Evening journal., 1915-11-16
DISCUSS THE CITY
FIRE Department
Underwriters Favor PaidSer-
vice; Local Men Favor
Volunteers
EFFICIENCY OF
COMPANIES SHOWN

LUWFAlNlEfO NEOWN
AT the meeting OF the Ninth Ward
Civic Association held in No. 30 School
building. Concord avenue and Boule-
ward last night. a lively debate took
place over the question OF paid ire
department for Wilmington. Gilbert
e. Stecher. New York insurance ox-
pert, who was brought here by +. A.
Van Trump and CORTLAND Il. pierson
at the request OF the association,
spoke in favor Of paid fire depart
ment Henry NJ Lang, president OF
the Friendship Fire Company, on in
vitation of the association. presented
the merits Of the volunteer system.
George NJ Ward, president OF the
Phoenix Fire Company; A. l.. Vande-
yer. former coroner Of New Castle
county; Former Councilman NJ. j.
Cannon OF the Liberty Company; Rob-
ert McGonigal and George Baldwin Of
the Friendship Fire Company, and
George T. Crockett OF the Fame Fire
Company. strongly defended the citys
volunteer fire department
Mr. Stecher told first why he thought
Wilmington should have paid fire
department He spoke i'm part as fol-
lows
understand me, gentlemen. my re-
marks do not in any way infer that
tho present FIRE department. is not ef-
ficient as volunteer organization,
but [ do aver that it Is not the depart
ment that this city should be pro-
tocted by. Your fire department to-
day is a commendable organization OF
enthusiastic citizens. who derive much
pleasure from their social gatherings,
and their desire to be of service In
spectacular way, but in This desire
to run with the apparatus may occa-
sionally show an epicurean flavor
which was evidenced by two volun-
teers running to a FIRE in Rhode Is
land. one saying to the other: I hope
Il amt the stove lining works. I've
seen that twice already
"The question comes then, why has
not the city of Wilmington, growing
and thriving city OF nearly 100000
souls. OF an intelligence that ranks
with any in the land. q paid we'll
organized and efficient Are depart
ment?"
This | cannot answer, as ! do not
understand your politics. but will en-
deavor to show that il should have,
and why a volunteer organization
does not fiji the requirements.
in Wilmington you have a volun-
teer organization made up Of twelve
units. all separate and distinct and
each under the guidance of a separ-
ate personality; these units. when in
action due to the call of fire. being
supposed to come under the direction
-cf-a chief whom they themselves elect
each year
Assuming that the individuals and
the units made up OF these individuals,
and the chief in charge. are pos
sessed OF knowledge that FITS them
for the work. il cannot be presumed
that their performance Will be eff
cient when the time for action ar
rives. for the chief will not have the
confidence and control of the men,
nor the men the respect for a chief
whom they only see in authority at
a fire. and never feel his personality |
otherwise. II reminds one Of the story /
of man who wanted TO take his fam
lily out riding-looking at the vehicle. /
he asked how many il would hold: the I
hostler scratched his head thought /
fully and replied. IL holds four gem
eraiy. but six If you're weel acouaint."
and there we almost have a parable
on team work. harmony. concentra- /
ton and the ability TO work together.
A first class city is described by
the u. s. government in a brochure
on cotton as one having:
Fully paid Fire Department.
standard euipment throughout.
Ample water supply.
Efficient police force.
Proper Ordinances for IRE proven /
ton. and fire limits.
2nd Glass Practically the
same as first, only Fire Department
may be part paid. but must be under
a competent chief.
Bird Class Volunteer Fire
Department but must be under
competent chief
4th Class City-No approved fire
department OF water works.
Note the reiieration OF "a COM
petent Fire Chief in the FIRST three
classes-ihis shows that there must
be that definite head 10 insure disci-
piine and 20 plan out the Gre de-
fence. SO that. although the organiza-
ton NAV be volunteer. there will be
one az least who knows the proper
course 10 pursue If occasion arises :
man that is familiar with the city
Its general makeup. construction.
occupancy and bad groups. and one
who has police power sufficient to de-
mand corrections Of dangerous prac-
tees.
This is not an arraignment of the
fire chief-far from that. but il may
be construed as a defense forhim. as
ii is not his fault that he cannot grasp
the science Of fire fighting in one
year.
Apart from organization which