Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-15
Circulation Every 111EC
Evening Yesterday L III O[
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1927.
How TO Get Paid Fire Department.

The people of Wilmington, SO iar rs
tbcv NAV Get themselves into such state
Of mind over any matter Of real puhhc
,mportance. are deeply interested IN the
inauguration Of Paid Fire Department.
The subject has been carefully considered
for a long time. and there is reason Tor
confidently asserting that the sentiment
If the community heartily favors the
project.
CITY Council has had the subject under
consideration intermittently for more
than year. At one time the Councl
had a most favorable opportunity Tor
taking the desired step, some Of the voi'in-
iecr fire companies having virtually
created an extraordinary emergency
~ a kind which the Council is authorized,
hy the CITY charter. to meet with spee'ai
measures. BY refusing 20 sign contracts
for another year Of fire-fiRhtfng service.
The Council. however. IGNORED this tne
opportunity for doing something Of real
service TO the community, and tempoiia-
cd hy entering into arrangements whl'h
finally brought the recslcitrRnt volunteer
companies into line.
Now the City Council is giving serious
consideration TO bill, to be presented to
the Legislature Il it ahall he approved
authorizing it 10 borrow the necessary
money and create Paid Fire Depart
ment a tentative draft of this proposed
l,re
Il meets with opposition. Some q the
volunteer firemen's organig' tons arc op-
4,aslne It in its entirety, while another
section II the department IL preparing
hill according 70 its own point OF view,
which it is said will be sent TO Dover ioT
action bv the Legislature. II viii not be
difficult to see what the result Of this KIND
of n campaign for Paid Fire Depart
ment is likely 10 be. IL almost certainly
smells defeat for the entire movement IN
advance V
But there is another way open to the
securing Of this desired contamination,
one that should command the earnest
support and complete cooperation o. All
citizens who have q real concern for the
hest interests Of the city. IL Is found IN
the pending movement to secure for the
citv an entirely new charter, one providing
for an administration under the five
commissioner plan. A measure TO this
end has been prepared, under the auspices
Of committees Of various civ ic organlza-
tons. and now only awaits fnal' sp-
provaI before being sent To Dover with
earnest request Of the Legislature for Its
favorable consideration.
There is promise of great good 70 the
people Of Wilmington in this charter
measure. Its enactment would give the
people change in their system OF mu-
nicipal administration that would open
most encouraging prospects of admirable
results. Under this kind Of charter II
would be possible for the new administra'
ton TO provide everything essential to
an effective and businesslike adHinistTa-
ton. including a Paid Fire Department.
In view Of this most assuring certainty
whv divide favorable sentiment here at
home and distract the members Of the
LEGISLATURE with factional contentious
over conflicting measures Of relief? We
want new city charter andy want
Paid Fire Department. The right kind OF
charter will supply both needs, and the
opportunity is now at hand TO get the night
kind Of charter
SO, bet US come together IN this matter
let ali the forces of good municipal ad
ministration combine in cordial and vigor
ols sunporf Of the new charter measure
This is emphatically the best way to Sc
cure the inauguration Of a Paid Fire Dc
partment. which the city needs SO serious
".