Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-19
FIGHT STARTED FOR
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT
Bill Called Up. But City Council
Asks for a Postponcment of
Definite Action.
srec,sl Dispatch 20 Every Evening


state House. Dover. March 10 The
Wilmington Paid Fire Department b,l
was called M IN the House. TODAY, hy
Mr. Connelly. it's sponsor. who urged ITS
rassnge and pointed ont some Of the
dcfccts IN the prrscnt system.
Representative Cross. who fought the
bill \ wear agn. resumed that fight TODAY
Ito said. however. that he will favor a
pad firr department when the Whining
ton CltN Cuuncil considers II necessary
and can finance the change. but he said
that time has not vet arrived
Mr. NcNahb said 4 IL his honest
opinion that It tic matter vaR submitted
to a vote of the tircnen they would vote
tive tn ono IN favor of paid department
The cS,nS 'neus uf opinion ~ Wilmington
IL that the citv ucs4is PAID fire depart
ncut Practically every manufacturing
establishment thinks So Some of the
IRE companies have gone on record IN
that behalf Council may feel that Il
cannot afford il now. but he didn know
about that
Mr. Rash %ald the city needs q paid
department. hut hc thought City Council
and tho people should settle the matter
iavoring referendum vote
MIR DOWN. ard spoke against the hill
Mfr McNabh said he made no charges
against the firpnen, hut the city has
simply grown away from them We
haven't any guarantee. he said. that
VIZ are going 10 get the firr service that
se need " He showed how tho tiremen $
ranks are being depleted. and said sp-
paratrs often goes out with not members
enough tn man the machines lie had
seen companlrs go tn fires with only one
man
as Tp TUE FINANCES
James W Robertson. chairman of the
finance cornmittrc Of Wilmington CITY
Council. through Mir Cross. presented
C1tv Council resolution asking the
legislature not tn pass city measures
that would involve expense IL the city
MIR Robertson WAS gwen the privilege Of
the floor, and said Mr. Connelly and |
don't differ as tn principle. hut ss 90 de-
tail He sad City Council felt that II
should not be asked to borrow money
nov. As the government wants 3 free
hand in the money market. also. that the
purchasing power oi the money SO bor-
rowed is cut IN half, while the interest
would be | Il per cent higher than before
the war The Federal Reserve Board.
he said. limits MUNICIPAL loans to slo0,-
coo IL is doubtful whether the project
could bo financed Every member OF
City Council fsvors paid tirc depart
rnent. he said, but it cannot be financed
now. 1t would cost between 5000 900
and s7O0oO0
Since 1915, he said, the Legislature
has Increased the bonded debt of Vii
mIngton by s. ,2S0, 600
Mir McNabb asked Mr. Robertson
.|,s k,- kVss hnA IL hss
consent of City Council Mr. Robertson
SAID he made no such charge
Mr. Robertson said what Wilmington
needs Is a Public Safety Commission, to
take over the fire and police departments
and make them harmonic
MIR Boycc called attention 10 depart
mental friction
Mr. Robertson said he had written to
= number OF insurance agents IN Whining
ton. inqmrIng their views on the paid
fire department matter, and 5le per
cent would have 10 be paid on It, The
CITY now is paving s25S. 600 interest
annually tie promised that st the next
session of the Legislature City Council
will come here with a Paid Fire Depart
ment bill that viii take into ConsIdcra-
ton every element involved
Three rephed. while others did not
One. however had told him Wilmington
did not expect a lower rate OF insurance
even if the change was made though the
firm told hun, individually the members
favored paid fire department.
MIR Robertson was cross-examlned by
MIR. Connolly snd when asked whether
he knew that the Volunteer Firemen'
Relief Association was getting $1,000
wear from City Council he said he had
recently learned it. But, he said, ''if
YOU contend it is illegal and are willing
to stand for it, /, as chairman q the
finance committee Of Council, will see
that il is cut off
He said he believed, however, that it is
legal, while Mr.. Connolly declared City
Council has no legal right TO pay money
TO any private corporation in that matter
MIR Robertson said the matter Will be
referred to City Solicitor Bayard before
any money is paid.
The debate continued until 1Z.50
o clock, when q recess was taken until
2 o'clock, the vote going over until the
afternoon session
Injured Lieut rrnuOyss