Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-31
CITY COUNCIL TO
MEET FIRE ISSUE
60UARElY TONIGHT
Continued from page /
tn the Council clerks during the day
Unusual secrecy and Lack Of Frank.
ness.

"a the COUNCIL clerks during the DAY.
Unusual secrecy and Lack Of Frank.
Il ness.
AT the house of the Fame Co 1t was
stated that they have not yet acted on
the contract. but that the members
would meet tonight and take some
action. At the independents. house II
was announced that they have taken
definite action. but they refused to
disclose just what II was. IL was
said by the members that they would
have nothing To make public relative
20 the matter until their represena-
tivcs APPEARED before Council tonight
AT the Rrandywine house IL was
stated. over the phone. that there ysls
no one who could speak for the com
pany or to say what they had done
relative to the contract IL was am
nounced. however, that they would
have acommittee before City Council
at the meeting of their body tonight
The same information was obtained
fat the Liberty house and at the head
quarters Of the Reliance Co. at the
Washington house II was said thyte
was no one who could speak for that
company. but Martin v. Farrell said
the company would sign AT the
Water Witch headquarters the MEM
hers said the entire matter was I'm the
hands Of their COMMITTEES, which had
power To act. but they tths membersl
did not know what the committee had
decided 10 do. None of the committee
men could be found.
This left seven OF the II companies
in the doubtful list II was pointed out
that should majority Of the volun-
teer companies refuse To sign the CON
tract for temporary service. the city
will be without adequate fire protec-
| ton. Something definite viii have 10
be done tonight. for the contracts with
the several companies expire at mid
| night and thereafter there will be no
/ fire fighting companies In Wilmington
/ except as they should continue as prl-
vate corporations There viii be no
I paid department. 20 become operative
tomorrow. and in this event Council.
it is claimed. will be confronted with
an emergency which will neceSsitate
taking some steps 10 provide such
l protection.
| Council May Create Paid Department.
In ~iew Of the fact and the dc.
veiopments this morning. IL was ap
parentiy the impression of many OF
| flciais and citizens that Council win
| take steps tonight to create paid
! fire department without further de-
/ lay. II is believed this will certainly
/ be done If majority of the volunteers
| refuse to continue I'm service any
| longer. There has been some doubt
in the minds Of the C.eunoilmen as
whether they could be considered in
contempt OF court should they take
such a step IN view of the court pro.
ceedings now pending. but they are
| said 80 have secured strong legal
opinions that they asouid he Justified
| in proceeding to create a paid depart-
| nent and that the courts would s,va-
tain such action because without this
the city would be left at the mercy of
| fire and the lives and property of the
residents would be menaced.
The new developments and the
change of heart among some OF the
companies since their agreement with
Council Monday night are said to have
/ been due fret to the decision of some
OF the company runners TO quit after
tonight and. second. to the desire OF a
| majority of the firemen to force the
issue md practically compel Council
/ 10 take up the work where the safety
directors We're forced 10 drop it. An
other factpr said TO be figuring very
| large in the situation lis the question
among the firemen as To how they
could dispose of their houses and
equipment in the event The Council
did decide 10 create a paid department.
IL was freely asserted this morning
that II the fremen were assured the
city would pay them as much for their
houses and engines as the safety di-,
fectors had agreed to pay them they
would nearly all quit at once and thus
force Council to take definite action
in the matter. Doubt relative TO this
question: it was said. was causing
most Of them to waver between sign
ing the temporary contract and re-
fusing 10 attach their signatures to
the same. Some OF the firemen are
seid to have stated n willingness 10
continue in service for nothing, If
necessary. until such time as the
Council could get the paid department
formed and down TO a working basis,
provided Council would agree 10 take
up this work and to pay the various
companies what the safety directors
hau agreed 10 pay tnem.
City Council viii meet this even
ing, having adjourned Monday night
until tonight. They expect to have
before them committees representing
all Of the eleven volunteer companies
and they will determine finally
whether the temporary three months
contract proposed Monday night are
to be signed or rejected. The Council
men expect to receive later today
rsore than had come in up to noon,
but they We're admittedly dubious this
morning as to whether a majority of
the companies would take favorable
action.
IL Is known the Councilmen We're
busy all morning formulating plans
for their procedure in the event il
becomes necessary for them TO take
up the work of creating a paid fire
department. Just what these plans
are could not be learned, but 1t Yas
.Dtimated that by tomorrow morn
ing they will have a working schedule
If Il becomes necessary with appoint
ments of officers and employees ready,
apparatus arranged for and quarters
in which to house them.