Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-01

Therefore urgent necessity exists for
tho adoption of a definite program by
Councils to provide for the protection Of
life and property, especially in the newly
developed localities. If complaints arise
of lack of proper police protection in
any section Of the city. the figures given
above will conclusively chow where the
responsibility lies,
Nor Is this the only respect In which
the department has been hampered by
lack OF funds. Additional hosemen in the
Fire Bureau have been as urgently needed
as additional patrolmen, but not ono has
been added during this administration
While careful management and improved
discipline have made 1t possible to intro
duce the three-platoon system for patrol
men. practically continuous service Is re-
qulred by the hremen. This will con-
tinue to be the case until reasonable ap-
preparations are made to add to their
number.
APPARATUS DETERIORATES.
Police and fire apparatus has been
allowed to run down through the failure
to provide appropriations for the equip
ment of the new municipal repair shop.
Necessary improvements and repairs of
police and fire stations have been uncon-
soionably delayed through the action of
Councils In placing the unusual phrase,
subject TO future Legislation by Coun-
cils'' or "as may be designated by Coun-
cils," In ordinances appropriatlng the
proceeds OF loans already authorized by
the people for these particular purposes.
Sixty per cent of the steam fire
engines are of the obsolete rotary type.
A large part OF the apparatus is horse
drawn: II should all be motor driven.
The first motor-driven engines were In
troduced under this Administration.
There is urgent need of new and modern
dreboat There should be an increase of
80 per cent, in the number of fire-alarm
boxes. Forty per cent, OF the hose Is
more than five years old, and is likely
TO burst at any time. This last particular
has been emphasized by the Director on
a number OF occasions, and the test re-
Gently made amply justified the warn
ingH he had given.
THE necessity Of large expenditures to
modernize the whole equipment of this
bureau has been repeatedly called to the
attention of Councils. Two million dol
lars is absolutely required for this pur-
pose,
"It is of special interest to refer TO the
report of the Electrical Bureau. Chief
Pike reports. so far as / can Judge by
my own observation, by answers of my
assistants and the comments of those
outside of the bureau, and by the very
much lessened number of complaints now
received. there are vast Improvements In
the lighting of City Hall, the elevator
service of City Hall, the telephone
service, municipal and police; the light
ing OF police stations. fire houses. etc,
the operation of the fire alarm system,
and the inspection OF poles and overhead
wires
PUBLIC WORKS SAVINGS.
The larger part of the savings made by
his administration are noted under the re-
port OF the Department of Public Works
that, In part follows;
1T viii be most gratifying to the citi-
zens OF Philadelphia, and trust will also
be 10 your honorable bodies, 10 read the
report of the Department of Public
Works. The efficiency introduced and the
general spirit OF cooperation between the
different bureaus and throughout the de-
oartment has brought remarkable re-
suits. Let me first call your attention to
he saving effected during the years 1912,
1918 and 1914