Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-11
Company Having the Best Disci-
pline Record and Appearing
Best on Annual Inspection.


pleas for higher range of salaries for
the firefghters of the National Capital
for better pensions to those members OF
the department who have won an old age
free from care. for the awarding of con-
tracts for fire department equipment to
residents or Washington. and particular
ly for the high-pressure water system
for fighting fires in the downtown sec
lions.
The presentation of the championship
flag was the feature of a reception and
banquet in honor of the members of the
prize winning company, arranged by bust
ness men in the vicinity of the engine
house. Everything was done to make the
members or No IA feel the honor award
ed to them in competition with the thirty
three other fire companies in the Dis
trict and the respect in which the fire
department and especially No. IL is held
by the citizens of the city
House deliberately Decorated.
The house was deliberately decorated.
Strings of electric lights made it brilliant
TO every nook and corner; the lights
CLEANED from strings of laurel, and many
flowers and autumn foliage added beauty
to the scene. Many American flags were
draped around the walls.
Members Of the company were i'm line
between the apparatus which they use
emciently TO receive the guests as the.
arrived inside the engine house Upon
the arrival of District Commissioner Mac
farland, the member Of the board OF
Commissioners directly i'm charge Of the
fire department all the visitors and the
hremen assembled in the doImitory
the second floor where the banquet Ia.
bleS were spread.
Fire Chief Frank J. Wagner presented,
to the guests of the evening the members
Of the company declared by a committee
OF citizens-Isaac Cans, r. III. Lynn and
A. l.. Cline-tO be entitled to the cham
pionship honors cf the department on the
basis of the best discipline record fer the
year and of the best appearance On all
nua1 inspection.
The members Of the company are Capt.
p. J. Hollohan, Lieut.. E. Howard. En-
Nesline. Driver G.. Kennon. Assistant
Driver I. Green and Privates F. Gibbs. ..
Monkey, G. Wells, j. Offu!t, J. Phipps, ].
Gates. l. Luskey. o. Rose and r.. Sims.
Commissioner Macfarland held the Nag
that typified the premiership.
Best in the Country.
For the second time you have won the
trophy by merit Commissioner Macfar-
land said to the winners. Because you
had a perfect discipline record for the
year and because You made the best
showing on the inspection by the
committee of prominent business men,
whom We thank for the public service of
the fire department, you are
tonight at the head of the best fire de-
partment i'm the country. Ever since
1850. when / became Commissioner and
took the immediate supervision of it.
have done everything in my power to
improve 1t. and at the same time have
watched it closely. We have now thirty
four houses against twenty in 1900, and
our apparatus and other facilities have
Increased accordingly.
But now, as then, it's efficiency turns
upon men-upon you and your comrades
Even when We get the high-pressure fire
protection fire service, which we ought
to have at once, as every big fire proves,
even when we get automobile apparatus,
which we shall do as rapidly as il is
proved effective, success will still turn
upon the men behind the machine. For
tunately We have as good men as are to
be found anywhere. typified by the nien-
bers Of your company. typified by Chief
Wagner the best of you all
Backed by the People.
You deserve the better pay and the
conditions which we have secured for
you and for my part l want still better
things for you, including better pay, and
shorter confinement and uniform pen
siOns that leave opportunity for no IA
vOritism. The community is with US i'm
all these things, for il appreciates all you
have done.
This enterta inment tonight typifies the
cordial interest and hearty good will OF
all our citizens toward the ire depart
neni. We appreciate tins feeling 1t
us IN our labors and INSPIRES
MS to do better service IN the future FOR
you and for the department as body
thank those who nave shown this heip-
full. public spirited interest IL manjfesIs
itself in contributions to The reI,el funu
ana 10 the coffee fund, both of which
mean much to YOU In the hour or
danger and difficulty, when you are saw
Ing lives and property, the knowledge that
you have the confidence OF your fellow
nerve You TO greater endeayor"
This is the sproudesI moment of my
life, responded Capt. z. j. Hoilohan, his
eyes glistening with pride as he took the
trophy from the hands of the Commits
sioner. I'm my sixteen years IN the de-
partment it has been my ambition 90
win this flag. And now | have it, Dur
ing that time | have trieu to 10 every
duty to the best of my alb lily. And
IN the fu;ure, Mr. Commissioner, | anu
my company VIII continue T. u. our
best"
Compliments for the Firemen.
The presentation ever. the firemen anu
the guests of the occasion sat down to
the table. Henry Franc, jr, took I'D the
task of ma ster OF ceremonies as tire cOf-
fee was served. He presented to the
members Of the winning company the
congratulations of the citizens
4. b. Hayes, a former official Of the
United States internal revenue bureau
held out encour cement for the C, mpanies
who did not win the flag, remarking
humorouSly:
DO not he dismayed
II you get lemon:
Make the lemon aid
Firemen. he declared. he ass oiated with
soldiers. Both face danger with sublime
courage and daring. For the ,ldier the
cry Is death and victory: but for the fire.
man the cry is life and victory over the
flames. One is trained 10 destruction the
other TO salvation.
Experiences of the inspection were re-
lated by Isaac Cans, chairman of the
committee OF award. The men, the
horses and the houses, hs declared, all
showed up well. Some cd engine hous ss
which have been In use for wears. he aid
were found practically remodei.d. thanks
TO the interest and work e the men
themselves.
The Commissioners deserve much
praise for what they have done with the
old houses. he continued. The men are