Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-13

his trying tour of duty of five days is over.
may go to a comfortable home and rest
the twenty-four hours that he is free. A
fireman is on duty continuously five days
in every six, and then only in case the
fun quota of men in the company are on
duty. The absence, on account of sickness
or otherwise, of one man postpones the
days off to every ninth day, and should
two men be off duty at the same time, all
leaves cease.
again, it seems an act Of injustice to the
firemen that other branches of the Dis
trict government pay so much larger sala-
ries where the risk of life and limb Is not
nearly SO great. For instance in the po-
lice department of our city the lowest
class of privates receive 500 per annum
more than a private in the fire depart
ment while the pay of the men in the
other grades is correspcndingly higher. Nc
one can or will dispute the fact that when
the duties and dangers of the men of the
two departments are compared there is a
striking discrepancy in the amount OF
salary paid.
''As is stated above the honorable Com
missioners, realizing the business of the
claims of the fire department, have, in
previous years. recommended an increase
in the pay, and, in addition to this. Pc
tition on the same subject containing the
signatures of over twenty-sx thousand OF
our representative citizens was sent to the
Congress, but without avail.
1t Is hoped that this Recommendation
will not receive the fate that others similar
to 1t have met in past years.
Increase I'm Force.
"An Increase Of two assistant chief en-
gineers is recommended for the reason that
cur city and its fire department have long
since outgrown its number of assistant
chiefs. There are but two. who are per-
forming the duties that in other cities are
assigned to six or eight men. An assist
ant chief responds to every alarm of fire
that Is received, whether it be in Anacos-
tia, Takoma Park, or In any other portion
OF the city, and 1t is absolutely essential
that they arrive at the scene of the fire
at the earliest possible moment, to direct
companies, and take charge of the fire in
the absence of the chief engineer. The
success of fire department depends to a
very large extent upon the number, INTEL
lgence and efficiency of the assistant
chiefs By the rules they are required to
visit each of the houses in their battalions
once each day, hence they are brought in
close contact with the men, and are able
to perform important service in this de-
rection alone. With an area of seventy-two
square miles and with twenty companies,
Wflch VIII be our number by the first of
July next, 1t is an utter imoossiblity for
these men to look out and properly care
for the important matters left to their
charge. This increase is needed as much.
II not more. than any other increase rec
commended, and it is earnestly hoped that
an appropriation providing for these two
men will be allowed.
Congress at it's last session placed a
clause in the appropriation bill which reads
as follows:
Hereafter each of the members of the
fire department shall be entitled to leave
OF absence each year, with pay. for such
Tune, not exceeding twenty days, as the
Commissioners shall determine
Neither the Commissioners nor this Of
nee were consulted before the above law was
passed, and 1t would not be possible TO
comply Herewith. and still keep a proper
w inc fny-a
10 enable the department to perform the
most effective fire duty, with the number
or men at the present time allowed each
company. l have. therefore, asked an ao-
preparation for thirty additional priyatcs
which will enable the fremen to obtain
the twenty days leave allowed them by
Congress-. and to which they are entitled.
Inc increase of ten foremen, six engin-
GERS, SIX nremen, four tilermen ten hos
tiers and ninety-two privates is asked to
equip the additional companies recommend
ed in these estimates
1t Is also estimated for an increase in
the number OF watchmen-from eight to
fourteen. There are in the department a
NUMBER OF men who, by reason of long
and faithful service, have become incapaci
tated Tor performing active fire service and
arc NOT lncapacitated to such an extent
as to be placed on the pension roll, If this
increase is allowed, the department will ne
eenented in two ways, first by having
young, able-bodied men to fill the positions
IN.
ly, they being fully qualified to perform
the duties of watchmen. it would not be
necessary Tor company which has re-
spohded to an alarm for fire to leave the
mouse without any one in charge 1t would
prove very beneficial if this increase were
allowed.
Machinist in Charge Of Remain. tn
Apparatus.
IL Is again estimated for one machinist
10 De placed IN charge of repairs to anna
'atuS. rms mas been the recommendatio lion
LOT several years, but we have not been
able 10 get an appropriation for this officer
VINO would prove such a valuable addition
to our department. The department is GET
tlns to such a size tnat an exnericn,.ad
macanlst is an absolute necessity Many
times piece OF apparatus is in need or
repairs that could be made at once n W..
had the services of such an employee thus
obviating the necessity of sending il to a
repair shop. and losing the use thereof for
Such length of time as 1t takes to make
the repairs. The amount asked for th,,
compensation of this officer is 81. I5o ner
annum, and there is no doubt but that that
amount would be more than saved every
twelve months Only a few months since
an engine. after serving at a very large
fire. was found to need some slight repairs.
An experienced machinist was called in.
ana made the necessary repairs at a cost
to the District of $40, and if the engine had
been sent to shop the probabilities are
that the expense would have been much
greater
He would also be charged with the con-
troll and direction OF all employees assigned
to duty under him. note and report ali de-
reflections or incompetency on the part of
such employees. and see that the time of
the rien assigned him is employed to the
greatest advantage to the department He
should be subject to the rules and regula-
tons governing the fire department and
the orders of the chief engineer
1T is to be hoped that this increase be
allowed"
The need of an appropriation of $3.50 for
laborer to take charge OF the additional
stables is pointed out by Chief Paris, ana
an earnest argument made for an increase
Of the appropriation for repairs to engine
houses to 5000 The same sum is urged
as necessary for repairs to apparatus.
New Companies.
On the important subject of new compa-
nies the report says:
Although Congress has within the past
few years made appropriations for slight
Increases in this department, the city of
Washington is yet sadly In need of addi-
tional engine and truck companies, with the
requisite number of men and officers to
properly man them.