Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-02
fse fvening emmy, Yesterday l.OUZ
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 2, 1872
Danger Deliberately Invited.

Danger Deliberately ihNi'cu'
The citv of Wilmington is now COM
neIled TO meet a serious crisis-and one
deliberately invited by official ncapaclty.
indifference and i4decision on the part Oh
CITY Council-in respect of fire protection.
Witb n Volunteer Fire Department COM
noscd of twelve organizations. and with
conditions on this basis which long had
caused uneasiness in the minds of dis
turbed owners Of property by reason ol
intimations Of either increased insurance
rates or withdrawal Of insurance protec-
mon the CITY now has department COM
posed ofonlv six companies, reduction Oh
80 pcr cent in it's fire-fghting force ON
companies summarily closed the doors OF
their houses, withdrew their apparatus
and their members from the service anu
announced their determination TO 20 ou,
az the business Of protecting the people OF
Wilmington against the ravages OF hre.
I'm respect of one Of these companies
the Friendship. it is only fair to state that
ITS retirement was in consequence Oh
long-cntertained purpose by us members
"a disband the organization. The disagree
rnent with Citv Council in respect OF the
conversation for fire service during the
roninr wear. VIC understand, dld not
rptcr into its action 1T had resolved 70
.li~band, after an honorable service OF
nearly a century and half-it was
trganized in l775-and there was no DIS
credit in its dissolution. The other hve'
however. refused to render service because
the CITY Council would not meet their
demands in respect of compensation
While. from a severe business point o.
riew. these five companies had legai
light TO refuse TO continue longer IN
service. FROM moral consideration thelI
course is reprehensible. The members OF
,bese FIVE companies are citizens, many
with interests AT stake in common with an
other citizens. Every dollar invested IN
their fire houses and apparatus was con-
tributed bv the people Of Wilmington IN
some form or other, and the annual ap-
prouriations or contract allowances lor
their services came from the puDllc
treasury. Their action in thus summary
withdrawing from active service ana cur
failing the city's fire protection TO such
serious extent, therefore, stands forth as
entirely unjustifed, and an act OF cruei
indifference to the interests OF the com
rnunity of which they are part.
But what shall be said Of the CITY
Council which, in the place OF repeated
warnings. permitted the city to be iorceo
into such dangerous situation? The de-
marfd for change, for a conversion Of the
Volunteer Fire Department into regular
agency of the administration. supported
ntirelv by public money had been IN
Sstent for a long time. The inefhciency'
the lack of assuring dependency upon the
volunteer system was plainly apparent.
Tnsursnce interests investigated the situa-
tion. recommended the change to Pad
Fire Department. and even went TO the
extent Of iniimating that general with
drawal of insurance from the city might
follow unless practical steps were taken 10
Improve existing conditions. How 10 enter
Immediately upon the work OF institutng
Paid Fire Department was clearly
sointed out more than wear ago, ana as
lar as il was ascertainable, public senti-
ment cordially favored the step.
But the City Council continued It's
rrangle with the volunteer fire companies
pver the trivial matter Of contract com
,ensation and did nothing TO avert the
threatened calamity. And the blow has
allen
Now the City Council is wrestling with
Rprecarious situation which it deliberately
invited by its policy of indifference and
lnaction. How to solve the dilemma is
now the problem Six fire companies are
loyal and viii continue in active service,
but the heavy curtailing of the freight
ing force constitutes a dangerous menace.
The head Of the Fire Department is en-
gaged IN a contest for public Office, and
naturally will hesitate at doing anything
that may incite the opposition Of voters
among the membership Of the seeding
ire coinpanies Was ever . community
deliberately plunged into more annoy
ing or dangerous situation!
There seems to be only one ave nue. Of
iure relief and that is TO, Immediately
enter upon the Inauguration Of paid Fire
Department The City Council has
ample author ity let it at once authorize
he work, place il in charge of q commits
non of competent citizeLs, capable and ex-
,erienced business men, and an efhelent
ire-fghting force, thoroughly equipped
luned and controlled by the city, can be
placed On an effective footing in few
months Unless sqme such action is taken
Without delay, the danger of disastrous
:onfagraticn will be most alarming.