Evening journal., 1918-03-08
FRIEI D5HIP FREAEN
ARE READY TO OUT
Will Gladly Help in Paid
Department Project When
Council Says the Word
WILL COLLECT
ALL UNPAID TAKE

department occupied the attention OF
CITY Council last evening The most
important one and one which it is
Aanght may he the FIRST movement to-
ward a paid FIRE department for the
citv was resolution adopted by the
Friendship Fire Company in which the
eompsny asserted that it viii retire
from active nre duty whenever Council
SO desires
The subject was brought before
Council in a letter which was referred
20 Che fire committee without any com
ment. The letter follows:
"The Hon. President and Members or
Council, Wilmington, Delaware
"Genllemen-The Friendship Fire
Company No. 1 herewith sends your
honorable body a copy Of a resolution
adnpted by this company.
Recognizing that your body IS the
one body in this city which represents
ihe people Of Wilmington and the only
one which Is responsible to the people
~ Wiimington. this company, which
has been doing active and efficient fire
service IN Wilmington since the year
i775, desires TO place itself on record by
Informing you:
That at any time when your honor
able body, as the representative body
OF the city and responsible to the peo-
Die o. this city. considers that paid
Are department is desirable and neces-
sary, this company will retire from
active flre service and viii assist you
OF any committee appointed by you
and composed Of representatives Of the
city government. to form a paid fire
department which will be capable and
efficient.
I'VE feel that the Council Of VIII
minEton, elected by the people and re-
snonsible 10 the people. is the body
which should decide this Important
subject that IL has the interests Of the
city al heart and will do what II con-
siders best for the people in general
For this reason we make the offer sug-
zested and stand ready 10 lend our CO.
operation as the oldest fire company In
Wilmington and a company which is
admitted to be well equipped and to
have given efficient fire service in the
past as It Is giving at the present time
Naturally. IL Is proud OF the service
which 70 has and is giving and proud
Of the record which it has made.
1T feels, however, that your body
is the only one which has a voice In
this Aatter, as It is the one composed
OF direct representatives OF the people
and Il. therefore. states its position di-
rectly to YOU and at the same time
expresses a Willingness to abide by
your views when you make a demsior
on this most Important subject
Chief OF Police George Black notlne'
Council that The fre chiefs and the fir
companies were violating the automo
bile laws Of the state by not displaying
license tags on their machines. IL wa
explalned that such machines are pro
rlded with tags without cost by thl
state but that under a ruling OF tbs
State treasurer, all cars should carry
tags n was decided TO send copy oi
Chief Blacks letter to the fire depart
ment officials and companies.
The fire committee Of Council also
submitted It's report Of the recent an
nuaI Inspection Of the department. The
committee recommended that the Della
ware and Phoenix trucks be equipped
with hose.
The Councnmen also received a let
ter FROM the WASHINGTON Heights Cen
tury Club In which they advocated al
lowing the Board Of Education an extrs
appropriation for establishing might
schools for foreigners. The communi
cation was ordered lled.
City Treasurer Banks reported th'
hank balances to be S554,2l5.s2.
Council adopted a resolution request
ng CITY Solicitor Bayard tc proceed
without delay in collecting all taxei
unpaid on city properties from th'
years 1908 to 1916 inclusive. This mat
Ter was brought before Council b,
Councilman Robertson, chairman OF tn
0nance committee, who stated that 70
the years mentioned there was due tn
city $4,000.
The resolution as adopted by IN
Council read as follows
Whereas, There. are still outstandin
and unpaid real estate taxes in bot
fhe Northern and Southern Districts
Tie city for the years 1908 to 1916, in
elusive, aggregating upwards Of s9o
COO; and
"Nhereas, The owners Of the proper
ties upon which these taxes have nj
been paid, have. during the above mel
Toned wears, received full considers
lion from the city in the way Of healu
police. IRE and lighting service and II
general administration Of the affairs
the city, and
NNneredS, IL Is lue uubH OF al plvl
erty owners to pay their taxes fro
year 10 year as the same become dI
IN order that the affairs Of the eli
may be properly, efficiently and ec
nomicaily administered, and
VVhereas. Owing to the increas'
cost Of all materials and matters whi6
the city must furnish, the money dl
from the taxpayers requires that q
uncollected taxes, aforesaid, should
paid promptly ami that no further c
tension Of time should be granted
inc said deiinqent taxpayers; mo-
tberefore. be it
AResolyed, That the city solicitor
and he hereby is requested to proce
without any delay to the, collection
all Of the unpaid taxes for the yea
zoos 10 1916 inclusive, using all prop
ana legal means therefore. to the e.
that the Just debts contracted for
the city may be paid and that Z
consideration given by the city to I
taxpayers be compensated for by q
1Aunaent of the said taxes"