The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-02
CUT UNLIKELY IN FIRE DEPARTMENT President Exum Has a Bet
 ter Plan BETTER APPARATUS Will Lower Cost of Operating, Says the Commissioner = Regular
 Session of the Board to
 Be Held Today

yesterday when queried as to the econ omies to be made in revising operating expenses downward.
 President Exum, having been designated by an ordinance to supervise the fire de- partment. has not yet attempted to bring about any economies such as have characterized the other departments. In- as much as interest and speculation are keen as to what will be done, President Exum consented to outline the plan. He said that s25,0o0 would be saved per year by installing the very latest me chanical equipment in the department, which would necessarily call for fewer men in the department.
 The fire department" said President Exum, lis to very large extent under the notice of the Southeastern Tariff as- sociation, and when we begin economies in that department they must be taken into consideration. No one would care to see the rate of fire insurance increased here but if we tamper with that depart ment the association may take notion two set off a very fine display of pyro- technics. That, as I say, would not do.
 These facts being true, I have not taken up the fire department problem in detail, nor have I consulted at any length with the other authorities. For my own part I believe that a saving of s25,0OO will be a result when the problem is tackled and completed My own idea of going about that is to in- crease the department to the highest point of efficiency. By an expenditure of several thousand dollars we can se- cure equipment of gasoline or steam pow
 CT supercedng the horses and some fire
 men. Automobiles are being brought to
 such state of perfection as to convince
 the skeptical that they are entire | ly practical In fire departments or
 in any transportation service. They
 do not eat But when the city
 stands up under prodigious board bill
 of great many healthy horses the item
 is stupendous With automobile fire en-
 zines and other mechanical apparatus
 is bound to be tremendous decrease of operating expenses. It will be recalled that addressed a letter to Chief A. ".
 Bennett in this respect prior to the in
 auguration of the commission form of
 government He agreed with me that
 the saving could be effected and I am sure the installation of the very best
 and least operating expensive trucks
 would merit and meet the hearty approval
 of the other members of the commits
 sion and the people of our city.
 q have no disposition to discuss the
 fire department too broadly for fear that
 the idea may become circulated that we
 intend to lower the standard of efficien-
 cy Anyone knows how likely the wrong | interpretation may be placed on tenta- | tive plans. However, I assure every | one interested that instead of decreas- | ing the efficiency of the department it | will be improved to a wonderful degree | by the installation of these new methods
 of transportation, resulting, as l say, in | a neat saving of at least $25,000 per year. 1 Such saving, in view of the financial condition of the city, would be received
 with warm appreciation by the three of us who are laboring to place Birming- | ham at the front rank of commission or | council governed cities"
 1 Just at what time President Exum in- tends to start his reforms in the fire de- partment Is not known. He will rely to | a large extent upon the expert knowl- edge of Chief Bennett, whose long serv-
 ice in the department has fitted him to give the best ideas possible in the con-
 duct of the fire department. The two
 officials with other authorities are ex- | pected to get together shortly and map out in detailed form the rough draft of
 changes presented by MT. Exum in the | foregoing statement.
 l e. A~1. | Ensley and Pratt City to Birmingham
 will not be discussed at the meeting of
 the commission this morning. Commis- sioner Lane, who is the author of the | resolution announced yesterday that on
 account of the absence from Birmingham | of Commissioner Weatherly the matter
 would go over until Saturday.
 l At that time the 5-cent car fare prop
 osition will be brought up," said Com missioner Lane.
 "The company will be represented at
 the hearing as we desire the fullest in quiry into the right and propriety Of
 the proposed reduction Commissioner Weatherly is very much interested in the
 proposal and as a matter of course de-
 sired to vote when that question was | brought to it's finale."
 1 The commission meeting today, accord- l ing to President Exum, will not result in
 any very positive positions being taken in the management of the city. However, | the rumor was rife in the city hall yes terday that Associate Commissioner l Lane held trump in his sleeve prepared
 especially for the meeting today. It was | said that further reductions would be made in those departments directly under | the guidance of Commissioner Lane. No l confirmation was obtainable.
 | The general impression prevailed yes- l terday that after a prolonged conference | Of the officials programme had been prearranged for the meeting today It
 was pointed out that the commissioners
 desired to consult Commissioner Weath- erly of any proposed action which called l for the executive meeting of yesterday 1 afternoon. He Is said to have agreed to
 abide by whatever was done with the | exception of some problems which were
 passed over at his request.
 | The indications point to some very h. teresting developments this morning
 some of a routine nature and others at
 this time undecipherable from the cold exterior.
 The three commissioners yesterday re- ceived their first compensation from the | people for their work and labor per formed. Vouchers neatly done in blue were appended by Comptroller Charles fore the decimal. payable to the commis- sioners. President Exum came very near not drawing his slip, but his attention was called to the oversight.
 Bring in the change" hastily ordered the president. q doubt having earned
 this. but will take it for once just for instance"