Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-30

been very satisfactory. He said
Council will have the contracts ready
this afternoon and they will be de-
| ivered personally at each FIRE house.
Most of the fire companies will meet
this avcning and are expected to Sign
the contracts. The Independence co.
has called special meeting for to-
night 10 act on the contract
Murray Praises FIremen.
Councilman Murray said he could not
ace the meeting terminated without
some comment on tho aetion of the
firemen lie said the neficn showed
that tho volunteers are all that has
ever been claimed For them good.
loyal citizens, who are willing TO re-
main on duty TO protect the lives and
property of the citizens. lie said he
sincerely hoped that some das the
flremen would come into their own
President Ward said they never
doubted that the firefnen would do
other than just what they had done.
lie said the motto of the department,
when in need we hasten To assist.
had been proven. but he and the other
members of Council felt sure that
when the city needed the help Of the
flremen they would not be found
wanting. He highly colnplimented
the firenen and said II would be a
relief 10 the citizens TO know that they
are not TO be left without adequate
protection.
There was a long discussion over a
question raised BY the fremen IL in
the event of accident TO their appara-
tus during the three months service.
the city would reimburse them for
any damage sustained. They argued
that they hava tentative agreements
with the safety directors for the sale
of their engines and they did not
want anything % interfere with that
sale. They thought the city should
make good any damages sustained
while in the temporary service Of tfie
city. President Ward assured them
that any damage to their engines will
not alter the tentative purchase price
agreed upon by themselves and the
safety directors. He said however. any
wilful damage 10 the enginer viii
change the price entirely. He said
Council could not guarantee 10 pay
them FOR any dsmage sustained in an
accident during the three months tem-
porary service.
There then followed much discus
sion over the manfer in which The city
shall pay for the three months service.
Council first offered 70 make serni-
monthly payments. A majority Of the
fire companies, however. thought IL
would help them more 10 have the
entire quarterly appropriation paid in
advance and Il was finally agreed to
do this, with the provisu, however.
that any uuexpended sums that are
on hand should the contract be ter
minated before the end OF the three
months. be refunded 10 Council.
The Fame Representatives wautsd
90 know what they would do If during
the next three months they have
chance to sell their house. This is one
of the houses the safety directors hsI
not taken over. Mr.. McManua told
them that In such an event they
should sell the house and cauurll
would provide other quarters for them
for the city would not stand in the
way of sale of their property. lie
said any other company could do the
same. should the occasion arise.
The question of whether the Coln-
oil owes some of the companies s27s.
the balance Of the 81 500 promised
them last year when some Of the com
panies insisted on getting an incraas-
I'd appropriation. was discussed at
length. but without results. The fire.
men claimed the old Council promised
them the money. but Council contend
ed the promise was made with the
proviso that payment be made only