Evening journal., 1914-07-01
No HURRAH FROM
FIRENEN FORPAID
CITY Department
Veterans Oppose the Great
Cost and Say Present
System Is Effective
henry N. LANG WOULD
PUT Insurance RATE LIMIT

VI htNu0AsftlNUI ANHL MhtIthk
Veteran firemen interviewed today did
not take kindly to Mayor Howelps
proposal for paid fire department,
contending that the volunteer force
is TIE most efficient in the country
and we'll prepared to meet any situa-
tion which may arise here. They say
they cannot see the wisdom of ex-
pending large sum of money to
start paid department nor the nee
sssity of forcing taxpayers to pay, as
would have to be done if the depart
1ent is established
It is the concensus Of opinion
among firemen that the volunteers
give better service than paid fire
lighters. They point out that the for
ner work because of enthusiasm and
take pride in what they do, while
Ehe latter merely strive to earn
their pay.
The idea that insurance rates will
be reduced by the starting of paid
force is ridiculed, the volunteers
maintaining the cost of starting the
department would more than offset
any decrease in premiums One fire.
man, Henry M. Lang wants a check
put on fire insurance rates the first
hing.
Efforts to secure a statement from
Patrick Magill, chief of the volunteer
department, we're unavailing. Mr.
Magill was too busy to consider the
matter this morning, as he had to go
70 q funeral.
When interviewed this morning AS
sistant Fire Chief Edel Maloney was
reluctant TO speak upon the sub
lect, stating that he desired to be
lurthered informed upon the matter
before making any statements, Iie
declared, however, that personally be
Was opposed to a paid fire depart
ment, and believed that the present
To1unteer system was the best.
When asked if he knew Of any
method whereby the present system
could be changed over to a paid de-
partment in manner satisfactory
% the firemen, Mr.. Maloney replied
hat he did not care to answer the
question until he had conferred with
fire Chief Magill.
That the question of a paid fire de-
partment should be voted on by the
people and that every means should
be taken to acquaint the public with
all details of plans for such move
before action is taken, is the opin-
Ion of William ]. Lutz, president of
Fame Fire Company
The matter is one for ali the peo-
pie" Lutz declared, "and they should
know what is to be done before a
step is taken. If the people think
they can secure lower insurance
rates and a more efficient depart
ment under the paid system than un-
der the present plan, then let's have a
paid department.
1T would cost every penny Of $780,
900 TO secure a paid fire fighting force
and it seems to me the proposition
should be gone into with care"
Asked the direction as to whether
he favored paid department, Mr..
Lutz answered by saying;
Let the people vote"
Mayor Howell's suggestion does not
meet with the approval Of Alfred d.
of Fame Fire Company. Mr. Van
dever fails to see the merits of the
proposal, declaring paid department
would be costly and inefficient, when
compared with the volunteer force.
Paid firemen lack incentive which
volunteers possess" he asserted, "and
! think il would be wrong to make
the change. We have the best depart
ment of its kind in the United States.
Our apparatus equals that of any
other city and our men are keenly in
terested in the work / say let we'll
enough alone
Mr.. Lang's View.
Henry NJ. Lang, president Of the
Friendship Fire Company, today de-
clared he is in favor of a paid fire
department under certain conditions.
One of them is that the fire companies
be compensated by the city for their
property and equipment
Another condition under which
favor a paid department" said Mr..
Lang, lis that the Legislature first
shall pass a law setting forth the
maximum insurance rates that fire
insurance companies shall charge in
Delaware. to assure this State OF
getting lower rates which the insur-
ance men claim will come with
paid department Some western
States did this, and / would like TO
see it done in Delaware. Let's see
if the underwriters would favor
paid department if lower rates that
could not be exceeded were first fixed
by law. | also think the insurance
companies, should contribute a share
OF their receipts to the support of the
department"
william J. Bayley, president of the
Wcccacoe Fire Company and a
prominent worker among the volun-
teers, declined to express an opinion
have not word to say about
@ayor Howell's proposition Of a paid
@le department" Mr. Bayley said.