Evening star., 1901-02-25
FIREMEN TO ORGANIZE
PROPOSED FORMATION OF BRANCH
OF LABOR FEDERATION.
Alleged Objects of the MOvement-Ma-
jOrity of the Men Said to
Oppose 1t.

For the past several weeks tnere mas DeeH
a movement on foot among the members OF
the District fire department to organize
branch of the American FEEDER alton OF La
bor the members of this branch organ1za-
ton to come from the officers and men of
the department. 1t is said that the move
ment has progressed so far that a meeting
for the purpose of formally organizing the
firemen's association will be held in few
days 1t was stated last week that this
meeting would be held this evening at Ty-
pCgraphical Temple, but this is denied by
those most intimately connected with the
movement, who say that no particular day
has yet been set for the first meeting.
An officer of the general body of the
American Federation of Labor, Mr.. Nor
rIson of Chicago, is credited with haVlns
originated the movement mere among tne
the District fire fighters, and First Assistant
Chief Belt the foreman of an engine COM
pany on Capitol Hill, and Foreman Nlchol-
son of Truck d are said to be among those
who have associated themselves with the
movement, and who are thought to be lend
ing it assistance and encouragement. On
behalf of Assistant Chief Belt, however,
his friends say that he has not assoclat-
ed himself with the movement ana
that he doubts very much the wis
dom of such an organization. Fore
man Nicholson and the Capitol Hill lore
men, it is said, do not deny being connected
with it, nor do their friends deny that they
have earnestly endeavored to do everything
in their power to make 1t success.
Objects to BE Gained.
1t is said the objects which the promoters
of the proposed organization hope to attain
through 1t are as follows: Days OF Tor
the members of the fire department at more
frequent intervals, they now being allowed
a day off, only every sixth day. diff
nf contracting for the uni
forms worn by the men, for which they
now pay out of their own pockets, and ror
the past several years to outside clothing
establishments: an increase of pay for all
members of the department below the rank
of assistant chief; an allowance by Con
gress of back pay on the eight-hour basis;
twenty days off each year, and sick leave
during the time men are under the care OF
a physician. 1t is also said that the leaders
in the movement propose to attempt to en-
force the allied printing trade mark on all
printed matter used i'll the fire department:
the employment of union machinist TO
do all the work i'll the department; the 10
ing of all other work for the department
by union men: the right of the firemen
union to confirm all appointments in the
department. as we'll the right to nvesti-
gate all charges of discipline preferred
against members Of the d part tnent. and the
recognition of the tiremen's union by Con-
gress and the District Commissioners.
Including the officers and watchmen. there
are 25l men in the fire department, and it is
said that not more than a third of them
have signified a willingness to become mem
bers of the proposed labor organization, al
though ii is believed that about all of them
have been invited to do so. The majority Of
the officers and men believe. so it is said.
that the movement is most unwise one,
especially at this time, when, so they point
out, the Commissioner in immediate charge
of the fire department, Commissioner Mac
farland, has secured for most of the men,
DprS increase of and has promised
to do all in his power to obtain at the next
session of Congress an increase of pay for
those members of the department who were
denied it by this Congress. Those who op-
pose or deem the movement unwise fear
that the purpose of Mr.. Macfarand might
be defeated by such organization.
Majority Said to Oppose Movement.
Most of those interested in the proposed
firemen's labor organization insist that this
increase of pay is really It's single pur-
pose, although it is admitted that the
others enumerated could well be made its
objects. Nevertheless, 1t is already ap-
parent that a majority of the members of
the department are either averse to asso-
ciating themselves with the movement. or
fear that if they do they will jeopardize
their positions. Said one of these men:
mo one denies that the members of the
District fire department are poorly paid
ment in a city the size of Washington, but
We have a man at the head of it now,
Commissioner Macfarland, who is the first
Commissioner in many years to get any
of us more money, and who has promised
us that he will do all he can at the next
session of Congress to get the rest of US
more money, and for one l believe he can
do US a great deal more good in this thing
than II we Joined this labor organization
Then, too. he is the first Commissioner that
ever gave us more than ten days leave.
l used to be a laboring man myself and
believe that labor unions are good things
for labOring men, but / do not see how
tremen or policemen can belong to labor
union, for we couldn't serve two masters,
and that is what We would have to do If
we Joined. We would either have to do as
the union said or be expelled, or do as
the Commissioners said or be dismissed. I
get my bread and butter for wife and
little ones from the District, and If / am
permanently disabled l get a pension from
1T, and if l am killed my wife and children
get one, and, therefore, l cannot afford to
do anything which might ruin my chances
or theirs OF course, l don't know what
the Commissioners would say about this fire
mems union but a man with a head on
him no bigger than an orange could guess,
and the guess would be that while they
like about every one else in the country, be-
lieve labor societies are good things for
laboring people, they couldn't agree to di-
vide their charge Of the fire department
with anybody else. And even if the Com
lUlSSlOHtTS SHOulu De Wiling, 0On I see
how Congress could agree that anybody but
the Commissioners should be responsible
for conducting the fire department 1t
would be all very well if we firemen were
laboring men, mechanics, like the printers
and pressmen at the government printing
office, but amt, and in my opinion we
would have no end of trouble and con-
fusion if joined this firemens union.
Then, again, lots of men won't Join it.
and unless every man in the department
does join 1t, we might just as well have
none at ALL"
Views of Commissioners Not known.
The views expressed by this member OF
the department is said to be those of many
others, and those best informed in such
matters are certain the project will come
to naught. What the Commissioners think
of it, if they are aware of the movement,
Is not known, but 1t Is believed that they
would regret to know that such purpose
exists among the members of the fire de-
partment this belief being based alone upon
the assumption that, while they favor an
increase of pay for the officers and men,
and propose to do all in their power to
secure 1t, they would give the union official
recognition or divide with it the RESPONSE
n