The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-10
Urgent Needs of ID. c.
Fire Department
BY BILL PRICE.
Gentlemen of Congress:

Gentlemen of Congress:
Many members of your own august body have
sharply criticised, in speeches or interviews, the
marked indifference shown toward the most urgent
needs of the District of Columbia in the local ap-
preparation bill passed by the House.
There is nowhere any personal animosity toward
the District in this Legislative attitude It is doubt
less due to party pressure for proper economies
wherever possible to make them. That policy is
admittedly correct when conditions and circumstances
will permit the saving of public money.
1t is nothing to your honorable body when it
is said that for five years, beginning with the
trance of this country into the world war, the ap
preparations committees of Congress exercised ex-
ceptionally rigid economy in dealing with the Ma
tional Capital Almost every public improvement
deferred owing to high costs of labor, material,
etc. Roads, bridges, everything, under the
economy axe. The results everywhere seen in
the District today, and yet the economy program is
being applied with greater strictness than
before.
Many of the alleged weaknesses in municipal
functoning may be traced to persistent denial Of
proper appropriations for Washington. Much of the
criticism is inspired and undeserved. 1t weakens
instead of building up the munich pal departments
that under fire.
The local fire department has been fortunate
than other departments 1t is recognized by insur-
ance and other authorities as of the most effec-
tive in the country, despite the lack Of much modern
equipment and larger personnel.
The Treasury Department fire illustration
of how well and faithfully the fire department works
AS the protector of many millions of dollars of prop
erty and invaluable papers of the United States Gov
eminent, this department should be absolutely the
best in the United States
The chief of the Washington fire department or
any good firemen, gentlemen, will tell you that you
are "playing with fire" when you fail to give that
department what it needs The House has refused,
for instance the 100000 appropriation for add
tional water supply for the District And yet it is
a startling fact that in many parts of Washington
the of water for ordinary purposes is so great
and that the local fire department is denied
the volume of water that it needs to cope with pos
sible large conflagrations. The water is used up
before it gets to the fire engines. high pressure
water system is mperatively needed.
May ask the Legislators and statesmen on the
Hill if they will look this list of vital needs for
the Washington fire department and investigate
NOW rather than start an investigation if there
should be a startling catastrophe due to further
neglect:
s or til:
and h S,s draw apparatus g.. .. ..u,...
sd of e .Ys r.
be
rst-clsss condition all the items enumerated above
msptsnsnss Of additional toes and appliances including
jacks wire cutters, etc., ETC. '''"S '''s' '''''
therefor, to be located in the vicinity Of Twelfth and
northeast.
6--New quarters for the freboat company.
nssds some 100 additional
me" sss f. ss ssS"s&' "
houses, hotels, schools, homes for the aged, hos
ptas etc.
Extend theater details to include motion picture
houses in the District of Columbia having seating
sThe installation Of hsh-pressure water system in
the high value district.
9-The purchase of a fve-ton truck, to be used for
wreckng purposes equipped with windass, and
carrying oxygen helmets acetyene cutting outfits wire
cutters jacks, etc.
1o-The purchase of automobile searchlght wagon
equipped with lights and capable of generating
electricity for in lighting buildings which accident
fire by of portable lights attached thereto
by cable.
m