Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-02

10 tne EuitOf Oh IKE EVENING STAR
Will not THE STAR, with its deservedly great
influence. lift its voice in favor of a more ade-
quate compensation for the firemen of this
city? Being a householder with Lares and
pendtes dear to me, 1 have felt, in common
with all residents, a deep interest In these
brave men, upon whose vigilance and intelli-
gence and training the safety Of our property,
and perhaps our lives, depends, and having
been, until the recent edict of non-intercourse
an occasional visitor At the engine-house To-
Gated in my district feel qualified to speak
OF the conditions under which their exacting
duties are performed.
These men live at the engine house. being al
lowed an absence OF one-half to three-fourths Of
an hour-depending upon the distance to be
traveled-twice each day for meals These brief
visits TO their homes furnish their only oppor-
tunity for making the acquaintance OF wife
pleasant weather comes around about every
9Th or 9th day. Even on these days they IN ust
report at fires, and are not therefore allowed to
the '.day-of' is cut OFF until the streets
are clear The discipline is necessarily
strict, perhaps more SO than that Of q
many cases to expend an undue proportion OF
his wages for house rent, as the wife's home
must be near enough TO the engine house to
admit OF the two meal trips per day. This is
especially onerous in the thickly settled resi-
dental portion of the city. In other respects
best to him. lie must buy uniforms-one must
always be bright and new for parades, inspec-
Hons, etc.-expensive hats and rubber boots,
proof coats, ditto trousers, etc, ETC. Every
man stands watch OF about an hour and q
half every night, SO that rest is broken even ii
two or three alarms come in Of a night, In
whlch case the men get no sleep at all. The
changed after every layout at q fire. and the
house kept In perfect order. These duties alone
entail many hours of hard labor daily the
fireman takes his life In his hands every time
he goes into burning building, and, while
fatal accidents have been fortunately rare
and painful injuries received in fiehting nres.
1t is acknowledged by all that the fire depart
ment OF this city has no superior in this or any
other country; and yet 1t is the poorest paid OF
any city anything like the size in the United
States The capital Of the nation, with its costly
value, in addition TO the large and rapidly in
creasing private interests is entitled To the best
possible defense against nre, and should pay
partment. The wages of . private are S65, less
the amount withheld for the relief fund; the
wages Of engineers and foremen being proper
tiOnately low, and not much over one-half those
paid in New York and many other cities.
Drivers and conductors on our street railways
they have half Of each day to themselves. The
policeman, with frequent rellefs from duty, Is
paid much higher wages than the fireman,
ing and dangerous, and his days work consists
OF practically twenty-four hours. Commissioner
Edmonds is understood to concede the justice
of the firemen's claim, but did not recommend
the increase. because, Is he said, he would have
to recommend other increases. What increases?
II there are any other employees Of the city SO
poorly paid in comparison, have not heard OF
them. presume the messenger who sits at the
honorable Commissioners door, and has short
hours and light duty, is paid Is much IS q fire-
man-probably more. bill is now before
Congress which proposes an increase Of wages
In the fire department. It ought to have the
support OF all citizens and Others interested In
the capital city. WEST END.