Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-12
GEORGE Basil NAMED
CITY FIRE MARSHAL
City Council Takes Bull By The
Horns and Breaks Deadlock
NEW FIRE ENGINE NEEDED
Present AutO-Pumpsr Is Out of Com
missioa and Expensive Repairs
Are Needed immediately.

George Basil, one OF the best and
most experienced fire, lighters of the
/ local department. was last night Sc
lected by the City Council TO I'll the
vacancy in the position Of City Fire
Marshal caused hy the death some
time ago of Marshal Phil f. Porter.
( His selection followed a long dead
lock i'm The Firemeu's City Convention.
at which. after many ballots. the dele
gates from the Water Witch. Resue.
and Independent Companies could not
arrive at a selection between Mr..
Basil. and Messrs John dep. Douw
and George Frank Jr
When the hremen so reported to the
Council last night and asked that with
these three names before them the
City Fathers make q selection there
occurred a lengthy debate. Counsel
Tor Pullman cuutended that under the
provisions OF the City Code providing
the election of a Marshal only one
mamie could be submitted to the Coun-
ell for ratification or rejection. He
pointed oUt that as The section of the
Code applicable had been SO drafted
that il did not meet such a contingency
as had arisen, the best way out of the
difficulty was 10 nave an ordinance
drafted and after meeting on Friday in
special session and ratifying this tho
Council take up the election. This
was voted down, however, as was the
motion of Alderman Smith that the
iiremeu be communicated with and
told they had not carried out the pro-
visions of the Code I'm selecting one
name for the action of the Council.
AS both Mr. Douw and Mr.. Frank
had formally withdrawn their names
from consideration by the Council
that body then went into an election
and selected Mr.. Basil
In connection with the Fire Depart
meDt OF the city there was also taken
up the proposition of strengthening
the fire lighting apparatus. Mayor
Strange announced that the automo-
bile pumping engine at the Independ-
ent truck house has not only been out
Of commission some time bur seems
likely to remain SO for a considerable
time longer He announced that it
would take at least 81 900 ta make the
necessary repairs and questioned the
adyisability of spending that much in
temporary repairs He said he
thought it would probably be better 10
buy a new engine. After pointing out
the necessity for two pumping engines
in a town the size of Annapolis, he
said 1t would probably cost $4,000 or
$4,000 to buy an automobile tractor
for the old Silsby steamer, and in adj
dition, to get another auto-engine.
There was a lengthy discussion OF
this, and it was finally determined to
refer the matter TO the Fire Depart
ment Committee to act upon the re-
pairs to the present engine and at the
same time secure the necessary data
regarding the purchase of additional
or new equipment
During the meeting last night,
Mayor Strange announced to the Coun-
ell that he has talked with Governor
Harrington upon the subject Of the
state appropriation of 81 600 annual
~ toward the maintenance of the
Fire Department Of Annapolis, which
gives the many State buildings in An
napolis their only protection from fire
Ie said the Governor had assured
him this appropriation was provided
for in the budget for the next two
years and would not be discontinued.
Don't fen to see beautiful Catherine
Calvert, in Behind the Mask"-C Col
onial, Wednesday. adv. 2tfl2