Evening journal., 1919-11-13
Again URGE PAID
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Councilmen Think Time for
Taking Advanced Step
Has Arrived
SAY BILL WAS
KILLED BY COMPANIES

The perennial question Of a modern
city paid fire department is up again.
This time it has arisen like a sala-
mbnder from the ruins Of the Kresge
store on Market street. which was
burned out early Wednesday morning.
To City Councilman Mulvena must be
given credit for raising it
When City Council assembled in COM
mittee OF the whole last evening. Mr.
Mulvena expressed highest praise for
the work Of the volunteer Are fighters
at the Kresge fire. but asked who was
to compensate the men who were in
jured. both for their sunerings and
time lost from daily work lie was in
formed the city had nothing 10 do with
such compensation under its contract
with the volunteer service.
Il believe the question has come 10
the point Of cold, hard business" said
Mr.. Mulyena,' and 10 Is high time the
city should have paid department.
whose members viii be ever on duty.
AAhN NAAf INAANNf az NNA AAWuA y va NAAN ~ ~
and day. ! believe such a paid depart
ment would pay for itself in reduced
fire insurance premiums. At any rate
brave citizens should not have 10 risk
their lives and health and employment
without proper compensation.
Councilman Kane replied that agitn-
tion for a paid city lre department had
been going on, according 10 his recOl-
lection for iG years. He referred 10 the
bill presented % The last Legislature 10
give Council power 90 organize and
operate q paid department whenever It
thought 70 necessary. THAT bill, how
ever" he said ''w1s killed"
IL do not believe there Is a. single
member Of Council, except he be
member Of a volunteer company. who
today is not I'm favor OF a paid ser
vice" said Mr. Kane. No one dissented
from this proposition.
Here Mr.. Mearns charged that the
volunteer nremen had killed" the bill
referred TO. lie further charged
that the collision which occurred at
the Kresge fire was due 10 the drivers
exceeding a safe speed limit In this
he was seconded by Mr.. Lyon. presi-
dent of Council. VINO recalled that the
nremen had been repeatedly w0rned
against driving at a faster rate than
20 miles an hour on the streets espe- |
cially in the heart of the city.
Every old fireman wants and favors |
a paid department. said Mr.. Kane. I
The only ones who do not want one /
are the young men"
There was a general nOdding Of heads !
In approval al this, and some one re-
marked that tho fire companies are
not letting in young men any longer"
This remark was In line with charges
which have been made that members
II fire companies which possess large I
lssets do not want 20 share these as
iets with new members
Mr.. Mearns. continuing, referred 20
he last meeting OF Council as com /
niitee Of the whole. when the cXecu-
i've committee Of the fire department
IppChred before 10 and urged estab-
shment Of a bureau Of fire prevention.
At that time Mr.. Mearns had read an
ordinance of Council. passed in 1915.
alling upon the chief and his two as
istanls to inspect cellars and property
nd report any menacing conditions. A
enally for failure Of property owners
o nbale such menaccs is provided in
he ordinance.
The executive committee replied 10
idn't know Of such ordinance. and that
moreover. the city was so honey
ombed with fire men0ces that 20 sin
le out any one. or a few Of Them was !
veil nigh impossible. One member Of ,
he committee also declared that The .
ellar OF a five and ten cent store on j
iarkct street was daily filed with in !
material and that just such a 4
re as wrecked the Kresge store was q
kelly TO occur al any time.
"The fire department heads have had /
wOck 10 look into and correct this
lonace.' s0id Br Mearns. but iudg- =
lg from today's fire it doesn't appear II
} have done much"
Councilman Murray urged an immedi-
Ie inspection of an suspected danger =
US places. and suggested that a city :
lection DE held 10 decide whether or d
Of the city wanted a paid deh2rt- :
lent.
Building Inspector Ellis Preston. who n
as present suggested an amendment 10 :
ia ciiy ordinances TO provide safer \
I.mncys Two recent fires have been r
iused by defective flucs, be said y
Here thc debate ended and without 4
ny definite action. having been taken. .