St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-04

dIe Stlli only drawing tha1
amount. But suppose they should bt
fortunate enough to be promoted, they
get about $65 per month, and out o1
| that they have to buy the regulation
uniform, that costs them as follows
Dress overcoat ............, S37
Firemans suit ...................,..., 81 O
One pair extra pants. ....s............. s
Two uniform shirts, at $3.50 ........... 70
~ Sap ''.....'''... l 2
Fire hat or helmet. t................,. s
TuppeI Soat '''.'''...... ......'........... U
Rubber boots Observation-Disclosures. 4
rlsnt pants ''........................ ! 8
ouinLner suit OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. "a O
Two summer shirts, at $1.50. 80
TWO straw hats, at So cents. .......... \
Total .......................... .$152 9
All these clothes they must Lave dur
ing the first six months, as the mer
are subjected to an inspection twice a
year. Any one or more of the above
articles enumerated are liable to be
destroyed at the first fire they are call
ed to, and must he Immediately re-
placed, not by the department, but out
OF their own salary. These men do moi
enjoy the comforts Of home life, as
they are on duty night and day every
day In the week and every month in
the year, and no matter what district
they are in, or where the fire may be-
when an alarm is turned in at night
all are aroused from their beds and
must wait until the company in whose
district the fire is in has responded
II general alarm is sounded all must
respond to the call, and then the COM
pan1eS in She outlying districts have
the hardest time of it, and their run is
longer, and more hose has to be used
as before they arrive all the nearest
MIGRANTS are occupied by the inside
companies. The life of a fireman is
hazardous in the extreme, and many
people do not hear of the accidents that
occur or seem to know the peril of a
fireman's life. To my knowledge, no
less than three of our brave firemen
lost their lives in the discharge Of their
duties. Many remember Peter Ocker-
man, who was killed at the fire OF
Scotts carpet house, on Wabasha
street. Then brave Lieut.. Clunen, at
Dyer's music store, on Third street
And who can forget the brave and self
sacrificing John Conroy, who gave UP
his own life in trying to save the chill
dren that We're. in the way of his ap-
paratus when running to the fire on
Chestnut street. AfeW years ago three
or four firemen were frightfully burned
by gasoline explosion out West Sew
enth street, and carry the marks OF
the fire yet. Capt. McFadden was bad
ly hurt at Schliek's fire, and was laid
up for several days. Lieut.. Devilin
was badly cut by glass at the fire al
Hunt & Kings barn and was off fol
ten days. In the collision at the corner
of Seventh and Minnesota streets a sec
ond plpeman had some of his ribs brok-
en-, and was laid up three weeks. In
another collision George Brandt was Sc
r1ouSly hurt in the head and his BODY
badly bruised, and was laid up for q
month And still some people say our
nremen are getting too much, and the
flre board, composed of men who have
incomes running from $5,0 900 to $40, ,O0C
per year, have arbitrarily cut the sala-
rles of these men who imperiI their
lives to save the property of our citi-
zens, and this they say is in the inter
est of economy.
Our policemen, toe, are served the
same way. because their salaries are
not protected by law. But 1 believe
If the citizens of st. Paul at large were
asked about the reductions, the great
majority would be in favor of letting
the police and fire departments alone.
and cut away the barnacles and useless
offices that were created for political
henchmen. Our patrolmen receive only
$75 per month, and out of that they
have to provide themselves with the
following necessary uniforms, etc.:
Uniform $40 OF
Dress overcoat So OF
tur oVercoat ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 65 on
aelmet .................... ................ 3 OF
Cap .......,,,.. Q M
I.eVoiVer 10 OF
Club ana Delt ........................... 2 81
Total 80. ...................... 1892 81
And, like the fl emen, their first night
duty is liable to bring them in contact
with the toughs and have their cloth
DESTROYED 4
must be replaced out Of their own pock-
cts Then look at the hardships a pa
trolman must endure and the risks he
has to run. Why only a short time ago
Officer Matt Tschida was shot at while
going up the alley between Eighth and
Ninth streets, near ,Sibley AS it is the
duty OF all the patrolmen to inspect the
property Of our citizens, we all remem-
Der how Officer John M. Rafter was
pounded by toughS out near Seven cor
ners. Officer Ben Morse had his knee
cap dislocated,. and not very long ago
officer Sexton had his nose broken.
Besides these accidents, two of our gal
liant policemen lost their lives while on
duty. Daniel O'Connell, out on Third
street, several years ago, was shot and
killed, and Hans Hanson, about five
years ago, met the same fate on ST. An
thony hill, while protecting the prop
Cl ~ VI lIIOSG ClClZeHS VINO COulQ not
live on less than SITS per month, but
want our patrolmen to be cut down to
less than SIS. Why, at this present writ
ing, one of our policemen, Officer Frank
Hauffer, now lies at the city hospital,
badly hurt by a gang of toughs who
tried to prevent the arrest of one of
their number. And yet these men who
run all the risk, and are out at all hours
of the day and night in every kind of
weather, are getting too much pay and
must be reduced in the interest of econ
omy, while the high salaried official,
who runs no risk and very seldom
works, still draws full pay. I don't be-
lieve the citizens Of st. Paul want that
kind of economy, as it is, in my judg-
ment, the poorest kind, and liable to i'm
pair the efficiency of these departments
and cost our taxpayers more in the end
AS there is no use denying the fact
that 1t is human nature to feel mere
willing to do what's right when your
work is appreciated and paid for than
otherwise, and 1 believe that if the
common council will, they can see to
1T that the firemen and policemen are
paid what they are entitled to, and that
is the same wages as paid last year.
The members of the fire board are ap-
pointed by the mayor and confirmed by
the council. and I believe the courts will
hold that they are subject to control Of
the council. james Morrow.
2S5 Nelson avenue.