Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-14
G,teulat'o9 Gvsuias 9estsfday Exfiy 138Cl
Arc We to Be Still Further "Muddied

Irc;,ca 70 active movement by real
.,;oencv. one that may seriously impair
the already precarious system OF hre pro
,ection existing in our city, the Chamber
=, Commerce sent to City Council, at
Thursday nights meeting, communica-
zion earnestly advising prompt and Ell
fective action in the direction OF strength
ening our Fire Department. In TINS COM
opnication il was pointed out that some
~ tho companies Of the present volunteer
dsnartment are considering refusal 10
continue their service contracts with the
city. and that any weakening OF the oe-
partment would threaten material cur
tailment of the property insurance no"
enioved by our people. In view OF TINS
.cr;ous situation. the communication
asked CITY Council for immediate action
and especiallv for definite declaration IN
favor of paid Fire Department.
The response of City Council was 10 re-
for this important communication to the
committee of the whole body
Councils ridiculous committee OF the
whole" sessions are at variance with 'iie
parliamentary rule for such action by
nublic BODY. as they simply consist OF an
informal gathering OF the members each
Wednesday evening TO discuss questions
that may be pending. No binding action
,an no taken at these gatherings, although
occasionally they may answer the purpose
Il caucus But the fact 70 be considered
that the Citv Council thus disposed OF
INC of the most important questions with
which il has been called upon to deal, one
that affects the material interests OF all
o,,r nronertv-owning citizens, those who
nav the bulk Of the taxes assessed ana
collected for support Of our munlcipai
administration.
Such trifing is really alarming. IL mas
continued for long time in respect OF the
Fire Department For more than year
the present emergency has been imminent,
vs> the CITY Council has taken no steps to
meet it. Now. on being approached Dy a
body which represents the great business
interests Of the city. it contentsltself WIN
referring the matter TO the committee OF
The whole" What the committee OF the
whole" may do about it the Lord only
knows.
!. II is not because the City Council is
HELPLESS that it thus trifes with such an
irnportant matter. 1t has ample authority
to establish paid Fire Department-the
only real solution of the probien-and
should have taken steps IN this drectloh
months ago. 1t may make the move at
any meeting, but shows not the shghtes'
djsposition 20 do so. Meanwhile, the IN
s;,rance authorities have made survey
of the fire protection service OF the CITY
revealed it's Deficiencies, plainly polnteo
ont the wav to reform, and polntedly ID
timated that unless something soon done
70 nrovide for an effective system OF hr'
fighting. they will withdraw their business
from our community But eventhls start
ling threat of summary and far-reachini
evil does not make any impression upol
the CITY Council. It nonchalantly refer
the subject to the committee OF INT
whole" as though it were Of no more I'M
portance than the mere planting OF al
additional freplug.
VIII anything serve TO arouse our puoh
officials to a sense Of their duty, to
realization of the really alarming situatio
that plainly reveals the miserable lnei
fciency of our city and county admin
istrations? II existing conditions, whic
are now positive torment to thousand
of citizens, do not have fhis effect, nothIn
will