Evening journal., 1917-03-21
AGAIN Clash At
DOVER over PAID
FIRENEN Scheme
lContInued from First Pagel

NCOnLluueu from FIRST fage)
lection Of the National Board Of Fire
Underwriters, said he had been sent
here to urge the establishment OF a
paid Fire Department for Whining
ton.
Our organization he said, holds
in high esteem the volunteer firemen,
but the city OF Wilmington has en-
tirely outgrown the possibility Of rea-
sonably safe protection with a volun-
ter system. There is no comparison
between a volunteer and paid sys-
tenn
MIR. Howland said it is necessary to
have an organization with a general
head, and two officers for each sta
ton. There IS an opportunity in
Wilmington. with the cooperation OF
the volunteers. to establish a paid
department second to none, as there
is lots of good material in their
ranks. he sad.
Mr.. Howland said it is not possible
in a volunteer system to have the
necessary instruction. Inspection Of
buildings can be more thoroughly
made in a paid department with ex-
perts. There are other points of diff
ference between the two systems.
In 1907 the board recommended a
paid department for Wilmington of
100 men, at an estimated payroll Of
100000 a year. In addition, supplies.
up-keep. etc. would be $4,000. max
ing a total of 1892 600. Assuming that
Wilmington's population is 10000.
the per capita cost should be S1.50, or
about S165,0OO a year.
He believed that the total costeof
the volunteer sysem today, including
bazaars, ETC., is very near to that sum,
and the city is not getting the protec-
tion it should have. He did not be-
lieve it would be possible 70 give suf-
ficient authority to officers OF a volun-
teer department
In reply to Senator Hickman, Mr..
Howland said the insurance sched-
ules have a deficiency charge for
volunteer systems, as compared with
a paid department
Firemen Oppose Bill,
Edward DonOhoe, one Of the assist
ant chiefs of the fire department, said
a paid department. when asked for by
the citizens, will not be oppased by
the fremen, but the city canilot pay
the bill now. He declared the Coun-
ell has a plan gradually TO establish
a paid system. His company is asking
for 81 900 a year more, to meet in
creased expenses, and as further in
creases are allowed by Council, more
paid men will be added and wages
will be increased. Materials used by
the firemen have increased very
| heavily.
His company has three paid men
az SIC a week, he said. He claimed
| $3.50 600 would be required the first
year to establish and maintain the
department In relation TO bazaars,
he said one was held for 4 week by
the department and all it yielded was
SO 500. while another institution was
given S750,000 in q week.
! John Dougherty, a member Of the
! Water Witch Fire Company, said in
the past five years his company has
spent $4,000 on new apparatus
George r. Ward, president Of the
+ Phoenix Company. having heard that
/ if the n was passed the number OF
fire stations would be reduced, gave
figures showing the large territory
the present companies have TO cover.
! He thought the number could not be
reduced He pleaded for better reefs
IA the outlying districts. He said he
had $500 worth OF property in the
I CITY and was speaking as a taxpayer.
Democrats IN Conference.
/ The Democratic members Of both
houses held a conference this morning
when some bills remaining on the cal
endars were discussed. The business
Of the conference was not finished
and another will be held this after
noon.
/ On motion OF Mr. Messick, his bill
/ to abolish the Office of State school
comm ssioner was stricken from the
calendar The House passed the fol-
lowing bills:
House bill authorizing the Governor
70 appoint a justice of the peace al
Blades
House bill providing that the fine
for violation CT automobile laws
shall go 10 the towns where the fine
is imposed. but that such fines must
not oxce0l the amount provided for
+ in the code.
The bill TO abolish the office of
/ New Castle County State Highway
Commissioner was stricken from the
House calendar
Tho House passed the Senate amend
ment to the House bill appropria.ing
$3.50 year for the next two years 10
the Robbins Hose Company. Of Dover.
and the Aetna Hose Company. Of New
ark
The House killed Representative