Evening journal., 1921-03-10
FIREMEN
BILL NOW Up
TOGOVERNOR
tcontInued dom page onel

Wilmington ask you to pass this act.
They are practically unanimous in
their support OF IT," Senator Lutz
said. Il heartily join the citizens Of
Wilmington in their request for
paid department, although / have
been here in past years TO oppose
such a measure.
The hremen themselves are prac-
tically a unit in support Of the
change and I concur with them. Ten
Of the eleven existing companies Of
the old volunteer system are on rec
ord as favoring this bill. The vol
unteers have given the city the best
and most efficient service during the
las years OF their existence.
"The city has grown. Il has
changed and conditions are different
] Opposition on part Of the firemen
has given away 10 a realization that
this Is best for their city. They will
retire feeling that they in common
/ with their fellow citizens, helped TO
bring this improvement about" Sen
atOr Lutz concluded.
Senator Robertson explained IN
\ detail the provisions OF the measure
which Is substitute bill for the
original one introduced early in the
session. As substituted the main
change transfers the control OF the
I Ere department from the City Coun-
ell to the Department OF Public Safe
", which the bill creates, now the
Board Of Police Commissioners.
Another minor change IN the sub
! akrrsHa Nka
praisers and firemen fail to agree on
the disposition OF the present prop
erty of any Of the companies, the
individual company retains the right
to dispose Of its property 70 the best
advantage. Provision is also made
that the present chauffeurs be given
preference in allotment Of drivers
Hnder the new plan.
After 14O years OF signal service
to wilmington the time has come
for a change. The volunteers give
way to modern paid FIRE depart
ment. It IS a transition Of the old
to the new. the obsolete giving way
to the improved" Senator Robertson
said.
"The change will result in in
creased efficiency, better protec.
tion and reduced insurance rates
; The people OF wilmington want this
! new system and are willing 20 pay
for It. ask that every member
OF the House support this BILL" Sen
ator Robertson concluded.
The bill authorizes the mayor and
council OF Wilmington 10 establish
the new department and issue bonds
for the purpose Of financing the
change. The new Department OF
Public safety becomes effective MAY
Ii. The present contracts between
the city and the individual hr'
D companies will continue until Au'
gust 81 when they expire.
All negotiations for the new de-
partment will be completed by thai
date when the volunteer system vii
, 4 cease TO function.
The approval OF the Senate bill
authorizing the establishment OF
4 paid FIRE department for Wilmington
e brings to a close one OF the mos
interesting fights for a civic I'M
n provement ever waged by Whining
ton citizens. Public support OF TN
change has been steadily increasing
during the past ten years. At tn
70 last regular session OF the Legisla
r ture in 1919. a paid FIRE department
e bill sponsored by Representative
William NJ. Connolly was intro
d duced and defeated.
n A crisis in the situation wa
10 brought about last August when tn
n contracts for the companies wer
- awaiting acceptance. Several OF IN
IS companies virtually refused to en-
g ter into the contracts unless the an
nuai appropriation was increased
Il This was refused, and a settlemen
l. acceptable 10 both parties was hnall
It reached on the eve OF the date whe
e the new contracts were TO becom
e effective.
The volunteer companies dat
back 145 years. They have ron
dered conspicuous service durin
this period In addition 10 the nu
n merous difiicult fires they have bee
\ called upon TO fight in this city, IN
local companies have given gallar
service outside the city on numerou
,r occasions.
n During the mammoth Baltimor
q FIRE In 1904, local volunteer com
: panies won commentator froI
= Maryland and Baltimore officials "a
II the high character OF their service