Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-15
CHIEF BROWN MOVES
A Reorganization of the Fire
Department on Monday.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS
To Extend to All Firemen in the
Department, Old and Young.
AN INTERVIEW WITH CHEF EVANS
DR.. Mercur Says Many Old Men Must be
Dropped From the Service.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS
AN INTERVIEW WITH CHEF EVANS
ABIG STIR AMONG TIE FIRE LADDIES

Chief j. o. Brown, of the Department OF
Public Safety, has put in motion machinery
which will not only reorganize the Pitts
burg fire department but will retire per-
manently a number of veteran fremen who
have grown gray in the service of the city,
some Of them dating back as far as the days
of the Volunteer fire department. 1t seems
that the Philadelphia system of physical
examination is to be applied to each and
everyone of the 173 regular members of the
Pittsburg fire department, and all must
stand or fall by the result. Since the crea-
tion of the Department of Public Safety all
applicants for positions upon the sub-list
have had to undergo the searching examina-
ton, but Its application to the older mem
bers Of the regular fire corps has created a
sensation in ward politics in every portion
of the city.
Chief Evans returned yesterday from his
vacation, and was seen by a DISPATCH
representative. He said: "Chief Brown
intends to thoroughly reorganize the fire
department. Each member of the fire de-
partment has paid 10 cents for the blank
application, and is at work getting the
formula and vouchers filed out The medi-
cal examination which the fremen
MUST ALL SUBMIT TO,
and upon which the reorganization is mostly
based, will be commenced next Monday, as
i understand. DIR. Mercur. the surgeon of
the Fire Disability Board, has just re-
turned from his vacation"
"OIt of the 173 men now in the depart
ment, how many are Chief Browns ap-
pointees?" was asked.
mot over five or SIX" answered Chief
Evans.
docs politics enter into this reorganiza-
tion?" was the next query.
Judge for yourself In the year and a
half in which Chief Brown has had juris-
diction of the fire department bare half
dozen men have come in under his auspices,
and those have all stood the full examina-
ton which is now to be inaugurated. So
far as know, the effort is to make the fire
department attain the top rank of physical
efficiency. We want young and active men
who will not be afraid to fight fire, and
upon whom we can depend. No, 1 don't
sis any change contemplated in the is
foremanships or in the positions now held
by Messrs. John Steel, William Coates and
James Stewart"
None that l know of, said Chief
Evans. 'In regard to our sub-list, it is a
curious fact that dozens of men who have
stood the medical examination do not report
daily to the assistant chiefs for work. No
fireman can get off for any period without
giving notice to this assistant chief in order
to give him "a hours to fill the temporary
vacancy. As matter of fact / think that
not above 20 ''subs" are constant in their
attendance. 1 suppose the men on the SUBJ
list get tired of
SHOWING UP EVERY DAY
without catching chance. The examination
will be without fear or favor, and those who
stand it are all right. but those who do not
will have to go. The vacancies will be
filled from the sub list. No, 1 should not
care to hazard an opinion as to the number
of men who will be unfavorably affected"
DIR. Mercur, Surgeon of the Fire Disabil-
ity Board, also returned from his vacation
yesterday and was seen at his Office, No.
149 Penn avenue. 81 am waiting for my
orders from the Department of Public
Safety upon this matter. It's big job, as
the examinations are very minute and must
be made with extreme care. l suppose 1
will take each engine house in turn, exam
lining the men one after another 1 have
passed upon a great many applicants for the
sub-list and the average man is
likely to be stranded upon some
rock in the examination. It is
rather searching. but no more so than the
public has a right to expect in the establish
ment of a standard of efficiency in public
service. There are a great many veteran
fremen who will be turned down, 1 am
afraid. No. and No. engine houses are
mainly manned by men who have been a
long time in the service and many of them
are deficient in some physical attribute.
There are great many men in the depart
ment who, despite their inirmities, it
would be
DIFFICULT TO REPLACE
on account of their ripe experience, but if
tine examination is to be fair and impair
tial one-as it certainly will be-the city is
liable to lose some valuable servants"
"My remuneration? Oh this examination
will be covered by my yearly salary as physi-
clan. The fee used to be 81, but it now
costs the men nothing for my services"
The blank application is a lengthy and
formidable looking document. John Smith
tells pretty much all about himself when he
fills out answers to all the questions. He
states whether he uses intoxicating drink; if
so, how much. 1t is easy to imagine the
chorus of noes that ascend. He also denies
that he has been convicted of crime and a
vast number of personal interrogatories, and
makes oath to his statements. Then Mr..
Smith secures the vouchers from the best
men in his own ward he can command-gen-
orally Councilmen or ex-city fathers. He is
then ready for the merciless questioning of
the surgeon, and his height-the minimum
allowed is five feet, four inches-his weight,
the circumference of his chest, the condi-
tion of the seven senses and various other
things are noted in black and white. Fat
men need not waste their breath or time for
they are not wanted. Then after the ap-
plication is signed, sealed and delivered to
the powers that be, the applicant has done
what is required of him. 1t is hinted that
some supplementary oral information as to
political antecedents comes not amiss in
summing up the grand total Of fitness.