The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-24
The Measure Which Is Being
Pushed by State Firemen.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
Care and Maintenance OF Firemen Disa-
bled in the Line Of Duty-Govern-
ment and Control OF the Depart
ment in Cities and Towns.

| also for the appointment of firemen and
the organization of departments. Fol-
lowing is a copy Of the bill:
"A bill for an act to provide for The
organization, government and control of
fire department for cities and towns,
regulating appointments thereto. and
providing for the creation of a disabil-
ity found for the care and maintenance
of flremen disabled in the line Of duty,
| and to punish frauds thereon.
! BE it enacted by the legislative as
| sembiy of the state of Montana:
| Section 1.-The council of cities and
towns shall have power to establish a
| ire department and prescribe and regu-
| late its action, to maintain fire alarm
telegraph, to erect engine, hose and
| nook and ladder houses and provide
| engines and other implements and ap-
paratus for the eXtinguishing of fire.
Section 2. Such fire department,
when established by the council shall
consist of one chief of the fire depart
| ment, as many assistant chiefs of the
| fire department and such number of
| hremen as the council may from time
TO time provide. The compensation of
the chief of the fire department and as
Slstant chief of the fire department and
firemen in cities and towns where the
council shall establish a fire depart
ment, shall be fixed by the ordinance
The mayor shall nominate and, with the
consent of the council appoint the chief
OF the fire department, the assistant
chief of the fire department and all fire
men, and such appointment shall be
first made for probationary term of
six months, and thereafter the mayor
may, and with the consent of the coun-
Gil, appoint such chief and assistant
chief of the fire department and firemen,
who shall thereafter hold their appoint
| ments during good behavior, and having
the physical ability to perform their du-
ties. The chief of the fire department
and the assistant chief of the fire de-
partment and the firemen shall not be
officers of the municipal corporation in
which such fire department is estab-
| lished.
Section 3. The mayor may suspend
the chief and assistant chief or any fire
man of the fire department for neglect
of duty or violation of any of the rules
and regulations of the fire department;
the chief of the fire department may
suspend the assistant chief of the fire
department or any fireman. and the as
slstant chief of the fire department may
suspend any fireman for a like cause.
In all cases of suspensions the person
copy of the charge against him in writ.
ing, setting forth the reasons for the
suspension, and such charges must be
presented at the next meeting of the
council and hearing had thereon, when
the suspended member of the fire de-
partment may appear in person or by
counsel and make his defense to said
charges; if such charges are found
proved by the council, the council by
vote of a majority of the whole council
may impose such penalty.as it shall de-
term1ne the offense warrants, either in
the continuation of the suspension for
time limited, or in the removal of the
suspended person from the fire depart
ment; should the charges be not pre-
scented to the next meeting of the coun-
Gil after the suspension, or should the
charges be found not proved by the
council, the suspended person shall be
relnStated and be entitled to his usual
compensation for the time so suspended
Section 4. Should the council at any
time reduce the number of firemen in
the fire, department. those most recent
ly appointed shall be selected for retire
ment from the fire department, and the
city or town clerk shall keep list of
such retired firemen, and should the
number of firemen be again increased
by the council the men on said list shall
be called into service. the longest serv-
ice tiremen first selected for service in
the fire department..
Section 5. The qualifications for fire.
men shall be that they shall be qualified
voters of the city or town and not over
As years of age at the time of their ap-
pointment, and shall have passed a
physical examination by practicing
physician duly authorized to practice in
this state, which examination shall be
in writing and filed with the city or
town clerk. Such examination shall dis
Gloss the ability of such applicant to
perform the physical work usually re-
quired of firemen in the performance
of their duty
Sec. 6. The chief of the fire depart
ment shall have sole command and con-
troll over all persons connected with the
fire department of the city or town and
shall possess full power and authority
over its organization, government and
discipline, and to that end may from
time to- time, establish such disciplinary
rules and regulations as he may deem
advisable. subject to the approval CT
the city of town council he shall have
charge of, and be responsible for the
engines and other apparatus. the pro-
perty OF the city or town furnished the
fire department. and see that they are
at all times ready for use in the eX-
tinguishing of fires. The assistant
chief of the fire department shall aid
the chief in the work of the department,
and in his absence shall perform his
duties
Sec. I. In cities and towns where
fire departments are now established,
organized and existing as provided in
this act, the same shall be deemed to be
established hereunder.
Sec. s. There shall be created and es-
tablished in each city and town where
there is an established fire department.
a fund in the city or town treasury to
be known as the disability fund of the
fire department of said city or town.
The mayor, clerk and attorney for such
city or town shall be the trustees Of
said fund. and shall audit the same
from time to time. at least twice each
fiscal year; and no payment shall be
made therefore except upon the order
of the council upon the recommendation
of the trustees in writing to the council,
stating the name of the beneficiary, the
character of the disability, and where
and how he received and the amount
to be paid to such beneficiary, and no