The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-23
THE FIREMEN'S PETITION
HEA RING HELD BY COMMITTEE ON
CITIES IND BOROUGHS.

HEARING HELD BY COMMITTEE OF
CITIES IND BOROUGHS.
, Session at the Capitol Yesterday Largel,
, Attended by New Haven Citizens-Ar
guments Advanced For and Agains
the Proposed Charter Amendmen
Asked for by the Firemen.
: liens appeared before the committee OF
cities and boroughs at Hartford yester
day to be heard on the petition for th
amendment of the New Haven cit!
charter regarding salaries in the fire de
partment. Ex-Judge A. Heaton Rob
ertson, who appeared as counsel for thu
firemen's committee, explained the pur
pose of the petition, saying that the OBJ
ject sought was to have the salaries OF
the department fixed by legislative en-
actment, so that the men in the depart
ment would know what to depend upon
and to fix the matter so that there
would be no chance for politics to enter
into it.
Corporation Counsel Ely started to re-
mark upon the petition and was asked
by Judge Robertson whom he represent
ed. Mr.. Ely replied that he appeared
for the city. To this statement Judge
Robertson objected, saying that Mr.. Ely
had not been instructed to appear to
represent the city in regard to the petit
ton.
In reply to this Mr.. Ely said: II don't
tie myself up to instructions from the
common council propose to represent
the city of New Haven as such, wheth-
er get instructions or not
Judge Robertson-"Mr Ely hired to
represent the city Of New Haven. but
the legislative body Of the city has not
authorized him to appear here as the
representative Of the municipality in
regard to this matter and l therefore
object to his so appearing"
| No ruling from the chairman of the
committee was called for, however, and
| Mr.. Ely continued to oppose the grant,
ing of the amendment asked for in the
petition.
Captain Spang of Engine Company
No. 6 was the first witness called by
Judge Robertson in behalf of the petit
TONERS. In response to questions by
Judge Robertson, Captain Spang said
that he now received 81 ,050 per year, but
that If he received the salary to which
he wass entitled under the rules of the
department he would get $1,000. He
said that although the rules provided
for advancement of grade after the
completion of two years of, service, he
had been in the same grade for six
years because 1t was claimed that the
department did not have money enough
to raise him to the grade to which he
was entitled He said that the present
system of paying and grading the men
in the department was very unsatisfac-
tory as the men are not now sure of
what they are going to get. He believ-
ed that the charter amendment asked
for would, If granted, provided the mat
ter of salaries was fixed by the legisla-
ture, promote the efficiency of the de-
salaries were cut 20 per cent. last year
and had been cut for two or three years.
although the firemen put in their whole
time on duty for the city, sleep in the
engine house and are allowed but one
hour for each meal, and if an alarm
rings while they are at meals they have
to respond. They have forty y-eight hours
a month leave of absence, and If during
that time an alarm rings they are oblig
ed to respond. They pay for their own
uniforms and receive no remuneration
for damage to uniforms at fires. They
are allowed twenty-four hours for sick
ness, and If they are sick for longer
time than that they are not allowed
pay. He thought that the compensa-
ton named in the proposed amendment
was fair, and based his opinion on his
long experience in the department.
Captain Spang was cross examined
by Mr.. Ely, who asked if there were not
plenty of applicable for positions in
the fire department.
Judge Robertson answered this ques
tion by saying: Lots Of men could be
found to be corporation counsel for ST. |
900 per year" Mr. Ely's salary is $3,500 |
per year
In response to a question by Mr.. Ely, |
Captain Spang said that if the salaries
were fixed by the legislature the eff
cheney Of the department would be in
because then the men would
not be running to the commissioners
and to aldermen and councilmen to get
their pay raised
Mr. Ely asked if he was willing to
have provision inserted in the amend
ment to allow the common council to
change the salaries at any time. Cap
tain Spang answered that he was not.
WILDER A. Peck, engineer of steamer
No. 4; jeremiah Griffin, stoker of engine
No. 2, and w. c. Foote, hoseman of en-
CINE No 9, were also called and reiter-
ated the statements made by Captain
Spang. Mr.. Foote. who was acting
clerk of the department for some time,
said that he had knowledge that the
IRE commissioners had approved the
amendment, and said that he did not
know that the commissioners had re-
considered their action. He thought
hat if the present conditions in regard
% salaries continued the efficiency OF
he department would be greatly i'm
paired He said that if the men were
sure of what they are now getting the
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