The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-09-13

fneuuaSlOn mas Deen niddt anu appfONcu ny
the honorable Commissioners for a number
OF years, and strong effort has been made
to have the Congress thus recognize the ef
forls of the firemen.
The members of our department are re
CURED to reside within a reasonable dis
tanceu Of the company TO which they are as
signed, and rents in these localities are, an
a rule, high. They are required To purchase
at least two suits of uniform clothing per
year, so that they may Toe able TO present a
neat and oreditable appearance. Should
they respond 10 an alarm OF fire, and their
Clcti,ing get ruined, tney nave Odt -
their salary to purchase new ones.
During the past fourteen months five
men lost their lives at fires, and four died
from disease contracted in the line of their
duty. At every death each member is as
sessed the sum of $3.50. which constitutes
tie fireInsus relief fund. So being turned
over to the wido W, or nearestrelatiye, and
so cents retained for the purpose OF erect
ing a headstone to his memory. In addi-
ton to this. 81 per months ded ucted from
the pay of eachfirem an, by act ofCongress.
which dollar 81 deducted constitutes the
firenpn's pension fund.
salary of $500 Per annuni, or rather S76a.
il / S almost an Utter impossibiity for tlr
men TO obtain anything but the plainest
neoeSsaries OF life for themselves and
families.
Asis stated above the honorable Commits
sionrrs, realizing the business Of the claims
of the fire department. have reoonm ended
the increase in the pay, and in addition
Id this a petition containing the sigma
lures or over 20 600 OF our representative
citizens was sent to the Congress, but
it awaited OF nothing.
II is hoped that this Recommendation
VIII not receive the fate that others
similar to IL have met in past years.
An Increase Of two assistant chief en-
gineersiS recommended FOR the reas ON that
our city and its fire department has long
since outgrown its number OF assistant
chiefs There are but two, who are per
forming the duties that in other cities
six or eight men would perform. An as
SAINT chief responds to every alarm of
fire that is received. whether 1t be in Ana
costa, Takoma Park OF IN any other
pc'tion Of the city, and it is absolutely
essential that they arrive at the scene Of
direct the Companies, and take charge OF
The fire in the absence of the chief en-
gineer. The success OF fire department:
depends to a very large extent upon the
number, Efficiency, and Intelligence of the
assistant chiefs.
BY the rules. they are required Co visit
each OF the houses in their bsttalions once
each day, hence they are brought in close
contact with the men and are able To per
form important servicein this direction alone.
With an area OF seventy-two square miles
and twenty companies, which Will be out
numbered by the LIST of July next, it is an
utter inpossibility for these men to look
out and properly carefor the important mat
tiers left TO their charge. This increase is
needed asInuch, If not more, than any other
increase recommended, and it is earnestly
hoped that an appropriation providing for
these two meu will be allowed.
ConrI ess at its last session placed a
clause il 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
time not exceeding twenty days as the
Neither the Commissioners nor this Of
flee were consulted before this law was
passed, and it would not be possible to
comply Herewith and still keep proper
working force on duty in the various houses
10 enable the department TO perform the
most effective fire duty with the number
Bf men at the present time allowed Zach
/ have, therefore, asked an
for 80 additional privates,
which will enable the ffremea 20 oJtain
the twenty days leave allowed them by
Congress, and to which they are so justly
entitled.
The increase of 10 foremen, 6 engineers
6 firemen, 4 tillerman, o hostlers, and 90
priyates is asked to equip the additional
recommended in these estimates
II is also estimated for an increase in
the number Of watchmen, from 3 to 40.
There are in the depar tment number of
men who, by reason of long and faithful
service, have become incapacitated for
performing active fire service, but are |
hot incapaeitatpd tn such an extent as Is \
entitle them to be placed on the pension |
FOIL If this Increase is allowed, the de- !
viii be benefited in two ways |
inst, by having young, able-bodied men |
10 fin the positions held at present by |
,tiser men: and. secondly, they being fully |
qualified to perform the duties required of |
V atctmen. it would not be necessary for /
a company, which responded to an alarm |
'or fire, 10 leave the house without any one |
n charge. leaving them to the mercy ur |
he miscellaneous and the evil inclined II /
would prove beneficial if this increase were |
allowed.
In my last annual report particular stress |
xas laid upon the m annerin which Congress |
for our needs. As has been the /
;ase in recent years, the houses have been /
,u.lt. and tie apparatus standing therein, 4
md we have had to wait months and |
months before the men became available |
o place these companies in service. This
;hould not be. The men should be provided 1
or at the same time the rest of the ap-
,roprtstion 10 ordered.
By this method. when new companies were
'cady FOR service. we would have all ex-
,es iehoed men&o operate them, not be CON-
'ezled to make transfers OF old men to the