Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-22
ROTARY CLUB MEN
Go ON RECORD FOR
PAID FIRE SERVICE
Pledge Their United and Individu-
al Efforts Toward Securing
Public Betterment.
OPINION CONCENTRATING

The action taken hy the Rotary Club
~ ITS meeting Yesterday IN adoptinga n res
olution placing the organization collec-
ftvclV and individually on record as
flVorahlc to the INSTALLATION of a paid fire
department. brings into the .Irc department
-ittiation an influence of great power and
onc most welcome Ia those who have been
working to eliminate the present volunteer
-vStem What Is moro, II shows that public
,pnion - rapidly hardening into such q
ofm that when the proper time comes
he movement will have achieved more
pawcr than K ever had and far more
nsistcnt voice To demand a change
Following the Robin fire, sentiment
among business men, manufacturers and
property owners IN general became
.,roused more than ever to the absolute
necessity of such movement. Shoulder
lng for years, the paid department idea
would break out into SpaSmodlc flame,
hguratlvclv. AZ intervals. hut because oi no
responsible organization becoming really
active IN the matter. little was done other
than assist in stirring public sentiment.
The Chamber OF Commerce, at lis
annual meeting last month. unanimously
adopted the recommendation contained
IN the annual reports Of its officers that
,nc az the two main objects toward which
the activities Of that body should bc direct
~ during this year should bc the installa-
ION of a paid firr department.
At the regular meeting Of the board Of
directors of the Chamber, held Yesterday
afternoon, tho president was authorized
- appoint permanent committee whose
dut, u should be to investigate the pro
Jcct
Interested property owners, who long
havc looked with antiCipatory fc3r on the
methods oi operating the present depart
mcnt. even though admitting the general
excellence Of its equipment and the APP
parrnt desire of many of the individual
trrmcn 10 render the best service OF which
they WIRE capable. are much elatpd over
the turn the affair has taken, and the
open activity which Is promised by
the introduction OF such responsible
organizations as the Manufactures Asso-
clation, the Rotary Club, and the Cham
her Of Commerce. As far rs can be learned,
there has been no action taken on the
part Of the present department, its officers.
or companies, looking toward cohesive ac-
ton "a combat the movement Tor the
elimination Of the present system. Ip
TACT, u Is said BY some OF the frcmen
that there are many of their number
who realize that Wilmington has out
grown the present system to such an
extent that the volunteer system has
reached such stage that IL would be
practically impossible to improve on
~ efficiency. or lack Of il, because OF
rs vcry weight, and that the only feasible
tction To take would be TO accede 20 public
icmand. and assist the business mems
EXAMINATIONS in their efforts for paid
department.
While there has been no arrangement
or JOINT or united action on the part OF
nc organizations interested, up to this
tune II Is understood hat the appointment
ment OF representatives of the three
bodies will be urged, to meet in joint
SESSION. and arrange for united plan of
campaign Those who are taking the lead
m the matter believe that the members OF
the General Assembly at ITS next session
will listen 60 and acquiesce in the petition
of the consolidated business and home
owning interests of Wilmington, and grant
them the protection they ask.