The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-03
In Board of Aldermen

The committee on fire department had
its hearing in Room 30, City Hall, at
o'clock. Several call firemen were
present and represented that in attend
ing calls they lost much time from their
work and ought to have a raise OF pay:
Councilman ]. Louis Murphy moved
that the pay Of callmen be Increased
from 1925 to $275 year. The motion
was carried, and the committee report
ed the order to the City Council Al
derman Lichtenfels, Councilmen Mur-
ply and Terrill voted for the motion
and Alderman Harrington and Council
man Holden against.
When the committee on fire depart
ment brought its report into the upper
board, Alderman Louis j. Kendall
moved that the report be referred to
the finance committee. Alderman Ed
ward j. Mcmahon moved to amend the
motion by inserting the words com
nittee to have leave to sit during the
session"
Alderman Mcmahon, in support OF
the amendment. said that the finapce
committee would merely provide ways
and means to provide the additional
money to pay the increase in salaries
of the callmen, and there was no ne
cessity of waiting to determine this
point
Alderman Kendall thought more time
should be allowed to consider a propo--
sition calling for an expenditure CT
more than $4,000 a year.
Alderman Lichtenfels spoke in favor
of the raise in pay. He said that the
question of having more permanent
men was not before the committee, but
the question of raising the pay of the
calImen. He thought, in consideration
of their arduous work, raise of sou
year was none too much.
Their present pay of 1925 year only
gave an average of $4.32 a week. There
were 1O7 call fremen. They lose on an
average about an hour for each fire.
Their employers dock their pay, In
some instances taking out Just double
the time the men are actually out IN
responding to an alarm.
often a man would ruin a good suit
of clothes at a fire, and he had to peck
ct the loss. If injured, he lost his time
at his place of business, and only drew
his s4.32 a week. Permanent hremen
have state aid when injured while on
duty; the call fireman had no such re-
lief.
About 900 to $50 alarms would be re-
sponded to in a year Two years ago,
the callmen worked 260 hours, which
would give them less than a dollar an
hour A mar who risked his life to
preserve proper should be well paid
The question the amendment was
put. and the n on as amended was
carried.
Yeas-Alderme1 Barrett, Litchenfels,
McMahon, Harrington. Lancaster,
Mitchell.
Nays-AIdermen Kendall and Stone.
a recess was then declared while the
Joint STANDING g. zee committee sat.
The connie ported at 1O45 that
the order lee CT ted increasing the
nav Of call n.Meu from 1925 to $275
year.
der adopted. Adjournment was then
Immediately taken.
Alderman Wilhelm G. Lichtenfels In
Produced an order authorizing the city
engineer to prepare a decree making
public Bigelow Court extension. the
order was adopted.
President w. L. Bousquet appointed
Aldermen Lancaster McMahon and
Mitchell on Joint committee of con-
ference to consider the ACCESSIBILITY Of
ahating the water rates Of the Wor-
cpster Wooden Mill Company. NO re-
rort was made to the upper board
An order was adoDted allowing the
Worcester Gas Light Company to lay
mines in Belmont Street. Bloomingdale
Poad Mortified and Suffolk Streets.
Alderman Edward J. McMahon intro
duced the following order;
'eThat the employees Of the various
dADartments of the city be allowed one
hours time. without loss Of pay, for
tbe nurnose of voting on election day,
Dec 10. 1901 and that such employees
ranort for work at o'clock In the
morning instead Of at 8 O'Clock"
In support of the order Alderman
NrcMahon said that many city en-
Moves had TO go long distances to get
II their place of work and if the hour
was not allowed them many might not
be able to vote.
Alderman Louis J. Kendall thought
.ba+ from G to o'clock was time
enough for city employees to get to their
rollinr nlaces. but Alderman Mcmahon
renJ,ed that many workmen might be
emnloved at distant parts Of the city,
AMI that IL would take considerable
+in,n IN get 10 their own precinct and
caet their ballots. The order then
was adopted without further opposi-
ton. .-.
President Rousquet read commune
cstion from MAYOR O'Connel appoint
ING Joseph II. Walsh, % Ward Street
as inspector in Precinct four. Ward
four in place Of John E. McGuinnis,
resigned. -.
steam engine and hose carriage for the
Eastern Avenue Fire Engine House, to
cost $500.