Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-06
SLASH Sl42,2l8
FROM FIRE FINANCES
Council Seeks to Cut Paid Fire
Department Budget But De-
fers Action One Week.

Councilman James McManus, chair
man OF the finance committee, last
night submitted TO Council at its meet
Ing. report showing that the cost of
a paid Are department for the city OF
Wilmington should not exceed Soo4,-
SIS. a reduction OF sil2,2ls is noted
In this latest fguTe compared TO the
original ngure sahmitted week ago
by the directors of the Department of
Public SafeF.
\ table showing the comparison be-
tween the values of the fire apparatus
and nre houses made by the experts
who studied the situation here for
several months. and the amounts the
departments had agreed 10 pay for
this property was also submitted by
Councilman McManus.
In parlng down the estimate sub
mltted by the department. the finance
chairman has slashed on 100000
item, Included for repairs and additions
a. the fire houses. The item for beds
and linens was cut from $4,000 TO
$4,000, the item for furniture was
slashcd from se.50s.s0 to $1,000 and
81 500 was cut from the list which was
to- have been used for the purchase of
horse-drawn piece of apparatus be-
longing to the Phoenix Company.
Councilman McAlanus said he could
see no need for contingent fund.
Therefore $4,000 subsequently, swelled
the total
The item for organization. according
tu the finance chairman's report. was
ryduccd from Sl5,OO0 10 $3.50. this to
include g. 0OO To be paid for the servic-
es of Chief Croker and S3.250 for the
expenses Of the training school. The
expenditure for tools was cut from
sa.435 ia So 600.
Tho figures In the tables show that
he department has agreed to pay $24,-
too FOR equipment in excess of the
valuation set by the appr3 isers and
SaS,a0o more for the engine houses
tfan their appraised value. In the
case of every property which it has
lgrcod to purchase the department j:
paying from $1,000 10 $1,000 more thar
thc appraisal values with the single
exception OF the weccacoe Company
Tor which $4,000 is given, the ap
praised value.
II has been agreed to pay SI5.l00 fo
apparatus from the Reliance. Phoenix
Washington. Weccacoe and Brandy
Wine companies. which the appraiser
report as being UNIT FOR use On,
piece OF apparatus each. of the Liberty
Mon and independence Companies i
purchased FOR figures below thos
fixed by the appraisers. In the cas-
~ the Independence Company. Nh
McManUs' report showed that batl
pieces OF apparatus are badly in nee
o. repairs.
Assistant City Solicitor Perc,
Warren Green. who attended the meet
Ing. stated that &; was his opinion
that Council could not make thes
r ductlons az this time, He said tha
th, department IN accordance with tn
law creating it. had submitted com
pete report OF the cost OF egtabllshin
paid Gre department and that it ha
heeu approved by Council and returne
10 the directors Following this. h
said the directors had entered in,
agreements and made obligations fc
whl h the city must stand sood.
Tha; lhe report submitted by th
d.rcctors a week ago. in which II
original cost of S6ss7, 600 was reduce
% S6l6.S43. superseded th, origins
report submitted and made Il possih
o. make the reductions was argued |
Nlr. McManus
Relieves Half Million Enough.
believe that S504.625 ! sufficiel
to establish good fire department
AR. McManus said. Il am working
conserve the citv's finances and
go not intend 10 approve of any nee,
iss expenditure.
a don't see where you are col
serving the funds so much" was Il
rotort of Councilman McNabb. "YC
have skimped them on furniture al
chairs" The chairman OF he finan
committee replied Il could nave add
ti0o.0o0 more. had wanted TO skiml
rnn elimination OF the SIG. 600 tie