Evening journal., 1922-08-11
'MANIS RAPS
FIRE BUREAU.
Democrat Councilm e n
Would Keep Men, But
Don't See Money
DECLARE COUNCIL
is NOT TO BLAME

ana eQuipplnS OF tne pdlu iIe NN-
partment as childish, even at times
foolish" City Councilman McManus
last night, IN discussion in City
Council of the announced dismissal
on August 5 of twenty-six firemen
by the Department OF Public Safety
also declared that the Department OF
Public Safety 'is the one city de-
partment that has the criticism OF
80 per cent. of the people Of the
city" in connection with the manner
in which the public money had been
spent. He added that much of that
criticism is justified"
Mr. McManus' remarks were the
result of the plan under discussion
by the Democratic members of
Council for several weeks to ask that
Council might give the Department
of Public Safety more money. al
though when the budget was made
up every member Of Council except
Mr. NcNabb voted for it. knowing the
Department Of Public Safety's re-
quest had been pared down consid-
erably.
Mr.. McNabb, who voted no" ex-
planned that his reason for voting
that way was the failure Of Council
20 appropriate sufficient funds for
the Board of Public Education. He
followed this by saying that he was
satisfied Council had done the best
that It could with the amount Of
money In hand, and that he. at the
meeting OF Council in committee of
the whole. when the budget was dis
cussed item by item, had given his
approval except in the appropriation
for the Board of Education.
One noticeable thing in con-
nection with the impassioned APP
peais for help for the men who are
to lose their jobs on next Tuesday.
was that while Council was urged TO
do something" not a member made
a motion that Council Appropriate ad-
ditional money for that purpose, and
Mr.. McNabb frankly admitted he
did not know how Il could be done,
although he wanted something done
to prevent the layoff of these men.
The discussion was handled for
the Democratic members by Coun
ciimen Murray, McNabb and Null
vena. who charged City Council with
being responsible for the orders Of
the Department Of Public Safety dis
missing the twenty-six men from the
service, and impairing the efficiency
of the Bureau Of Fire. Councilmen
McManus. Abrahams, Vincent and
President OF Council Ward. Republi-
cans. defended the action of City
Council and laid the responsibility
e. 9
the Department of Public Safety.
At one time the cross fire became
so heated it was necessary for Presi-
dent Ward to declare Mr. McNabb out
of ordef. and the Councilman from
the Third ward unwillingly bowed
10 the authority OF the chair"
Councilman Murray started the 1
discussion when he charged that |
Councils failure TO appropriate
more money to the Department of
Public Safety was causing the dis
ruption OF a bureau OF fires which
was second to none in any city in
the country the size OF Wilmington.
He declared that the department had
dismissed twenty-six men from its
force after weeks and months OF
training, at a great deal Of expense
and bother to the department, and II
said he did not believe Council had
treated the department properly
financially
Councilman McNabb declared it
his belief the city would paw ten
fold for its reduction in the depart
ments budget IN increased rates of
fire Insurance. He said the depart
ment had no excuse for demotins
four officers, men who had every
reason to believe that subject to
good behavior they would continue
in office. The department, he added.
had simply stricken from its pay
rolls twenty-siX men against whom
there were no charges. He orlti-
cised the expenditure of so much
for the purchase. and altera-
ion Of buildings, which he contend
I'd could have been postponed for a
rear.
Councilman Abrahams denied that
'ouncil was in any way at fault for
he Department of Public Safety
citing in the present hole. He de-
cribed in detail the work OF pre-
airing the paid fire department bill
leetings held relative TO It. and of
10 sending of the bill to Dover, and
Z the support II received from the
Id Council. He stated Il was a fact 1
lat had the bill not been support
by the old Council, and the inves-
cation relative 10 fire departments
cen conducted by the former fire
omhittee, the bill would not have
iassed at Dover.
He remarked that after the bill
vas passed, after being changed
naming the three directors, the work
of the Council ceased, as the direc-
-ors no longer desired their services
ana any data, ideas, or suggestions
'hat Council might have had were
not requested by the directors he I'LL
said he did mention to the directors
a couple Of men that they co,,ld
have secured to help organize A.
department, but they were ,,dt
viduals, not companies.
He contradicted Mr.. McNabb iii
his statement that all cities v-,th
paid fire departments the siza
Wilmington had larger and mors ~
pensive departments. He called NJ
McNabb's attention to the fact +ha+l
most the cities upon which the com
,arison was based had paid fire de-
,artments for years, and that he
would wager that at the original for
nation the expense or the number
T men was not as large as Whining
on. He said he had the data Nc
'abb referred to.
In reference to the improvements
lade TO houses. he stated that it