Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-08-10
Firemen STATE
In Montgomery
Awaits Election
Argument on Control
Of Department Stirs
One of Hottest Issues
By ChorIes L. Hoffm an

In tie upcoming Montgomery
County election year that is sure
to produce a number Of hot
political issues, one Of the hot
test is certain to be the fate Of
the volunteer fire departments.
Many members of the IA paid
and volunteer departments OPP
Grating in the shadow of the
County Council have long felt
they were slated for the ak
There are some 600 to 800 VOL
unteers in the county and they
belong to departments long
known for their esprit de corps.
independence and excellent rec
ords for the fire protection they
give their areas.
Controversial Bill Voted.
Last May the council passed
Bill No. IL that would have
frightened the councils grip over
the volunteers. The bill removed
the present fire lax limitations,
required departments TO submit
budgets to the council, and
authorized the council to set all
the tax rates
In passing this bill, the coun-
cilmen disclaimed any effort to
take over the departments.
The flremen were not con-
vinced and led a fight on the bill
that successfully brought its veto
by a 6-to-1 vote of the council
Tuesday. Some councilmen ex-
pressed reluctance in casting
this vote.
Throughout public hearings on
the measure, there was not A.
voice heard in support Of the
bill.
MilIer'S Statement.
Then last Wednesday night
the firemen brought the issue to
a head with public disclosure Of
a statement on the "pros and
cons" of county control OF the
fire areas made by Arthur E. Mil
Ter, public safety director.
Mr.. Miller Immediately deried
the statement meant he was rec
ommending creation Of a county,
paid fire department.
Nonetheless the firemen feel
they have reason fol concern
over the statement. 1t was made
in answer to a question as to the
pros and cons regarding placing
the various fire areas undeR
county supervision and control.
County control over the fire
depa rtments should consist OF
full operation of paid suburban
fire department IS" the state
ment read.
Then as if i'll answer to the
volunteers repeated questions
concerning the purpose of the
now-dead Bill II, it continued
&c. and budget control over
the operation Of the "est of the
fire companies with provisions
for bringing in other fire COM
panies into the suburban fir"
department as the county in
cIeases in population.
The statement, after an &C.
counting Of present paid and VOL
unteer personnel and equipment.
listed 10 advantages OF consoli-
dating The Kersington, Chevy
Chase. Bethesda and Silver
Spring 1ire areas
Plans for Dcpa rtment.
The an wers on pros and
cons" were in effect, a detailed
plan fol- creation and operation
Of a paid suburban Ire depart
ment
The statement, prepared by
Mr.. Miller and Charles II. How.
jr.. county fire marshal, listed
only three major arguments
against county contIol of the
ire departments. They were:
The fire departments themselves
believe they can handle local fire
/ problems better than the coun-
tvs, that establishment of a paid
depar Jment might eliminate the
services 81 volunteers in Silver
Spring ard Washington, and
that paid department would
eliminate free ambulance serv-
ices now provided by these two
departments.
The county officials answer TO
the GleStion went so far as 10
state that operation of q paid
department in the suburban area
would cost $459, 240 a year, to be
raised by an 11-cent tax rate.
Insurance Premium Cut.
In comparing the cost of vol
Lnteer and paid departments, the
public safety director placed no
estimate on the value of volun-
teers. The statement declared.
however, that creation of a paid
department in Silver Spring and
Kensington would mean an aver
age reduction of is per cent on
insurance premiums.
The volunteers are girding
themselves to answer Mr.. Miller's
challenge. The fight is certain
to be carried to the polls, and
county charter leaders again
probably will be lined up against
the firemen.
County Democratic leaders say
the continuation of the volunteer
departments Is almost sure to
be a plank in the county party'S