Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-06-07
a .TUsTTFIABLE PENSION LAW.

u u i
II has been suggested with torclble ar
gument that provision be made by law
for the organization and care Of wounded
and disabled flremen who were Injured In
the discharge of their duty. The IRE
companies are certainly OF greater service
to the people OF the state than the militia,
aud this is said in no spirit of deprecia'
ton Of the military companies Yet the
state military is provided for, and when
in the service of the state Is paid, while
the volunteer fire companies are paid
nothing for their work, and If fireman
is disabled he has nothing to depend upon
for assistance except his friends
The work of the FIRE companies Is OF
more value to the property interests OF
| the state than all Of the military compan-
les, because their services are needed all
the time, while IL is only ON the rarest
occasion that the militia are called
out. Indeed, except during the trouble
at this place growing out of the railroad
strike, there has been no demand for
military aid in enforcing the laws for
years. Not week passes that the fire
companies are not called out in every
arge city In the state to save its property
from destruction.
There have been more casualties OF
serious nature to fremen in this city
alone within five years than to all the
military companies of the state in tina
time. The state provides suitable pen
sion for the support Of any militiamar
disabled in the service and for the widows
and children of those killed; but to thu
flremen who are victims to their owl
heroism and sacrifices there is no promise
of maintenance when helpless, or to thei
families when killed. They carry their live
! in their hands, without promise or hop
. OF reward
) 1t may be said that the cities shout
| maintain their own fire companies, a
0 they are organized for local protection
0 But the protection they give is no NOR
! local than the protection given by tn
G militia. They are ready to go at me
| ment's notice to the rescue of any plac
S needing them. No second call had to b
s made on the Fort Worth fire department
n when Dallas was burning, a year or tw
$ ago. The response to the appeal for al
s was instantaneous and generous. TIL
same response will be made to any ca
h for assistance from any city or tow
e needing it, The state is as much boun
o to protect the property of its peopl
,, against lire as against destruction b
n rioters. 1t is not merely local interes
IS either for the state loses as much as
v city government by big fire. The stat
e is sustained by taxation of the propert
d OF its citizens, and every fire that d
n stroys property cuts down the state
.e revenue by diminishing the value of i
it assessed valuation. The interest of Il
le tate In maintaining guards a.ainst fl
he il, therefore, equal to its interest
in maintaining guards against unusual iii
r order. Nevertheless, the state fails ev,
ut to recognize the necessity of fire COL
ed panies, while it organizes, arms al
le disclplines its military companies, pa
30 them while in service, and pensions t
wounded members or their dependent
Such discrimination is unjust to t
". flremen, and demand should be ma
en- for correction of the injustice.