Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-21
CUT DOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Board Of Commissioner Would Reduce the
FOrcs Over 0ne-Half.
NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO MAINTAIN IT
Commission Holds star Chamber, at
which Resolution LoOkinE to This
Action f. Drawn and
Later Adopted.

To cut down the number Of Omaha's fire.
men from 119 to SO. That Is the PROPOSE
tion to which the Board Of Fire and Po-
lice Commissioner last night committed it
self. If this resolution was carried into
effect IL would mean the closing Of all fire
houses in the city outside OF the most ac-
tive business centers. The boards action
Is based on the complaint Of a lack Of
funds to maintain an adequate force Of fire.
men.
After an hours session., to which none
but the members were admitted, the board
brought forth this resolution and adopted
il, In the presence of a few spectators:
Resolved. That the chief OF the Are de-
partment be instructed to report at the next
meeting what houses can be best closed so
as to properly divide the force TO protect
all parts of the city.
As a preamble to the resolution there
were a number of whereases, stating that
in order to keep the fire force within the
limits Of the funds allowed for the support
Of the department it would be necessary to
reduce the force by about sixty men. and
the reduction must be made by the closing
of the fire houses. Another whereas stated
that the present board had reduced the ex-
pendltures Of the fire department from $11, =
900 per month to $1,000, the lowest possible
amount at which the force could be main
tanned at it's present size.
During a brief discussion OF the resolution
the member were unanimous in saying they
did not want to be held individually respon-
sible, should the expenditures of the de-
partment exceed the appropriation set apart
for its maintenance. Chairman Broatch
believed the number of men to be taken of
could be 1essened we're those left on not
allowed their usual day off every nine days.
He was Of the same opinion even after
Member Spratlin reminded him that the men
worked t~wenty-four hours every day and
were certainly entitled to some time for
themselves.
BrOatch Says They "sit Around"
well, they don't work near as hard as
policemen. They just have to sit around
most Of the time replied the chairman,
and the incident closed. At the present
ame the fire department includes 119 men.
The designations of F. A. Graham and
Frank Mcclure Of the fire department were
accepted. Each has secured more profitable
employment. Frank Trimble was put on
the regular iremen list.
w. H. Shopp of the police department
made application for another thirty days
leave Of absence without pay, his present
leave having expired. Mr.. Shopp has been
laid up with rheumatism, but the board re-
fused to grant him further leave, 1t having
been reported to them that he was a can
didate for assessor. A judgment for $41.5C
which had been obtained by a boarding
house keeper against Policeman Frank Ur-
ban was taken up and the sentiment of the
board was for Mr.. Urban to pay the judg-
ment. Several hremen and policemen were
granted leaves of absence.
The case OF Slovsky & Pillar. saloonmen
who tried to throw several policemen ou'
of their saloon last Sunday, went over unit
the next meeting at the requestIof the sa'
loon men.