The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-06
ACTION TAKEN LAST NIGHT
c%onferees Appointed to Meet Fire,
Water and Light Committee
Vacancy Exists.
IHom Thursdays Daily Gazette.

I'll L uCouoJ hA6At,
and Baker of the fire department took
off their working clothes yesterday
afternoon and notified Chief Bond that
they had quit. Seventy-ive dollars a
month they said was not enough to
tempt them to retain their positions.
The chief said "all right" and began
to look around for other men to
take the vacant places. This morning
a new man, William Hampton, was
caring for the horses and acting as
driver of the hose wagon, it being de-
present.
Last night a meeting of the depart
ment was held for the purpose of dis
cussing the situation, as many of the
members were Of the opinion that the
new rate of wages for drivers was not
enough, considering the responsibility
of the positions and the continuous
service expected of the occupants, for
the drivers are on duty all the time
and never have a day to themselves,
not even an occasional evening that
they can call their own. But little
could be learned of what transpired
at the meetings, as the men who were
present were not inclined to talk con-
corning what was done. 1t is under
stood, however. that at times the pro-
ceedings were decidedly lively and
that opinion was divided on some
matters.
A resolution, it is said. was offered
asking the council to reconsider its
action and in effect demanding the re-
instatement of the two drivers. This
was lost and after some more discus
sion it was finally decidede to take a
more conservative position. ldplo-
matte usage was adopted and it was
voted to call for a conference OF the
two bodies. Accordingly a committee
of five was appointed to meet the
council committee on fire, water n
light and talk the matter over. The
committee consists of w. b. Calhoun,
H. F. McFarlin, Phil Grein, Frank
Purcell and F. X. N. Rademaker.
In speaking of the situation today
some of the members declared that
there was no intention or desire on
the part of the iremen to be 'unrea-
sonable or arbitrary or to ask more
than it was believed the city could
afford> or the council was inclined to
grant. The feeling rs expressed by
those who would talk at all was one
of Cancellation. They said that the
department and the council
should act in unison; that some con-
sideration should be shown on both
sides. The iremen were giving their
services free to the city and for that
reason should be treated a little dit
ferently than if they were a paid body
and thew felt that they were entitled
to at least the courtesy of a consulta-
tion on questions in which they were
concerned.
AS explained by n Of them the
purpose of the intended conference IS
to ascertain what in the opinion OF the
aldermen the city can afford TO ap-
propriate annually for paying a eh1ef
and drivers and to arrive at a tnor-
ough understanding SO as to AVOID
any future MISUNDERSTANDING. III
the city can only expend a certain
amount we will try and see with now
few men, paid ones, we an get along
SO as to give the largest posslDle
nav to those who are retained" ne
said. eff, in their estimation the al
lowance now made is all the city can
stand and that SIS is as much as can
be paid to drivers, we would like TO
know If and govern ourselves accord
ingly. 1t is our desire that the rela-
tions etwee the council and depart
ment shall continue friendly n ami
cable and to that end the proposed
conference has been called IN order
that we may arrive at an understand
ing and know just what to expect anu
what the intentions for the future
are. OF course, there are some lmpa-
tient ones they are found IN all
bodies, and you can hear all sorts OF
talk and rumors, but there will be no
trouble. In quitting, Sawyer and
Baker awaited themselves of their pre-
negative. and probably others will be
found who will take their places and
consider the wages fixed by the coun-
ell good enough. 1t is a question OF
opinion only"
Herman Lehfeldt of Lavina is