Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-12
DELAWARE FIRE co.
SEEKS TO RESTRAIN
PUBLIC SAFETY BOARD
From Proceeding Further With
Organization of Paid
Department.
LEGAL ATTACK is PLANNED

Holding that the Directors OF the
| Department OF Public Safety have not
complied with the law I'm It's plans te
establish a paid fire department, also
/ that the law in that behalf Is defect
! i've. former City Solicitor Robert G.
IHarman. as counsel for the Delaware
Fire Co, will make application to
/ Chancellor Wolcott. probably in Dover
/ on Monday, for an order restraining
the directors from proceeding further
| in the fire department matter until
such time as the merits Of the propos-
ed action can he determined. Mr.
Harrnan would not disclose the spe-
I eific grounds OF his proposed action
/ today. except 20 confirm. generally
/ the outline OF his plans. as given
above. In fact. he has just been re-
tained and has not completed his Pc
tition to the chancellor.
/ This action is not surprising. in
/ view OF complaints that have been
made that the department was pro-
seeding In the mater of buying real
estate and equipment. either without
advertising for competitive bids. as
far as is known, or making public
the prices paid.
The Delaware fire Co. which is in
strumental in having the proposed
action brought. feels that il has not
been treated fairly. The safety de-
rartment has not bought its house or
equipment. According TO George II.
Taylor. president of the company, no
effort was made TO buy the house,
which was offered for SIG, 900 1t is
| located on French street. below Sixth.
and has a frontage of 81 feet and a
depth of 1Q7 feet II comprises sub
stantiai three-stofy brick building.
Fer the Hayes truck, which the COM
pany bought 61s years ago for s12. 600.
the department offered $4,000, which.
AIR. Taylor says. was refused, claiming
that $4,000 worth OF additional equip
ment has been installed since the
purchase was made. The chassis OF
the truck was built by the Couple
Gear Electric Co. of Grand Rapids,
Mich. and the ladders were Installed
by James Boyd & Bro, of Philadel-
phia. While the claim has been made
that the. latter company is out Of
business. Mr.. Taylor says the former
Is not and he declares no difficulty
has been experienced in securing
parts. The company was fecently
notified by the department. lie said,
after the house had been looked over
ty department representatives and
praised that the department had ac-
quired ten fire houses and would buy
no more. The other one not taken
II is understood. is that OF the Fame
on Second street. near ORANGE
The Delaware Fire Co. according to
Mr. Taylor. has always been most
loyal. 1t was the first, he said, to use
horses to the apparatus 4 year ago.
when some of the companies threaten
fed 10 strike, II informed Council that
IL would stand BY the city, being the
first TO do Sc. and when it installed
the truck It did SO for the benefit
Of the city. he says. He declares the
company has always worked with the
city and feels that proper appreciation
of this faes IS not shown.
According to $. X. Smith. president
Of the Department Of Public Safety,
9hen spoken g this morning. no ae-
Ton on the part Of the heard ii con-
tefnplated Dir. Harmaa. represent
ne the Delaware Ere Co. said Mr.
smith. arpsared before as yesterday
afternoon Al which time ae .snnouneed
iial application for he restraining
order would - made
When asked what action would be
taken on Inc part OF the directors.
Mr.. Smith said. We shall take no
action whatever. Mr. Harman can
continue With his present plans.