The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-25

Select Councilman Charles e. Chit
tenden, the father of the present move
ment towards the reorganization of the
city's fire department, is convinced that
the ordinance introduced by Mr.. Oil
YER on Thursday night is merely in
tended to smash the whole scheme.
"The ordinance prepared by Mr..
Vaughan and myself" said Mr. Chit
tenden yesterday. 'is the only logical
one. This measure of Mr.. divers is q
wild creation, and with a little reason
ing it can easily be seen that instead
of saving the city money, it actually
increases the cost of maintaining the
fire department-nearly $4,000 at
jump. It's merely a move to put off
any action on the question at all by
showing what an enormous added ex-
pense this reorganization will mean.
"Mr. Oliver is an enthusiastic volun-
teer fireman and has many friends
among the rank and file throughout
the city, and can't say that l blame
him very much for starting this coun-
ter movement. But it will be pretty
bad thing for the city if no reorgan-
ization is effected and the sooner the
citizens can be educated to this the
better 1t will be-
DIVERS MEASURE.
The way Mr.. Chittenden figures out
the increase provided by Mr.. divers
measure is just this: The ordinance
provides for the following allotment of
permanent men: Five for a steamer
company, four for a chemical company,
three for hose company, five for a
hook and ladder company and four for
a combination chemical and hose COM
pany. Now, there are seven steamer
companies, one chemical company, six
hose companies, one hook and ladder
company and one combination chemi-
cal and hose company in the fire de-
partment.
Allowing the number of permanent
men provided for in the ordinance to
each company, this would bring the
grand total of paid men up to seventy
six. There are now thirty-two paid
men in the department, so that the
provisions of Mr.. divers ordinance
mean an increase of forty-four men.
The salary provided in the measure is
$720 year, so that in dollars and cents
this means an additional expense every
year of just $3l, $50.
In the Chittenden- vaughan ordi-
| nance no increase in the number of
permanent men now employed is pro-
vided for, the measure reading, "and
| any such additional permanent men as
the city's financial condition may war
| rant shall be employed" Another in
| crease from the present expenditure in
the oliver ordinance is SO, 600 a year for
| the salaries of four district chiefs.
DISTRICT CHIEFS.
"This idea of district chiefs is nom
sense" said Mr.. Chittenden. you see
| the kind of assistant chiefs, or rather
promoted assistants, that we nave
now. Men who are only too glad to
, show a little bit of authority. before a
| crowd, no matter whether there's any
| reason in their orders or not.
conditions are such that we've got
to have a change. l threw out a chal-
| lenge in council on Thursday night
| when l likened the department to a
mob, but there wasn't one who dared
| take it up. If they had, I'd have
| told them a few things which they
| couldn't have disputed. l anticipate
that Mr.. Vaughan and myself are
| going to have hard time getting our
ordinance through, but we're going 20
make a hard fight"