
lieve that they have the best fire pro-
lection of any city in the west and any
hint that the fire protection of Wichita
is inadequate is very naturally resent
ed by the people interested.
The general verdict among business
men yesterday was that Mr.. Clarkson
of Topeka does not know what he is
talking about.
In some of his letters in regard TO in
surance in Wichita Mr.. Clarkson says:
THE legislature of last year added an
other burden to the companies, that OF
. per cent tax on al the premiums re-
ceived by the companies in cities hav-
ing organized fire departments. This
is a heavy addition to the expense OF
doing business in the state.
1.-THE money is to go for the benefit
Of disabled firemen; none of it. as | un
derstand. for the making of the depart
ments more efficient II is simply
fund provided by these taxes to pro-
tect disabled tiremen and their widows
and orphans.
"Of course the companies IN paying
this tax will expect the cities thus col
Letting it 20 keep the standard of their
fire departments equal to the emergen-
CIV Of each city. and certainly Wichita
cannot afford 10 reduce the efficiency
OF its present department; il is none
too godd considering all the surround
ings."
These paragraphs in Mr. Clarkson's
| letter attracted particular attention
and some Of the business men here
claim that these are the milk in the
cOconut.
The chief Of the Wichita fire depart
ment. Mr.. Walden. was instrumental in
having this bill passed while Mr.. Clark
son was in the lobby to defeat il and
having failed he wants to punish Wich-
tia for it.
A reporter for the Eagle called at
Chief Walden's office last evening and
propounded the following questions to
him which were answered as given be-
low:
did YOU interest yourself in securing
the passage Of per cent reciprocal tax
law by the last legislature mentioned
in Mr. Clarkson's letter published in
this mornings Eagle?''
yes sir. Chief Wilmarth Of Topeka
and l were there and did all in our pow
err to have il passed.
Senator O'Bryan was the champion
OF our bill in the senate and Represent
atives RohrbOugh and Bone Of Ashland
| in the house.
This bill. that finally became \ law,
was senate bill No. $40 II was first in
troduced as senate bill No. 3S7 and pass
ed the senate and was sent 10 the house
where it disappeared and could not he
! found. II was again passed by the SEN
ate as bill 596 and also by the house"
Did Mr.. Clarkson want TO defeat that
measure?'
II do not know that be wanted - de-
Z u "a 4
| 70 have II amended
What do you think of Nj. C1arkson's
statement that the people Of the West
Side have insufficient fire protection"
Mr.. Clarkson has SAID nothing 70 me
about the matter. But I presume he
thinks he knows what he is talking
about. without consulting anyone He
/ writes that unless the company on the
/ West Side is re-esta hISAei the rates n
! insurance on that side VIII BE- increased
In the past nine years. the number
! ~ claims ~ the West Side between the
months Of June md November has not
I been to exceed four. and hut in one in
stance between those dates has there
{ been any loss 70 amount n anything
Never in the pas; nine years has there
heen any obstruction on the bridge n
delay the department and al alarms on
/ the West Side have been answered by
chemical and hose companies from this
side.
THE distance - Seneca and West
Douglas * not as great as Thirttusth
north. or Paramount avenue where
many fine residence buildings are 10
Gated.
The east. north and south parts r.
the city should be consie erad ~ NJ
GARRISON as well ~ TIE West SIDE
where ~ speaks 81 adequate fire pro
lection for. Is as vel protected as the
other
My recommelGatiCn - Tho council
was based upon my best judgment. and
the mayor and cou1cI general public
and insurance agents can bear witness
I 70 the efficiency a. our department
..Nr Clarksoa can examine the IA
tional board q underwriters report
and assure hir1sslf u the fact ;ha- such
( i The case L the affairs concerning
/ the Ere Protection q IRIS city ruusl be
arranged and managed from Topeka.
they had better request 01r charter
Il have prepared 2 comparative stare
men; showing oar standing With o.ha-
departments IN The state also z pr
capita statement of loss sustained n
! each ~ the four cities in the state also
. statement showing as compared with