Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-06
THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS APPEAL
For Justice to the Courcil of the City of
Wheeling.

wheeling.
To TIE Editor Of ne Register.
Why the Committee on Salaries should,
and did select the Fire Department alone to
apply its pruning knife in the way of re-
tIenchment and cutting down of salaries, is
a question not answered by the report of
the committee.
Why the Police Department was suffered
to go untouched, and not even mentioned
in connection with the question of reduction
Of salaries is question unanswered BY the
committee.
Why the salary Of $1,000 per annum is
paid the clerk OF the Board of Public
Works and the upper Branch ofCouncll, is a
question unanswered by the Committee.
Why the Chief of Police gets $500 per
annum, and $3.50 or more for summoning
Council and committees, and 1900 or 800
as court fees, and one dollar for killing
dog, sggregsting $500 per year, or more,
the committee fails to answer. Why his
deputies each get $65 per month, (l9 in alD
and the lieutenant at the rate of 500 per
month, the committee does not answer.
Why the salary Of the Receiver has increased
several hundred dollars, the committee does
not answer. Why the City Clerk is allowed
81 800 per annum, with an assistant at $50
per month, the committee does not answer.
Why the Street Commissioner gets 81 200
per year the committee does not answer.
Why the salary of the clerk Of the police
court was increased, the committee does
not answer. From these figures and facts,
it will be seen that several of the CLERKS
have had their salaries increased and those,
too, who run no risk with their lives, and
whose hours of duty are numbered between
3. m. and p. m, while the hours of the
FIRE department are nos numbered by the
rising and setting ofthe sun, nos by his
sitting and rising, but all hours Of the
twenty four, are alike to the fire depart
meLt. When he leaves his hose or engine
house in answer to fire alarm, he knows
not whether he will ever see it again. A
falling wall, sheet of flame, a mistep on a
ladder, q misplaced rope or plank, or in his
effort to save lie and property, he looses his
own life, life as dear to him and his family
as the life of anyone who may be more for
tunate in the way OF salary and position
Why cut freman's salary down and per.
nit others, not only to retain, but to have
them largely increased, is QUESTION which
cannot be sscertsined by the rules of cor
sistency and logic Should not response.
bihtY and risk OF life be valued above all
other considerations? Public sentiment
and public policy demands that he, who BY
his position may lose his life at any time
in the discharge Of his duty and the de-
fence of others, should, above all others, be
well compensated for his risk.
During the present administration Of the
fire department the city has had but few
FIRES Of material consequence to the city, q
favor TOR which we are and all should be
profoundly thankful; yet, whenever the de-
partment has been called out, it has re-
sponded promptly and cheerfully to every
call AMI every effort was put forth by the
department for the quick aud effective sup
preston of the fire. II has been our desire
and purpose to faithfully discharge our du-
ties with all their imminent risks to lite
and limb, and to defend the property Of our
citizens against the ravages OF the FIRE
fend under any and all circumstances. I'm
der sunshine, star light hail storms, rain
storms, snow storms, under aburnlng Their
mometer, or under a freezing thermometer
at al hours of night and day, regardless of
the elements, we have to answer the fire
alarm and perform our duty.
What department, or who in the service
of the city of Wheeling, runs greater risks
and is less remunerstsd than the fire de-
psrtment is to-day? The fire department
appeals to the justice and humanity OF
your honorable body for vindicstion.
Shall its appeal be in vain? Why Sc
lie t the fire department for the retrench
ing and surgeons pruning knife, alone?
1.-The department is not doing and has not
done its duty point out its derihction, aud
in what it consists, and the remedy will be
applied at once. But do not single US out
and curtail our little salaries, while, on the
other hand, other city employees have had
their salaries increased by the hundreds per
aunrm. Let justice be done, though the
heavens fall, and this is all we ask at the
hands of our fellow citizens of Wheeling
and the Council who are the servants Of
the people. Written at the request, aud in
behalf of the employees of the fire depart.
ment, and respectfully submitted to the
Council of the city of Wheeling. We earn,
estly and respectfully protest against any
cuItsilment of our present salaries.
CITIZEN.
WHEELING, June ), 1885.