The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-07

Scc0e0 StEcct
Important features OF the regular meet
ing Of the city council held last night
were the resolution adopted creating
committee TO prepare revised scale OK
salaries for the police and fire depart-
ments and the ordinance introduced by
Mr. James looking TO the adoption of a
charter amendment AT the next city elec-
ton. fixing the liquor license at si,ooo a
year, thus taking this important work
from the hands OF the city council. The
James ordinance was referred. but viii
likely he passed, and the voters OF the
city will be called on at the next election
10 say whether the amendment as pro-
posed shall be adopted. There is every
reason to believe that no other proposed
amendment Will figure more prominently
In the coming election than the one sug-
gested by Mr.. James.
The resolution relative to increasing tina
salaries Of members of the fire and police
departments was the outgrowth Of long
communication from the members OF the
fire department in which they complained
of the Low salaries they are receiving. They
insisted that they receive less pay than
the employees of any other fire department
and set up reasons for this contention.
The resolution was introduced by Rudy
and reads as follows:
..Whereas. During the past four years
the compensation of policemen and fire-
men of the city of Seattle has been upon
a minimum basis, and
"Whereas. Recent advances In rents and
in the prices of supplies and other items
of the cost OF living have operated to stu
further reduce the compensation OF the
city employees; and
"Whereas, Owing to more active condi-
tions in the eity's business life the duties
OF members of these two departments
have hecome more arduous and hazardous:
now. therefore be 1t
Resolved. That special committee be
and the same Is hereby appointed to pre-
pare and submit TO the council In the
form of an ordinance, a revised scale of
wages for these two departments. to take
effect on January l, 1898. or as soon there
after as may be found practicable. said
committee tn consist Of the chairman on
labor. the chairman OF the committee on
fire and water. the chairman OF the COM
mlttee on police. license and revenue. the
chairman of the committee on finance and
the chairman Of the ordinance committee"
Reasons of the Firemen.
The reasons the members OF The FIRE de-
partmcnt give for stating tnar they are the
poorest paid employees OF the city were In
the language of the fremen. as follows:
"First-Because in no ether department
OF the city Is there such wear AMI tear en-
clothes which item is a serious expense 10
each and every member We are required to
appear properly uniformed. and al nearly
every fire there is danger to our wearing
apparel, which must be at once made
good.
.'Second-Because no favor has been
shown MS on account Of the fact that un-
like any other city empoye, we are cem-
pellsd by our Limited time for our meals. to
reside close to our stations or be Prevented
from reaching our homes oftener than
once or twice day. In the case IT most
OF the companies this entails either much
hardship or the payment Of rents that are
a severe burden.
'Third--Because. although our hours OF
daily service number from two 10 three
times as many as are required frcri ether
city employees our salaries average less
than those of other departments. For "a
hours "A day continuous duty ut our sta
tion. the duty requiring not only constant
presence within narrow limits. but unceas-
ing watchfIlness and considerable loss Of
sIrep with only scaniy time for meals and
occasional hours or relaxation. we receive
less pay than departments wherein men
have only few hours of service and may
spend the mos; OF each day with their fam
ilies at their homes
h-Because. in fixing cur salaries
proper consideration was not given to the
extra hazardous character of the fire ser
vice here. There ~ no city n The United
States where. by reason Of steep Mills ard
grades. the work OF getting 10 fires Ia hslr
as difficult or dangerous Scarcely a day
passes that our lives are not placed In teop-
ardy in descending the steep and slippery
streets and she risks we are forced IN take
IN answering FIRE alarms are absolutely un-
known In half our American cities More
over. by reason OF the deterior1:ion OF
pianking and bridging the streets ere no~
full OF holes and pitfalls. and the liability
10 accident very much greater than in tha
years when we we're receiving high ray,
'In addition TO al this we have ;hs
hazards OF fire Itself. the risks OF burns.
scalds. explosions and falling walls. The
chances OF disasters that bring death in
It's most horrible form, TO ray nothing ~
exposures that result In Illness and loss
of health.
"It is unnecessary 10 state that condf-
tions are changing rapidly and are now
very different from those when our wages
were cut to this extremely low figure.
The several reductions were all made. at
least partially on the plea that rents ard
living were very low. and therefore that
less hardsf4lps would he worked. but at
present both these items are apprecIat-
ing and next year are sure 20 increase 20
an extent that viii affect ns very seriously.
This return of prosperity brings into
marked prominence the great necessity oS
keeping Sesttse's fire service at the very
highest point of perfection. for the reason
that while the Alaska trade Is developing
she city canno. afford 20 have fires snturs
her mercantile and manufacturing inter
eztE. To the firersen this revival suggests
other fields in which the prospect Is held
out TO him OF betterins his condition.
city Printing.
Only ore bid sor the contract for the
city rrinfInE for fSs wag reeetYnd by the