The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-21
Finance and Fire and Water Committees of Council to
 Meet Today
MAYOR AND ALDERMEN
 EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS
Large Majority of counoIImen State That They VIII Vote to Increase the Department at
 Once.

A special meeting of the finance and fire and water committees of the city council will be held this afternoon at e:so o'clock in the Mayors office to dis cuss the matter of adequate protection against fire.
 The call for the meeting was Issued Ivesterday afternoon by Mayor George B.. ward, but he would not discuss the call. He stated that he did not know what would be done at the meeting. The two committees are composed of Aldermen Jones, Gray, Heidt, Parker, Klotz. Bar Ibour. Stockmar and Simms and Mayor Ward.
 The demand for increased fire equipment tbecame so strong yesterday and opinions were expressed so unanimously in favor of immediate action, that the call re- suited. On every hand The Age-Heraios editorial of yesterday was endorsed.
 The Mayor and all the aldermen in the city were asked for their views. Nearly every one of them said he would sup port an ordinance calling for an immedia'e increase of the fire department to meet the demands.
 Following are the statements of the
 
 Mayor and aldermen:
 Mayor Ward: "The city is doing every thing possible to hold up its end ana will continue to do so.
 "If anybody can show just what IS wrong or what is needed and prove It, whatever it may be, that condition VIII he remedied instanter. We cannot, now ever, comply with all of the several nun dred demands and theories thrust upon us. In the meantime we propose to procecu steadily and rapidly toward the 1uinh- ment of our agreement made some tune aro with the Southeastern Tariff associa- t,on Probably so per cent of this agree ment has been put into effect aireaoy' Among the items not yet taken up are the purchase of another first class steam CT. one new modern aerial ladder truck' additional men to man this new equip- ment, the putting in of new keyiess hre alarm boxes at places designated putting in more and larger fire plugs and extehu- ing the fire alarm telegraph system to the North Birmingham pumping statioh'
 "The above with the minor improve ments agreed on will, am sure, be order
  are completed the Southeastern Tarin as- sociation will, no doubt live up 10 us promise to put the congested district pacA to a first class basis
 on the meantime, those people who ap- near to be unduly alarmed ana oeho- erately trying to make things appeai worse than they are, are doing the 'own more damage than any alleged snortcoiii- ines of our fire department Furtherihole' ,t u,o,ld not be amss for some or the fo,,s vbo are so clamorous for more aoninn,ent more police, more schools and more lights to walk up to the tax as sessor's office and give in oecehe var uation of their property.
 Alderman Harry Jones;
 ..Tbe citv council has placed ltseH on record as being in favor of increasing 'h' facilities of the fire department In oroe' to meet the growing demands or the city
 "rhe city council unanimously adopted tho renort of the fire committee whicf recommended that the agreement suoiiiil ted by the Southeastern Tarin assoeia tion. and the Birmingham Board or lrao' be accepted
 ~rhe only reason why that agreemen has not been completely carried into CT feet is the lack of available funds. I'm city has, however, begun to carry, ant has actually carried part of that agree ment into effect. As a member Of th' committee I confidently believe that thu rest of the agreement will be executed promptly"
 Alderman Henry B. Gray:
 "The fire department is sadly, had al most said tragically, inadequate. Its de fcency should be corrected at once. Tn subject is one that does not admit even O argument or discussion. Action, promp and rigorous, must be taken. The progress and prosperity of the community deman, it. Money requisite to increase the facil ities of the fire department, must be ob tained. We must either find or inven some means of getting it. On that ques ton there can be no difference of opinion among headgauged, far-sighted citizens o Birmingham. The situation calls. repeat for action The occasion is one where h who dallies is a dastard and he wh' doubts is damned
 Alderman c. IC. Heidt:
 I'm in favor of making the fire de