Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-02
CITY AUTHORITIES
Continued from page !

less not satisfied with the whole situation.
Today an engineer from the New York
Office Of the Underwriters was expected,
but whether he came could not be learned.
Both Of these men were sent here, IT IS
understood to make q quiet survey OF
conditions, paying particular attention
TO what the large buyers Of fire insurance
thought Of things
WANT QUITTING COMPANIES TO SIGN.
Certain men interested in bringing
about a quick solution Of the situation are
today seeking to exert influence TO get the
five companies that failed To sign a city
contract To do so and have them restored
to the citys fire department. This moye-
ment meets with considerable oppe sition
from some Of the leading citizens, who
believe il would only be temporary
measure and that grave difficulties wuld
again crop up when the contracts. whether
for six months or q year. had expired.
The men interested, however feel that
il would solve the problem just now and
insure service that would preven San
increase in Insurance rates. They think
that because Of the financial condition
of several Of the quitting companies,
the members would welcome such an
idea II has been publicly announced by
officials of ut least three of the five Of
CARNATIONS that refused to sign contracts
for another year that their companies
were CARRYING notes in the banks. to cover
debts These notes were drawn, it IS said
81 that each member Of the company Is
responsible for his proportionate share
In case the companies do not sign up and
benefit by the money received from the
city, then IL will be up 10 the members Of
the companies carrying these obligations
to make good the debts This may have
strong influence in bringing about a
signature TO the contracts.
Those seeking to bring about this
harmony plan say that the companies
would be assured as they have been in
the past few weeks by Council, that any
deficiencies financially would be looked
after by Council
COUNCIL TO HEAR PLANS TONIGHT.
II is very likely that at the regular
meeting of Council tonight, Chairman
Abrahams may have something definite
10 present to IT, He is working today 70
obtain the data regarding the purchase OF
loan Of fire apparatus and IS also seeking
information concerning possible fire houess.
There IS but one section that is causing
much trouble and that i, in South VIII
mington, it IS said.
II il learned that mnaufacturer Of
this city, who Is Interested in seeing that
his property receives fire protection and
that the rates ARE not increased, today
communicated with the Underwriters in
New York City and obtained a tentative
promise from them not to take any drastic
step here until the plans Of Council are
learned. The Underwriters, 1t was said,
do not want To embarrass the patrons Of
insurance companies in this city, and are
willing TO wait few days longer, until
Council has made some announcement Of
what it will and can do.
Local insurance companies, II is said
are waiting 10 see what action the Under
writer's take before deciding what their
course shall be
CUTTERS BOUND BY GESTLEaAS's AGREE
MENT.
II is a gentlemen 3 agreement that is
standing in the way of the purchase of the
apparatus Of the companies that quit, ac-
cording to information gwen Council. IL
is said that the FIVE companies whose
representatives have been holding meet
ings almost nightly for many weeks,
agreed TO stand or fall together. In this
IL Is understood that they were bound bv
the same pledge concerning the purchase Of
apparatus BY the city If this Is so, IN
case the city wants 10 buy the apparatus of
all the companies il would be satisfactory
but noscompany was TO sell any apparatus
unless all were taken into consideration.
This handicaps Council. Some of the
companies have machines modern enough
to be of service, but there are others that
have apparatus that Is antique and which
would not be a Iudlcious investment for
the city. That Is the reason Council s
= r.-~,roax{Srer 80 hrE.- II
sible, APPARATUS from out of the city.
COUNCIL CONSIDERS FIRE SITUATION.
Wilmington's insufficient protection
from fire was briefly discussed by CITY
Council in committee Of the whole last
| night
Councilman Mearns announced that
| city officials are working on FIRE service
| plans which will be concrete sos n, and
| Councilman Forwood said the plans will
probably be disclosed st Councils regular
meeting tonight.
Having an important engagement out
of town, President Lyon was excused from
attending the regular meeting.
Council received and filed communi-
cation from the executive committee of
the conservation and Fire Protection
| Committee of Wilmington, suggesting
that the city commander the equipment
of the fire companies which refused 70
sign fire service contracts for the ensuing
| year.
| FIRE PREVENTION COMMITTEE : LETTER.
Following is the text of the letter from
the executive committee of the Conserva-
ton and Fire Prevention Committee of
| Wilmington.
September /, 1920
| The President and Members of The
Council of Wilmington:
| Gentlemen:
The Executive Committee of the
Conservation and Fire Prevention
Committee. of Wilmington, in. ses-
sion at noon today, has given very
thoughtful consideration TO the situa-
ton now confronting Wilmington in
connection with its municipal fire
protection Ii is the desire OF this
committee to be of whatever assist
anee possible 10 The Council in the
solution of this serious problem. and,
with that end in view. respectfully
submits for your consideration the
following suggestions;
With very thorough realization
OF the fact that the entire matter IS
not one affecting only the income of
the retiring fire companies, or the
expense TO the city, but rather one
L