Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-06


have more backbone, and when Coun-
cilmen or anybody else complain about
Improvements don't De afraid to use
your own judgment If you think such
improvements are not necessary, or
not warranted by the condition Of the
funds For INSTANCE, know of lights
having been placed where they are not
at all necessary. There should be more
economy In this matter. Much of the
trouble Is the result of lack of firmness
on the part of the Board.
TOO MUCH POLITICS.
Il have this much to say concerning
the Commissioners" continued Mr..
Fiebegcr. "There has been entirely
too much politics connected with the
Board of ofCommissioners affairs. Some
thing must be done to remedy this
condition. I do not care whether the
members are all Republicans or all
Democrats; want to see the affairs of
this city conducted In more economi-
cal manner. / do not think that the
members should consider most i'm
portant their ability to hold the posi-
tion In a political way. ! am salts
fled that there is lot of money spent
by the Commissioners simply to hold
their positions. Akron is much In
need Of such system or government
as was given to Cincinnati by the
Legislature last week. The people
should be allowed to choose their own
public officials. Not until the people
are permitted to do this will they have
anything like good local government.
1t is human nature for an official who
holds his position through appoint
ment TO shape his policy that he will
be secure in his position. The so-called
bipartisan system means the worst
form of partisanism, and the citizens
of Akron would welcome change
that would place the right Of selection
OF public officials back where II be-
longs-back in the hands of the peo-
ple.'
FIRE DEPARTMENT. lNvEsTiGA-
TIoN.
mfr. Bcrgors report shows that the
expenditures OF the fire department for
the past year have been over $40, ,000,"
continued Mr.. Eiebcgcr This is an
increase OF more than $4,000 over the
preceding year. The force of tlremen,
l am informed, remains the same.
Where has this money been spent? Mr..
I.oomis, the mechanical engineer, gave
me figures showing the cost Of oper.
ating one, two and three.way house.
Engine house No. is q three-way
house, having steamer, hook and lad
der and hose. His estimated cost Of
operating a house Of this size is given
as S932S per year. We have two
houscs equipped us two-way houses,
No. ., in tho .Si1th ward and No. 4
in the Fourth ward, Mr.. Loomis' es-
timatecd cost of, operating houses of
this size is SG,G0J each, including salar.
les of men aud sleeping quarters for
them; feed and hairless for horses al
lowing $3.50 pefSycaf for each horse,
and incdehtals.
THE estimated cost of the one one.
way house on West Hin is $3,7O0.
Now, taking the original amount
used by the Fire department, $4,000
dcducting from tho same $4,000 paid
to the water works company for wa.
ter rents, would leave S55,OOO spent III
the fire department. Mr. Loomis' cs
innate for operating these four houses
amounts to about $4,000 This leaves
the sum of $2s,6S6, or over $1,000 tc
each Of the four houses more than his
estimates. Was this money spent eco
nomIcally?"
In order to euable the Council tc
form better idea as to the expense.
OF fire department, Mr.. Fiebeger made
a motion that the City Commissioner.
be requested to give the council de
tailed statement of the cost of oper
ating each one of the four houses now
in the city. The motion was seconded
by Mr. Paul, which was passed by ;
unanimous vote,
ADDITIONAL FIRE PROF ECTIoN
In accordance with the cyprcssc,
wishes Of more than ninety per cen
OF the merchants, manufacturers
bankers and business men of Akron
Mr.. FiehcGer recommended that Coun
ell proceed Immediately to purchas
sites and erect engine houses in th
Third and Second wards in accord
ance with the recent enabling net a