Evening journal., 1910-02-03
DEFENDS The
CITY FIREMEN
Council Clerk Writes Fire
Bureau Inspector That City
Believes Firemen are Loyal

To the members Of City Council last
night. Clerk OF Council George II. Nc
Govern submitted a copy of the letter
he sent to william S. Wensley. of the
Middle states Inspection Bureau. New
York, in reply TO his charge that a
fireman here had made the statement
that he would not respond To a fire
at certain plant because that con-
Germ did not contribute to tho main-
tainance OF his company. The letter
follows:
'Mr. VIM. s. Wensley. Executive
Manager. Middle States Inspection
Bureau. IS William street. New York.
Dear sir: Your letter of January 18th
was duly received and referred TO Mr..
Edward A. Higgins. chairman OF the
fire committee of the Council of this
city. and by him presented 10 the Coun-
eli in regular meeting held upon this
date
After due consideration. the follow
ing motion was adopted: That the
Clerk of Council be instructed to notify
the Middle States Inspection Bureau
that the specifications indicated in
their letter are entirely vague and
Council requests more explicit in
D
and the particular station TO which
they refer
I'm your letter YOU ask that full in
/ formation be given you as to whether
/ or not there are any local ordinances
requiring compulsory service on the
part Of the hremen. and whether the
/ fremen are obliged to respond to an
alarm of fro in case a property owner
] 4.-sr. e. Il
partment funds.
"In this connection YOU are advised
that the Fire Department OF this city
is not maintained by public subscrip-
tions, but is maintained by appropria-
tions from the city made semi-annu-
ally These appropriations are paid
TO the several fire companies by and
under the authority of an act Of the
State Legislature and in consideration
OF such payment the several fire com
panies are required to protect not only
the property IN their several districts
but all the property in the city of VIII
mington.
1T is the prevailing opinion i'm this
city that this duty thus imposed upor
the firemen has been well done in the
past and Is being we'll and faithfully
done at the present time.
without a single exception in the
past, the fire companies have shOwr
an eager disposition 10 look after al
local fires and have responded 20 many
out-of-town calls and placed them.
selves in the front rank of fire fighters
Of the country by reason of their dis
tinguished services at the great Balti
more fire. where more than half OF TIT
Fire Department Of this city went int
service and placed in use new and up
to-date apparatus. which was fai
superior to that brought from Othel
and larger cities.
? "Your request for a statement as 4
. the understanding of the chiefs OF thl
! several stations seems to be answere,
! best by reason of the faithful and eff
! ficient work of the several stations
under their supervision, and in orde
p to inform you promptly upon the par
5 ticular case and question Which yol
raise. we would thank you TO advise nj
the number. the name Of the station e
which YOU refer. and the name of thl
engineer who entertained the opinion
that ne was not obliged to respond 4
] a fire alarm. except as a favor to tn
! property owner and particularly a
, that owner had not made a donation
to the department fund
! yours very respectfully. George II
McGovern,. Clerk Of .councili