The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-06

Select Councilman Charles T.. Chitten-
den, last night In n disgusted tone of
voice. when he learned that the fire
committee of select had decided to
ignore both the ordinance he and Mr..
Vaughan drafted and the measure
drawn up by Chief Walker and Mr..
oliver, and to introduce an ordinance
of its own, providing merely for an in
crease in the number of permanent
men.
1t must be understood that select
council did not meet last night. There
were only eight members present when
Clerk Lavelle called the roll. These
were Messrs. Schneider, Lidstone, Mel
win, Wagner, Vaughan, Coyne, Cos
tello, oliver.
Mr.. McAndrew was out in the hall,
but went downstairs when he saw that
there were only q few members pres
ent. Mr.. Finn arrived few moments
afterwards, but not until council had
adjourned to meet next Thursday
night.
The fire committee had already held
brief session and had decided to post
| pone action on the two ordinances In
their possession for some little time.
Chairman Finn, however, wanted an
| other meeting held, so himself and
Messrs. Lidstone, Schneider and Mel
vim filed into the city clerks office.
TO DROP BOTH.
After giving the two ordinances
| twenty minutes careful consideration,
| they decided to drop both of them as
being impracticable, and scheme OF
Mr.. Melvins was ordered drafted into
new ordinance for presentation to
| councils.
The above scheme pro-
| vides simply for an increase in the
| number OF permanent men, leaving
| everything else as at present. There
| are to be eighteen additional men ap-
| pointed, to be apportioned as follows:
! Neptunes, .; Franklns, .; Nay Augs,
| /; Crystal l; Hook and Ladder, 2; Gen
| eral Phinneys, .; Phoenix, /; Libertys,
| /; Niagaras, 1; Cumberlands, /; Excel
siors, L; Centurys, /; William Connells,
l; Columbias, 1.
| This VIII allow two permanent men
| to each engine company, four to a
| steamer company five to a hook and
| ladder company and four to chemi-
| cal company. Mr.. Melvins plan is to
| have the permanent men paid the same
| as they are at present, $50 per month
| for the first year, which would mean
an extra expense in 1901. when the new
measure is to go into effect. if passed,
| of just an even $4,000.
| All of the members of the committee
were opposed TO the apportionment of
| permanent men in Mr.. divers ordi-
nance, on account of the tremendous
| extra expense 1t would mean every
year. namely, $4,000. They didn't see
where this money was to come from
and, candidly. they don't know where
their extra $4,000 is coming from,
either.
Mr.. Chittendens main kick is regis
tered because the committee does not
seem to think that there is any need
of improving the discipline in the fire
department or Of taking steps to in
sure the better protection of the valu-
able city property now in the various
company houses.
FOR BETTER DISCIPLINE.
The ordinance drawn up by Mr..
Vaughan and himself was intended to
bring about a better condition of dis
cipllne in the department, which he has
already likened to a mob. 1t provided
for no increase In the number of per-
manent men, but provided for extra
call and bunk men and directed the
disbandment of the volunteer COM
panies.
Mr.. divers measure, while 1t pro-
vided for a big increase in the num-
ber of permanent men, was also di-
rected toward improving the discipline
| of he ri ttfnn w ri
| Mr.. divers own statement, Is in a
deplorably bad state just at present.
It's hard to believe" said Mr.. Chit
tenden to n Tribune man last night.
"tnat the fire committee should have
taken any such action, but then one
can't hardly expect anything better.
If that's the way councils are going
to look at the existing condition of af-
fairs in the fire department all l can
say is, to slightly alter an old express
SIGN, God help the municipality
ITO think that after all these stories
of insubordipation that have been so
current of late, that this COMMITTEES
should decide that those portions of
the two ordinances providing for a bet
terment of the discipline of the depart
ment are of no account, is monstrous,
that's all.
Il suppose that If this new ordinance
is passed that the present system of
having the companies elect their own
permanent men will be continued and
that Wen have some more physical
wrecks in the department.. The COM
mittee ] see, thinks that the present
system of having no one II charge al