Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-06
WILL CONFER OVER
PAID FIRE DEPT.
City Fathers, Volunteer Companies
and Safety Council to Discuss
Legislation.

Alexander r. Abrahams, chairman Of
the fire committee, presented to City Cour
Gil. meeting as committee of the whole
last night, motion providing for JOINT
meeting of Council, the presidents or rep
rescntatives of the volunteer fire COM
panics and members of the Fire Prevep-
ton Committee of tho Safety Council,
next Monday night, to take action on a
paid fire department. Tho motion was
unanimously adopted and the meeting will
be held in the council chamber.
The vote was in line whit he plan OF
Council to obtain the Endorsement of vol
unteer firemen for Councils plan for the
establishment of paid fire department.
The fire committee, through Chairman
Abrahams, Presented a substitute meas
ure for the one rejected by Council last
week.
The draft of the bill follows:
Be it resolved, BY the House Of Rep
rcsentatives of the State of Delaware, in
General Assembly met (two-thirds of each
branch concurring):
Section THAT from and after the
passag of this act, the Council of the
Mavor and Council of Wilmington be
and il is hereby authorized and en-
powered. whenever IN its discretion IT is
proper to so do, to take over for public
use. bv condemnation, compromise, pur-
chase or otherwise, such real and personal
property of the several FIRE companies of
the city of Wilmington and State of Del
aware now in existence, or hereafter
created. and recognized by the Council as
a part of the FIRE department of the city
: of Wilmlngton, as a competent appraiser
/ or appraisers may deem worthy OF beng
used in paid department and that such
price or prices as may be determined IN
any of the above proceedings, or agreed
upon by the council in agreements TO pur-
chase the same and 20 operate the same
for the public use as a paid fire depart
ment.
Section >. For the purpose Of defray-
ing all the cost of acquiring such real ard
personal property of said fire companies
that is considered by the above mentioned
competent authority as necessary and fit
] for efficient service, Council shall have the
f power to issue bonds, said bonds to be
sinking fund bonds TO be issued in manner
and form as the Council may determine
the same 10 be approved as TO form by the
ctv solicitor of the city of Whining
ton, to an amount rot exceeding the
cost of such real and personal prop
ertv so taken over, plus the cost
of additional real and personal property
that is deemed by competent authorities
recessary TO buy and establish an eff-
Gent paid fire department. All the fore
said bonds shall be signed by the mayor,
and countersigued by the treasurer and
the CITY auditor, in the same manner as
Other bonds Of the city of Wilmington,
and the record thereof shall be made and
kept by the city auditor and treasurer
respectively.
Section 3.-That Immediately upon
taking over of such real and personal
property, the contracts then in force
and in operation between the council and
the several fire companies shall cease,
determine and become absolutely void
and of no effect.
Section 4. That Immediately upon
taking over Of such real and personal
property, the Council shall appoint such
officers. agents, and employ such persons,
as the Council may determine Necessary
10 properly operate the said fire depart
ment, and to fix and pay such officers,
agents and employees such salaries as the
Council shall determine.
Sec.i~~ : All acts, or parts of acts
inco. sistent herewith are hereby repealed,
and ties .ct shall be deemed and taken as
public act.
NAY TAKE EQUIPMENT THAT rs PIT.
The measure, if approved by the legisla-
ture. would give the city power TO take
over such property of the present COM