Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-21
H,rsuIn''0" 1venns Yesterday ae9s | 3O( s
TuEsOAl JANUARY u. 1919
For Department of Public Safety.


The hill sent 10 Dover, for the con-
us3eration OF the Legislature, CREATING
Drpartment Of Public Safety for the city
of Wilmington, Will attract more than
passing interest among he citizens Of
Wilmington for II provides tor very
important changes, chief among which is
che creation of q paid tire Department.
The hill. said to have been drawn by
Philip /. Garrett, Emarkcd by clarity
of expression decidedly unusual IN the
reneral run Of legislative measures, most
al which. bv rvason Of the language Cm-
pIoyed. are somewhat hszy 90 the com
prchsnsion Of the average lay reader
But th,s measure Is clear and explicit IN all
kts statements, and leaves no doubt ss 70
s1s intent and purpose And they are
TO t1ke over the pohcr ID psrtment and
s%he Fire Department of the city, with
sxnple authority, hy due processes fully
ld-,Ailed, take the latter away fr m its
volunteer environments, within which Il
Ihas operated for nesriy a century and a
AMn. and convert Il INTO fixed depart
snert Of the municipal administration
oper.t>d oonclusvely ~ the munici-
sp>lity.
In prrvidrng for this change, however
the measure doeS not assume the violent
characteristics of '1ppcr scheme II
provides that the present members OF the
f'ohoe Commission shall constitute the
membership . the proposed Depart
ment If puhhc safety and continue 10
serve until the nj II their respective
terms, upon which successive appoint
n,ents shall - made \ the mayor sui
set 70 confirmation ~ the City Council
Al present members II the Police COM
.mrsion are appolnted ty the resident
Judge of the superior Court Therefore.
the new measure would nl,riN ohauge the
status ~ the present Police Comm.~>ou,
enlarge its powers. extend 'hc jurisdiction
and allow for future appointments in
satisfactory manner
The most important change 10 hc
effected hy this measure - in respect Of
she Fire Department. nder rs pro-
VISIONS the present volunteer firc De
control OF the proposed Department Of
Public safety The latter body however
would be clothed with authority 10 con
v~rt the Fire Department from volunteer
20 pad. with ample details set forth as 20
she procedure necessary to this end
II must be admitted that as drawn
sr,sdy for presentation 70 the Legislature,
the bill Is not to he regarded sc extraor-
cIn.vy or alarming Il would virtually
continue the present Police Commission,
with some enlargement Of its powers and
t,,ssibly some better arrangements a. to
So methods of administration And 1t
would pave the way 20 the introduction
OF paid FIre Department for our city
change which many good citizens most
earnestly favor
The only quest iona ble feature Of the
presentation Of this bill 81 Dover Is the
fnct that IL wss not first laid tefore the
City Council While il viii be admitted
that the !udgm, NJ of the latter body has
not for q long while commanded large
measure OF public confidence. or even
respect, yet propnety Of procedure de-
mands that measures affecting our form
OF municipal administration should he
submitted 10 the CITY Council before
being sent 10 the Legislature Probably
this may be done IN respect Of til,
measure And in the event the City
Council should treat the measure with
discourtesy, and fail 70 extend 70 il
prompt considera ION ITS backers would
then be justified ID launching i al Dover,
with d Griu intention Of doing everything
possible to secure as passage
- iar a. paid f.re Department is con
cerned We believe the judgment u ma
iority of the cltlzens and taxpayers OF
Wilmington j. favorati. Al any rate ii
this proposed measure they viii have tho
subject placed squaIcly Deforr them III
concrete form For this bIl. while il
leaves final action open to the contem-
plated Department oi Pubic Safety, aims
directly az the outcome Of palo FIRE
Depar ment oRnc ~ the city con
trolled by a municipal agency and TO
longer subject 70 the yagaries Of control
by various independent organizations of
hre-tghters w believe il would be well
Tor our people ta give careful considera-
tiou 10 this measure and To extend 10 Il
Their approval if i shall appear u them
TO promise a practical and profitable re-
form