Evening journal., 1915-11-16

undoubtedly is the prime essential. let
us look at the benefits to be derived
from a paid. efficient fire department.
Compares Two Departments.
Then let us take birds eye view
OF the two departments: The volun-
teor with SIS independence. its poten-
tial for malice. due TO dissension be-
tween the individuals. the companies
or the unfortunate who has a fire and
some one of the companies, the pure
ly personal desire OF the individual to
run to fire land in bad weather the
desire is lowl. their lack Of construc-
tive interest and knowledge due to
their employment during the day, and
the lack of qualifications to enter the
service permitting really untitled men
TO assume important posts-a very
important item-the unreliability at
severe fires. demanding strength and
discipline, and many other shortcom-
ings that do not need enumeration.
"a paid fire department means or
ganization, trained effort. prompt action.
efficient service, for which You pay.
STANDARDIZATION the minimum in costs.
expenses, wear and tear. and is that por-
ton of the cities organization that gives
you the security as a whole upon which
you bnild.r
Mr.. Lang Defends Volunteers.
The reply OF Mr.. Lang was as fol-
lows:
81 avn volunteer fireman. do
not want 10 appear before you as par
tisan Of the volunteer tiremcn of Viii
mington, although the question we are
discussing here. as understand il, is
Shall There BE q Paid Department for
WilmineionY
81 think ! appreciate the force of the
many good arguments which have been
advanced IN favor of a paid department.
believe that those who under the OBJ
legation or the responsibility of COM
batting the fire dend should be raid. I
believe, moreover. that the men who
fight fires should make a careful study
of the fighting Of fire. and that they
shrould have the opportunity as well as
the obligation of studying aud helping
TO perfect the best methods of reducing
the fire danger in the community TO the
minimum.
"ln this presence I am not going to
defend the Wilmington fire department.
There was a day when the Wilmington
ircmen fought at the fires and also
fought when they met on the street. but
that Is now a thing OF the past. There
has not been a real scandal attaching il
self disreputably to the Wilmington fire
department for "A generation.
"rhe Wilmington fire department Is
D democracy Let il be remembered
hat the membership is drawn from
he working classes exclusively. What
ire known as professional. or bust
loss men are not in the councils OF
he companies. 10 is true that the |
companies are responsible In small I
Measure TO City Council. but the man /
lgement and control of the several /
devolves upon the mem !
,orship.
"The question raised. Shall there
% paid fire department for viii |
contemplates that it would
possibly be better 10 have a paid de- +,
1artment. There are a hundred such /
questions raised about the different
departments OF our city government
and its varied functions AS a volun-
Ger fireman, | am not afraid to place
before you the record of the Will
mington Fire Department and ask
that the administration of that de-
partment and It's record for more
than twenty years past be compared
with the best department of the city
government you may choose.
President Ward wanted to know
where the present Ere department was
He said Trenton under a
paid fire department had eight compa-
lies that cost $25O,000 year to main
ain while this city had 10 companies
hat took but $4,000 a year to main
ain. He stated that the Philadel-
'hia and New York Fire Departments
we're not up to as high a standard as
he Wilmington Department. In those
tiles, buildings. he said frequently
urned to ashes. He cited the in. |
tancc of the Equitable Building fire /
b New York.
Mr.. Stecher admitted that the Equit- !
bic Building fire was a bad one. but /
aid that he did not know what il |
'ould have been under a volunteer /
re department; that a large part of I
he city might have been destroyed. I
well, il could not have been much /
'orse than II was replied George T. /
rocket.
Mr.. Vandever said that in the big
tiles the fire departments were dom
mated by the politicians. In Whining
ON he said the firemen always ex-
.nguish the fires
Former Councilman Cannon said
was big enough and smart
nough to know whether or not Il
Ieeded a paid department That Il
vas not necessary for outsiders to
'ome in and say so. For the last