Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-02-24
COUNCIL TURNS
DOWN SECOND BILL
Refuses to Approve Suggested
Change In Method Of Elect
Ing Fire Officers
LEGISLATURE LEGISLATURE WILL
BE so NOTIFIED

The bill offered for the approval
of the City Council by the Delaware
Fire Company. providing for the cleo
ton by Council Of the officers of the
Fire Department instead Of by the
fire companies, was passed upon by
that body last night.
The same action was taken as with
the bill making provisions for a paid
FIRE Department offered by the Reli-
ance Company. which was disap-
proved of on Wednesday night. Both
measures came up for the members
of Council as a committee of the
whole on Wednesday evening, but ac-
ton was deferred on the one until
last night.
AS on the night before, many fire.
men were present. Mr.. McGovern.
OF the Eleventh ward. moved that the
bill providing for the election by
Council Of the fire officers be disap-
proved OF by Council. Several mem
bers Immediately seconded the mo-
ton.
Mr.. Kane. Of the Fourth ward, op-
posed the motion on the ground that
he was Of the opinion that the IRE
men could settle this matter among
themselves and suggested that action
be deferred for one more week lie
said that there was no need Of saying
that the firemen were organized, they
being far from Il insofar as the cleo
/ ton of Fire Department officers Is
concerned, and that the existing diff
ferences should be Strengthened out
now for ali time.
Mr.. McGovern said he was ready TO
vote on the question at once and the
same sentiments were expressed by
Mr.. Dempsey of the First ward, who
said that the department was pro-
ficient, and until he was shown that IL
was not, he would not vote to change
from the present system. He said
the quarrel among the fire companies
over the election of officers had been
going on for twenty years and Il
might be twenty more years before
they settled II.
Mr.. Kane said that Il was not his
intention to interfere with the fire
companies, but he thought the sugges-
ton made on Wednesday night TO
elect the officers by the popular vote
of the fremen and not by unit vote
was a fair ono and he could SEQ no
reason why any fireman should OBJ
ject to II.
Mr.. Higgins said the majority Of
the companies wanted the present sys.
tenn continued and he was ready q
vote that way.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Bilderhacl
a vote was taken on the motion, whicl
resulted I'm eleven ayes and two noes
Messrs. Kane and. DuRoss voting 4
the negative.
Before the outcome Of the vote wa
announced Mr.. Kane brought up a
interesting question. He wanted th
president TO decide whether the men
bers OF Council belonging to fire con
panies-there are several Of them
had a right to vote on the question
and requested that the oath admins
tered 10 city officials be read. Thi
was done. but there was nothing In
to interfere. He then ended the dis
cussion by remarking that II the mem
bers Of Council believed they had don
their duty to the taxpayers he had M
more to say.
The report OF the committee Of tn
whole in recommending the disap
proval by Council Of the proposed &C
providing for a paid Fire Department
reported that its action was basel
upon the fact that the efficiency o
the department, as at present consti
tuted, has not been questioned by tn
citizens and taxpayers.
Further that every endeavor Is be
ing made TO secure additional revenu
for the city through the General AS
sembly. and until Il is ascertaine
what success is made In this direc
ton no change should be made In th
Fire Department.
The committee also calls attentio
10 the communication signed by min
Of the twelve companies In the dc
partment. opposed TO change fror
the present system, which aided ma
terially in arriving at the conclusion
reached
Following the disposition OF thes
matters, Mr.. McGovern moved that
COPY OF the committee OF the whole
report together with other papers Il
connection with the fremen's matter
be sent to the Legislature with the re
quest that such measures be not pass
ed. The motion was carried.