The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-09-28
FIREMEN THREATEN STRIKE If
HOSE THEY DON'T LIKE Is BOUGHT
CLASH Deer Proposed Purchase Before the
LambUt71Xe CITY Commission.

Lambertvile-At the weekly meet
ing of the City Commissioners last
| Tuesday afternoon the purchase of
hoes for the fire department again
occupied the center of the stage.
After several conferences between
the Commissioners and the Board
of Fire Engineers, special and reg
ular meetings of the Commissioners,
the matter still remains to be set
| tied.
When the city advertised for bids
to supply 1000 feet of pc inch
hose, three were received. As was
stated in this paper last week, the
matter has become almist an open
quarrel over the question of which
is the best hose to purchase. At
the meeting last Tuesday, the first
bid coming up for reconsideration
was that of the Empire Rubber Co.,
of Trenton. They offered to sup
ply the city with the same speci-
fications used in the Trenton Fire
Department for 7Ic. a foot, or $40
for the 1000 feet.
Commissioner Malloy moved that
the Empire bid be accepted, subject
to the acceptance and use of the
hose by the Board of Fire Engin-
GERS, He explained this condition
by saying that on Monday night
when the Commissioners met with
the Fire Engineers that represen-
tatives of the Hihernia and Union
companies said their companies
would refuse to use the Empire
hose if it were purchased. Com
missioner Malloy said further that
he would not agree TO paying more
for hose when 74c. foot would
pay for hose that qualified for the
specifications in larger cities.
Mayor Moonan took issue with
Commissioner Malloy in the state
ment that llibernia Go. had refused
to fight fires with Empire hose.
He said that perhaps Union Go.
had made the refusal, but not Hi
hernia. Commissioner Malloy emf
phatically contended that represen-
tatives did make the refusal, and
said that he resented such an atti
tude on the part of the Fire Engin-
GERS in threatening the "Firemen's
Act" TO allow houses to burn down
simply because their personal likes
and dislikes were not catered to.
There was no second TO Com
missioner Malloy's motion to buy
the Empire hose at 74c., and so it
was lost. The next bid to be con
sidered was that of the Eureka
Hose Go. Mayor Moonan moved
that Eureka "Trojan" hose be
bought Mt Sl.20 foot, or $1,000.
Silence greeted this motion, and
it was also lost.
The Bi-Lateral Hose Go. bid was
the third and last for consideration.
Three qualities were offered at
S1.15, $1.25 and Sl.35 foot. Com
missioner Muirheid sought to offer
a compromise motion to the effect
that the city split up the order and
buy 400 feet of Eureka, 400 feet
of Bi-Lateral, and 200 feet of En-
pirc hose But Commissioner Nal
10y called tatention to the fact
that the bids ahd been advertised
for in amounts of ! 900 feet, and
that each bid had to be considered
separately, or else new bids should
be advertised for So Commissioner
Muirheid's motion was declared out
of order.
This disposed Of the three bids,
ard the Commissioners were right
back where they started from.
MALLOY STANDS OUT FOR
ECONOMY
During the course Of the argu-
ment, Commissioner Malloy defend
ed his position by saying that when
he took the oath of his office he
had pledged himself to conduct the
affairs Of the city honestly and
economically. He said that he was
willing to take advice and wei
coined cooperation, but that he
felt he had to make up his own mind
and his conscience was clear in this
attempt to save the city money. He
pointed out that the Fire Depart
ment had received more from this
Board Of Commissioners than any
other, and he thought it was poor
taste for them to take such a dog
matte stand as TO refuse to fight
fire with hose just because they
didn't like it.
Mayor Moonan interrupted to
say that when it came to Con
science" that his own was clear, and
that he didn't believe in taking a
watch to q blacksmith to get it
fixed He said he deferred TO the
Fire Engineers because they are
supposed to know their business.
Commissioner Muirheid chewed
his cigar and said nothing. For
tunately, the hose that is to be
purchased is not for immediate use,
but for reserve. If it were need
ed Immediately the fremen would
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Red C. ross Weefing