Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-12-22
COMMUNICATED.
ALEXANDRIA'S GRATITUDE.

ALEXANDRlAS 6HAriEUDh'
Why does the City Council grant Ps'
ti,ion after petition for appropriation OF
"the publics mouoy" throughout the
entire year to organizations existing In
our city, bat ignore entirely two or three
like requests most humbly made BY
our several FIRE companies for sums
ridiculously small compared to that
asked for by the favored ones?
10 August Of this year the Reliance
company r'q1ested au expenditure OF
the insig aificaut sum Of 800, intended
10 be used in defrsying portion OF
expenses involved In their annual visit
to convention. Up to the present time
the finance committee have been unable
to determine In which p'geon-hole sue
paper was lost. Later the Columbia
company asked for an annual sppro-
priation OF 5000, for Its maintenance.
fhe president OF the Common Council
referred the request to the finance COM
mittee for report. As yet no one has
been disturbed BY that reports loud
detonstion.
Tpo or three years ago the Belief
Hook aud Ladder Company submitted
petition, together with requests BY the
! two 6rst mentioned companies, for $lOO
Result--two said companies we're cat
S25, receiving $75 each; the Relief being
cut $50, receiving $50, amount respect
fully returned.
Since that time The members enrolled
with this organization bave never wor-
ried the gentlemen Of council With auY
further requests. Another psper, deemed
best no! to name, was treated likewise.
Is 1t not tims that this portion OF the
ciiy's servants should receive at least the
courl,.y OF their fellow citizens In The
form of some definite action being taken
on THAR communications, be 1t either
rejection or acceptance
When We are confronted with the
lrue aud Incorporating figures OF
seven thousand seven hundred dollars
re representing the very lowest coat per
annum Of maintaining paid fire de-
partment, sslsries alone, 10 addition to
its present necessary outlay, which, by
the way, Is becoming popular idea
among the volunteers who ruin clothes,
lose valuable time, being deprived OF
many O nights rest, suffering intensely
from cold or heat, as the csse may be,
placing their bodies st the disp)ssi OF
conditions Involved In their work and
often, yes, too oitep, facing death to de-
feud property aud, If needs be, life,
then We may feel Inclined 10 say that
we appreciate their services, even though
it not be sincerely spokeo, the last seven
words composing al only too true
expression of sentiment on the part OF
some of our citizens. For the writer's part,
paid department will be welcomtd, for
| then our volunteers will join theirs with
the balauce of rldicule when perchsnce
heir thoughts should smble back to the
time their services were considered
valueles'.
l. would be we'll for our taxpayers 10
dwell time upon the figures herein
submitted, aud endesvor to create q
feeliog of at least appreciation on the
part of our legislators in both branches
of our city goverument, Of which only
our fremen are worthy and justly de-
serve. for 1t must be rememb bered that the
greatest enthusiast will yield even that
be loves the most when 8 succession
| of disapointments aud encouragement:
are thrust upon him. JUSTICE.