Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-02
The FIRE FIGHTERS.
Chief Paris Wants More Engines
and More Pay for His Men.
WHAT HIS ANNUAL REPORT SAYS,
Localities Where He Proposes to
Locate New Houses.
A DEPLETED RELIEF FUND.

r y.
The chief engineer of the fire department,
Joseph Paris. has submitted to the Com
n1issioners his annual report and list of es-
Inmates for the fiscal year ending June 90
lssS- The report is full of interesting read
ing, as IT deals so largely with the needs
and duties Of set of men whose services
are such as often to make Of them heroes
In the eyes OF the people.
IN the case Of almost all the employees Of
the department, the estimates call for a
slight increase in pay. and Chief Paris ar
cues earnestly in favor Of such increase be-
ing made. The increase in the salary Of
the chief Is from s.. 500 to $780, two as
sistant chiefs at 81 500 instead of 81 200 fire
marshal at 81, go instead Of 1000 and there
are proportionate increases proposed In
the salaries Of the others. The total esti-
mate for salaries is sis5.02o. as against sll7.-
200 for the present year. Besides this there
are twelve assistant foremen provided for
at al 80 each: twelve hostie.s at $500 each
The other estimates are as follows: Re-
apparatas ea aSd ne% puT
chase OF hose, $500; fuel. 5000: horses,
SUPPLE 500 s%o nsS houses fes
Nos 2 and engine companies. $4,000; to-
HOUSES, IOtS ana furniture TOR one engine,
one truck and two new chemical engines.
$4,000; one new steam fire engine. $500;
one new hose carriage; 500; one new
engines at $500. 1900: four foremen at
500 each. $4,000: one engineer. s,l5O; one
one tiIierman. $50; four hostiers at $3.50
eleven horses at ss75. s.os5; one aerial turn
!. liable truck 70 replace old style truck.
Seven disabled men at $500 per annum,
800: three widows Of fir firemen at 1850 per
all the estimates. S354.s55.
Why Increases Are Asked.
The report then goes on:
las may be seen by this statement here
with, have given the amount Of salary
now received by different employees of the
department and have also submitted esti-
mate for increase of same in the various
grades / would earnestly urge upon you
the justice OF such Increase. The duties of
fremen are such that their lives are fire.
quently risked in Their endeayor to save
their fellow beings and to save and protect
valuable property. For the hard and trying
service which they render IL would seem but
fair that they should be compensa ted pro-
portionately. The salaries are far below
those paid in other cities. and at present
consider that the frer1en's pay is much be-
low what il should be.
Il have estimated for twelve assistant
foremen az a compensation of $3.50 per an
mum and for twelve hostlers at $3.50 per an
mum. Privates have been detailed hereto
fore TO NIL these places. with all the extra
labor and responsibilities, for which they
receive no additional compensation. Pri-
Yates would be promoted to these places
and new men appointed TO the above posi-
tons TO fill the vacancies made by these
Promotions. thus giving the required num-
be- to each company.
In asking for machinist and engineer
under the direction Of chief of department
at salary of 81 200 per annum. feel con-
fident that the saving to apparatus would
more than justify the outlay. There are
now in the department six watchmen. and
Frrl lry and civ al
ditional. Six psivates now on duty are
partially disabled and should be assigned TO
duty as watchmen. which duty they could
well perform and which appointment they
have faithfully earned by long and faithful
service OF which their disa bilities are the
result By such transfers the department
would be benefited by acquiring able bodied
men in places now filed by the privates
above mentioned.
The Proposed New Engine Houses.
In estimating for new houses for en-
gine companies Nos 2 and L. / do so in the
interest of the health of the men and as a
saving to the District. as the present old
buildings are unfit for habitation and of
such a nature that they would hardly be
allowed to exist in any but a public build
ing. The present site of No 2 house Is
entirely too small for an engine house /
would therefore ask that the reservation
bounded by Ohio avenue, 18th and streets
northwest be used for this purpose, by
permission OF Congress. / earnestly re-
quest that you give this your favorable
consideration, as / deem il of the utmost
Importance.
In estimating for one engine. one truck
and two chemical companies, it Is intended
that the engine company should be placed
In the northeast section and the truck COM
pany situated north OF New York avenue
between New Jersey avenue and eth street
northwest The chemical companies should
be placed in Mount Pleasant and Anacos-
tia, as these localities are sadly in need
of fire protection / request. therefore.
your favorable consideration of my appeal
The FIremep's Relief Association.
Each fireman . District ha IN nav
81 per month toward the fremen's relief
fund. which affords a retiring pension in
case OF disability incurred in the public
service or caused by advanced age. They
payment. 1t is deducted each month from
their salaries by authority Of law, and IL
was but an advance made by the members
for their own advantage in case Of need. 1t
IS manifest that 81 per annum. even II con-
tinued for the extraordinary length of ser
vice of thirty-three and one-third years
would amount to only 500 principal and 500
interest $500 in all. and this sum would give
fireman only sixteen months pension at
$50 per month Even when fines, &C., are
added they cannot be relied on to increase
the fund to an extent that will suffice for
the pensioning of meritorious firenlen that
are disabled or grow old in the service.
Now, however mistaken may have been
the fiscal calculations which the fund
was based, Congress assumed IL to be cor
rect and compelled the firen1en to contribute.
But IL is now certain that but few of those
rive any advantage from IL unless Congress
shall give that assistance to which the fund
seems entitled under the circumstances
The fund has been invested in bonds but
the growing demand for pensions will rem
der it necessary to sell them. and continued
sales will result in the extinction of the fund
unless Congress comes to its aid / would
recommend that Congress be petitioned TO
pay each year into the fund as much as is
paid in by the firenen- CThis would be no
more than just and In line with other APP
preparations for the maintenance of
District gOvernment) Or else IL should
make an annual appropriation or provide
other means TO help these dependent per-
sons
81 have estimated for an increase OF 81 600
for forage. The appropriations in the past
two years having been insufficient / have
been compelled to exceed the amount appro-
prfs ted "a result. / have estimated for a
new truck TO replace the old one now in
service truck B. The new aerial trucks
are far superior to the old style. and the
saving Of time in subduing fires and saving
life is often worth more than the price of
a new truck