The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-03
HOSE WAGON OR NO HOSE WAGON? SUBJECT
 BEFORE ALDERMANIC DEBATING SOCIETY

derson and Hudson. recommended that the bid of the 'HannoH Buggy Company of Montgomery be accepted. as there was only two bids submitted. the Montgom- cry firm agreeing to furnish the wagon according to specifications for $50 and a Chicago firm offering to sell the wagon to the city for s9O0
 Alderman Toole, chairman of the com mittee. submitted minority report, sug- gesting postponing any action on either side.
 Alderman Toole said that if the city was to have a hose wagon 1t should be built by experienced persons. He did not think that the firm whose bid had been recommended had the experience or the facility for building the hose wagon. He gave it as his opinion that the Fire De- partment needed a chemical engine worse than it did hose wagon.
 Alderman Roeder was in favor of defer- ring action on the matter. If the hose wagon was ordered immediately, he said, it would not be ready for delivery within four months He favored the purchase by the city of a combination hose wagon md chemical engine which he said would not cost more than $i0O more than the hose wagon.
 Alderman Kohn pointed out that the hose wagon had been recommended both by the Mayor and the Chief of the Fire Department The heads of the depart ments, he said, should certainly know what was needed. He was of the opinion that the matter should be settled then. He asked that the Mayor be invited to appear before the Council and state his opinion.
 Mayor Joseph accordingly took the floor of the Council stating that his po- tition had been clearly stated in his message to the Council and that he had nothing to add to it. The Department, he said, was in need of hose wagon and it needed it now. His position all along had been that the wagon should be pur- chased.
 He consented to a question from Alder man Toole. which resulted in short col loquy between the Mayor and the Alder man, who is chairman of the Fire Con- mittee. MT. Toole asked His Honor if the city did not have now both hose wagon and hose cart, and he also asked the Mayor if he had not, with him. favored the purchase of chemical engine.
 The Mayor replied that he had favored both and that his position had been stat ed in his message to the Council. He said further that he did not propose to be drawn in a discussion with any member of the Council. At the conclusion of the Mayors remarks Alderman Toole said to the Council that he had made no at- tempt to draw the Mayor into discus sion, but had treated him courteously, only asking him questions after the May or had given his consent.
 Alderman Hartley declared that tne Fire Department ought to have a chemi- cal engine. He said that the department was in greater need of chemical engine than it was of hose wagon.
 Alderman Mcintyre suggested that the matter needed further consideration. The Council, he said. should refer it back to the Fire Committee and that committe carefully investigate the situation and re. port back. The Council so far, he said had been acing upon the information fur. niished at second hand. Members of the Council. he declared, should see with theil own eyes and feel with their own hands He therefore, moved that the whole mat. ter be given back to the Fire Committee Before 1t was again delivered into the hands of the Fire Committee, Alderman Kohn made another speech.
 Alderman Kohn said that he had favor. ed the purchase of the hose wagon anf | he still favored it, but that he would sup | port the motion of Alderman Mcintyre tc ! send the matter back to the committe, as more information would help tn, ! Council and a slight delay-Aldermar Kohn actually said a slight delay-woulC hurt no one as it would be four months before the wagon could be delivered. Then Alderman Gunter made a speech The First Ward Alderman opposed tn
 motion of Alderman Mcintyre. He coult l not he said. see the necessity of having