Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-04
FIRE DEPARTMENT CRITICS.

Editor Every Evening May | he
pardoncd for requesting Just little space
in Your grand, old paper tn give expression
10 a few thoughts that present themselves
to me az tins time? The Chamber of
Commerce, without, ! am quite sure con-
sultlng either the people, or the peoples
representatives elected 10y them, the
MAYOR and Council, have prepared n blu,
copy of which appeared IN the daily
press recently. to he presented To. and ITS
passage urged hv the legislature creating
in and for this oIty a paid Fire Depart
mcnt This plan, MIR Editor, is in bar
mOny with the policy Of that distinguished
body, 4 seli-curSttuted guardian Of the
city, as demonstrated m recent sessions
Of the Legislature by IL III ignoring the
people rs well as the representatives. the
mayor and Council of our city. Inc
chamber IN question have the same re
gard seemingly, for tho public, the dear
people. MS did vCil-knovn New YORK
railway president some years ago, and
who was frank enough 20 give expression
thereto
This dist lngulshcd body the chamber,
are especially pccved at the volunteer
Fire Department OF oUT city, notvlth-
Istandinc the fact that the department has
| never yct failed To make good when called
upon, and IN its long life oi IA years y
! has never had 10 appeal for outside aid IN
protcctInC the homes and other properties
~ tho people Would II not bc well Tor
! tho sand chamber To extend IFS guardian
| shIp 10 certain and much-nccdcd improve
mCnts that are q condition and not n
| theory For instance, a Policc Depart
mont that was. and only q few wears ago.
| second to mono in tho United States, and
today j. in q crippled condition through
retirement and resignation of about % per
cent az It's membership, due TO better
wage conditions outside, conditions that
| could not bc met by the mayor and Coun-
| Gil under tho existing laws, without I'M
posing further hardship upon the people.
| Did anyone hear of a clamor from The
chamber backing up the Council ana
Police Department IN their efforts 10 give
Ia the people the necessary police protec-
tion? That could only be accomplished
nv providing The Council with authority
10 raise the funds necessary 10 retain the
men trained IN police duties, and make
their poSitiors financially attractive.
II has been stated repeatedly that the
condition of many of our public school
buildings was not only disgrace, but 2
menace We have not heard even whis-
pcr from the chamber tbou, that !,
probably then children do not have to
attend the public schools
The Harbor Commission has Just sub
mitted its report TO the City Council,
including therein certain recommendations
that If carried out would benefit every
man, woman and child IN this city. We
have not heard Of any movement within
the Chamber encouraging the City
Council TO adopt the recommendation rs
in question, and thereby firmly establish
WilminCton's future. OF course, It Is
we'll understood that the failure Of the
"chamber" TO name the members Of the
Harbor Commission has nothing TO do
with the case.
Nav | suggest that the condition OF
the streets the necessity for one or more
farmers markets where We can secure
produce independent of street sweeplngs,
as well rs public hall much needed in tins
CITY. might be very prohtably considered
bv these self-constituted city guardians,
much more prohtably than knocking a
Fire Department far superior 10 many,
and equal 10 any fire department. vOlun-
teer or full paid, in the United States.
Give the City Council full control of
the management and discipline of our
splendid FIRE Department, completing
its efficiency thereby, save at least $780,
900, spend II for real necessities that will
benefit all our people
Stop knocking, try d little boosting
for Wilmington. T. r. Kane.
Wilmington, Jan. 3, 1919.