The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-28

In an Interview accorded a Tribune
man, Recorder Mor declared him
self irrevocably opposed to the
disbandment of the volunteer fire
department at the present time
and its reorganization along the lines
laid down in the general reorganiza-
ton ordinance.
II believe" said he. that 1t would
be very unwise at the present time to
reorganize the fire department under
the plan outlined i'm the general reor-
ganization ordinance. / favor waiting
until next year, when I think we will
be able 30 reorganize on the only
proper basis, that is--all paid men.
with the increased revenue from
the imposition of license tax and
from other sources I think the uues-
ton of expense can then be met. My
objection to the plan at present under
consideration lies in mg firm belief
that the call system Is not all that its
champions claim. 1t is in operation in
a number of smaller cities. but is a
success In none of them.
ut does not, in my opinion. assure
anything like the attendance at a fire
that We now have under the volunteer
system. 1t Is productive of scandal
wherever it Is in force. A call man
may be actually on duty only about a
half or three quarters of an hour, but
three or four hours' time is turned in
for him. This is the general rule in
Wilkes, Barre and other cities where
1t is in operation. 1t may be a good
system in theory, but is a very bad
one in practice.
"I do not wish to be understood as
Opposing the improvement of the disci-
pline or efficiency of the fire depart
ment. No man in the city realizes this
need more than myself, but it cannot
be done until We put 1t on an entirely
paid basis. a thing absolutely impossi-
BILE at the present time. Our volun-
teer force has done in the past and
will do in the future, l feel sure, more
capable and efficient work than could
ever be done under the call system"
Chief Zzleman has received many
compliments for the efficient manner
In which the recent fire on
Wyoming avenue, was handled. The
business men in the neighborhood, es-
pecally Messrs Clelland, Simpson
e. Taylor, of the Globe, have expressed
themselves as highly pleased with the
work of the volunteer fire laddies, who
so successfully managed to keep one
of the fiercest fires ever seen In this
city confined to the building in which
it originated.
If there was criticism after the
Lackawanna avenue fire OF month
ago. it has been disarmed by the work
of Tuesday morning, and the volunteer
deI artment has redeemed itself in the
eyes of many of those who were be-
fore most severe in their condemna-
ton, even including some of the OBJ
jectors among the councilmen.
The need of supply of jackets for
bursting hose was exemplitied at the
Williams & McAnulty blaze last week.
There were no less than half dozen
bad breaks, and only two jackets on
hand to use In closing them. Chief
Zzlemann says that each company
should be supplied with at least two
jackets and that the few hundred dol
lars which would have toN be expended
for their purchase would be more than
made up in added efficiency of the
water force.
Some of the breaks in the hose the
other morning wasted half the water
which was coming from the hydrant.
A movement will be started in coun-
ellis in the near future looking toward
reduction in the gas bills at the war;
ious hose and engine houses.
These bills at present are considered
very high by councilmen and it is pro-
posed to introduce a resolution fixing
a certain number of cubic feet as
limit beyond which bills must not be
run up at the expense of the city The
matter will be introduced in the form
of resolution.
The members of both the common and
select council committees on estimates
say that it will be absolutely impossi-
bic to provide for any increase in the
fire department appropriation for the
coming year. This means that the new
hook and ladder truck cannot be pur-
chased and that Chief Zizlemann cam
not have the extra driver at salary
of 5000 that he asks for.
1t is understood that no provision
whatever will be made for the addi-
tional permanent men provided for in
ordinances passed by councils within
the past few months.
Sometime next month the members
of the Columbia Hose company pro-
pose giving a fair in West Scranton at
a place not yet decided upon. A feat
ture, it is understood, will be an anna
teur minstrel show.