Evening journal., 1921-01-18
FIREMEN FOR
PAID SERVICE,
TELL COUNCIL
lcontInued From FIrst Pagsl

Continued From flrst fae'1
present, having 20 attend the school
survey meeting
The answers Of the various COM |
panies TO the Quesiionnaires sent them |
BY council were first considered, ana /
then the meeting was opened for gem
eral discussion on The proposed Dill /
establishing a paid fire department In /
Wilmington
Georee b. Ward. president ef the |
Phoenix company started the discus |
sion by asking what had become OF
the money representing the allowance |
70 the Phoenix company Tor uie |
maintenance OF It's amhulances ana
the money allotted in the Washing /
ton companys appropriation for a
chemical engine. amounting 70 ABOUT
g.. 500 which remained in the ilre de-
partment appropriation because or
discontinuance Of the apparatus.
Martin Y. Farrell. OF the Washing
con company then declared that II
was an Injustice TO the Wilmington
Fire Department 10 have that amount
OF money charged up TO rs aprro-
priation when II never received IT,
This money, Mr.. Abrahams explain
ed. was spent this year IN providing
motor cars for the chief engineer and
assistant engineers, but he was unable
10 say what had become Of II the pre-
ceding year as he was not IN council
Mr.. FARRELL wanted to know II So
600 of the amount had not been given
for the purchase OF a police amhul-
ance, TO which Mr.. Lyon answered
that the polias ambulance cost So
900
owed the Phoenix company 500 Tor
The use. OF its ambulance In the last
six months 10 was in service. lie said
that the company had asked Council
Tor this money but had not received
anv answer and he wanted TO know
what had become OF II.
Mr.. Abrahams was unable to en-
tighten him.
In his remarks concerning the pro
posed bin, one citizen questioned as
10 whether politics would not enter
into the paid fire department The
mestion prompted Colonel Weller p.
Stover 10 take the iloor. He said that
as long as there is a Republican and
a Democratic party In WlminStun
there will always be a certain amount
Of politics The matter. he felt, was
one that should be submitted TO the
people for a referendum vote, as ne
was OF the opinion harbor board mat
ters should have been and tue prppos-
ed new city charter should be decid-
ed on.
Colonel Stover did not feel that II
was right for Council TO have TO buy
All the property OF the department.
Mr. Connolly reviewed the achieve
ments OF the volunteer fire depart
ment IN Wilmington since its estab-
lishmcnt December %, 100. IN It's i41
years. the department has never tail-
I'd. he declared, and has never had 10
fria hAIn Nu
that the department is not asking
any fayors but that II wants TO be
fairly dealt with.
Mr.. Abrahams, commenting on MT.
Connelly's talRk, said that every nen-
Der OF Council appreciates what u'e
volunteer department has done ana
that the department viii be fairly
treated.
Nr Connolly. in the course OF the
discussion of the bill, remarked thai
a referendum Is not held as legal
whereup0n Colonel StoVer reminded
him of the state iudici0ry's decision
on The scl.ool code, holding the refer
endum lawful
-But the referendum was embodied
in the hiin answered Mr.. Connolly
which drew forth the remark mat
referendum could be provided for II
the proposed paid fire department
The questionnaire formulated b.
CITY Council and sent TO the clever
volunteer fire companies and answer
ed by the companies last night, iol
lowing the holding OF special meet
inCS FOR its consideration the pas
week. contained the following ques
tons.
Will YOU assist In establishing
paid fire department. or
DO you still favor a volunteer nr
Do YOU approve OF the attached bi
(ihe proposed paid fire department
bilN?
changes that should be embodied
viii your company sign anoths
contract with the city after the eNpif
alton OF the present one
Mould not 10 majority OF yor
members rather take proper trainln
and then be paid for nghting ilresY
Would mol this method reimburs
the members FOR their share OF IN
creased taxes they object TO paying?
The answer OF the Reliance CON
many set forth that the compan
would assist in the establishing OF
paid fire department, that 10 did no
favor the volunteer system, but tina
IL did not approve OF the propose
bill The company suggested that sec
tiOn 4 Of The BIN be amended so as {
read that Council buy an the pr0nert
now owned by The various comranie
IN recognition OF past services rem
dercd by the members Of the fire dc
partment.
The company stated that Il woul
sign a contract at the expiration d
its present one IL acceptable. that IN
majority OF It's members would rathe
take proper training and be paid: ths
10 could not answer the question as I
whether the majority Of the member
did moi feel that the method woul
reimburse them FOR the share OF In
creased taxes
The communication explained thi
DDIUE AWAY HEADArH|