Evening journal., 1914-07-01

is the Mayors belief that fourhfhs of our volunteer
hremen are In favor Of paid department Definite In
formation upon that point might b. obtained very
readily II each OF the volunteer companies would can
its members carefully and make public an
nouncement OF the result Of that canvass. our
opinion is that while there is no doubt that many
Of nremen think the time has arrived when
we should have paid department. It would be OK
ceedingly difficult for the Aayor anyone else to OBJ
tain four-hfths vote, an thing approximating IT,
If the question submitted in the future to the
volunteers. Company pride and spirit would play
an exceedingly important part in such a referendum
vote
Even the hremen themselves cannot deny how
that the time is rapidly approaching when we
must have paid fire department. BY the decara-
tion contained in his message the Mayor has thrown
the question wide open for discussion. That will
lead t. the sentiment Of the volunteers and Of the peo-
pie Of the city becoming known,
The Mayors comments upon the Police Department
the deficiencies Of the fire alarm system the failure to
provide Fire Department quarters in the new Munich
pal Building, the pure food ordinance the defects in
our present garbage collection system the appoint
ment Of inspector of weights measures for our
city, a city laboratory with bacteriologst and
chemist in charge Of it. city hospital for the care Of
those suffering from contagious diseases the Delaware
river waterfront and the city charter will be read
with interest and by many persons with full or par
tial approval His declaration In favor Of the commits
agement to those who working with that end In
view.
There is one recommendation in the message that
will not meet with the approval Of hundreds Of pro-
perty owners, particularly those living streets and
avenues not yet paved That Is that the abutng prop
ery shall pay their pro rata share OF the cost
Of street paving that be done in future The Mayor
when he wrote his appreciated the fact that
that recommendation would meet with the disapproya
OF many taxpayers because he accompanied with the
following.
"rhis recommendation will likewise cause conster-
nation and more less daapprova on the part Of the
taxpayers, but am positive that, with patience and
careful exercise Of judgment public can be taught
to see this matter in its true light It IS simply mat
ter of progressive legislation that produces directly
the benefit the public desires and is really willing to
pay for So far the matter has not been sufficiently
explained TO those whom it directly affects and con
sequenty, is met by opposition
We think the Mayor is mistaken and that the oppo-
ston to the plan is based upon understanding and not
misunderstanding. The has been discussed
fully both here and in Dover 1t is opposed by, per-
sons owning property abuttn5 on unpaved streets on
the ground that they helped to pay through taxa
ton for the Improvement of the streets already paved
It is the duty of the Of abutng property ON
such paved Streets who paid street-paying as
sessmens, TO assist, in the manner and to the
same extent in defraying the cost Of paving the
streets not yet paved. In other words that it is
very hhe pan lot persons VINO own property on streets
that already have been paved, wholly at public ex-
pense, but burdensome TO persons who own pro
perty streets not yet paved and who would be as
sessed directly for the bulk Of the cost OF the street
paving work, in addition paving under the general
levy, their proportonate share for street Inn
provement work. There unquestonably are thousands
Of in city who think that as the owners OF
property in unpayed streets assisted by taxation to
for the street paving in the older sections
the duty Of property in those older sections to
do the thing for the newer sections and not to
compel the property there pay direct assess
mens for street paving in addition the regular taxes
imposed for that and other purposes In other words
the unpaved sections merely ask for quid pro quo
from the paved sections.
THE SITUATION IN THE FOURTH.