Evening star., 1901-02-26
ORGANIZATION OF FlREMEN
THE ANNOUNCEMENT MADE YEsTER-
DAY OCCASIONS SURPRISE.
Objects of Union stated by FOremen
Nicholson and PrOctOr-Assist-
ant Chiefs Position.

| The mention in yesterdays Star OF the
movement among the members of the Dis
| trict fire department to organize fire.
| mems branch or union of the American
Federation of Labor came as matter OF
| no little surprise, for 1t appears that not a
| few of the firemen were unaware OF the
I movement, and to those who knew OF 1t
| the making public of the proposition was
| no less surprising and unlocked for. First
Assistant Chief VIM. T. Belt. who was
among those credited with promoting the
movement, was one of Commissioner Mac
farlands earliest callers this morning, his
visit being, as he explained to a reporter
of The Star. to assure the Commissioner
that he has and has had no connection
with the movement. not even in the most
remote degree.
Mr.. Belt stated that he knew nothing Of
the movement until day or two ago. when
friend told him that it was believed that
he was one of its most earnest advocates.
Mr.. Belt is Of the opinion that there is no
occasion for the organization Of such a
body, believing that the Commissioners have
demonstrated, in the increase Of pay for the
hremen which the pending District appro-
priation bill provides for. that they have
the true interests of the men at heart and
have done and will continue to do all in
their power to better their condition In
every reasonable way. Foreman Proctor of
engine company No. 3 and Foreman Nichol-
son Of trust d frankly admit that they are
and have been advocating the movement
and lending 1t all aid. but they claim that it
was never intended that the proposed fire.
mems union should ever do more than assist
the Commissioners in the betterment of the
men.
MIR. Macfarland's Views.
What the Commissioners think Of the
movement may be gathered from the fol-
lowing statement Of Commissioner Mac
farland. who has immediate charge Of the
fire department, and who did so much in
connection with his associates to secure in
the pending District appropriation act more
pay. for every member below the rank OF
engineer:
.! am making inquiry about 1t. do not
believe that any considerable number Of
the members of the department have gone
into this movement. They know that the
professed object OF the movement-to secure
better conditions by larger appropriations
Is the very thing that the Commissioners
are working for. and that they have sue
ceeded this session. In getting a substan-
tial improvement. which will be followed up
next year. The Commissioners in doing
this have shown, l think. that they needed
no urging from any quarter in their efforts
to improve conditions. If any labor or
ganization desires to help 1t has only to
join forces with the Commissioners. 1t Is
not necessary to organize the f1remen into
branch OF that organization. If that is
the only object. I must say that do not
see how the Commissioners can divide the
responsibility for the administration of the
fire department, placed upon them by
Congress. 1t is governmental service,
precisely analogous to the police depart
ment with life tenure and pensions. The
fact that neither policemen nor firemen are
organized into branches of labor organiza-
tions elsewhere suggests the idea that such
action would be Incompatible and might
lead to embarrassing complications"