Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-18
SUGGESTION ENDORSED
MEMBERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
GET ADDITIONAL LEAVE.
Allowed Every Fifth Day off-The
Recommendation Made by
Chief Dutton.

The Commissioners today approved the
recommendation of Chief Engineer Dutton
of the fire department. that the members
Of the department be allowed one day on
in five after July 1. At present the fire.
men are allowed one day off in six. Chief
Dutton announced to the foremen of the
respective commands last week that he
would recommend the increased allowance
to the Commissioners provided the men
would give assurance of their support or
the new arrangements by responding to
all alarms coming to their attention while
Off duty. He received enthusiastic re-
sponses from all twenty-four companies.
Commissioner mcfarland was in hearty
sympathy with the movement and in rec
ommending favorable action to his col
leagues of the District board today took
occasion, to record his appreciation of the
service rendered the community by the fire
department Chief Dutton in his letter to
the Commissioners on the subject says:
Il have the honor to recommend that the
members of the fire-fghting force OF this
department be allowed off. on and after
July 1. every fifth day, under such regula-
tons as may be made and promulgated by
the department. with the approval of your
honorable board
Opinion Of Assistant Chiefs.
For many years the members of the de-
partment have been allowed off every sixth
day and the recommendation that they be
granted every fifth day off is due to the
unanimous opinion of the assistant chief
engineers of the department that such an
allowance would not interfere with its eff
cheney, provided the men continued to re-
spond for duty ON their days off, as they
have done for years. and so arranged their
meal hours as not to weaken during those
hours their respective companies | have
written assurances from the foremen of
h. H. H.
ment that they and their men will Sd con-
tinue to report for duty on their days off,
and that they will so arrange their meal
hours as to preserve during those hours
companies.
'"The members Of the fire department are
the most closely confined of District en-
ployes. being allowed to leave their quar-
tiers five days out of six only for their
meals and ii is believed that the recon-
mended allowance would not only be great
lX appreciated by them and their families.
but that it would enable the men to better
stand their confinement and better meet
the exacting requirements of the service.
The department has fully impressed upon
them that the recommended order, If made,
will be in the nature of an experiment,
and that upon them alone will depend it's
success or failure. This they fully appre-
ciate. and express themselves as being con-
fdent of its complete success.
July l, 1903. has been recommended as
The udte OH WHICH TO nave the proposed
order take effect, for the reason that on
that day the strength of the department
will be increased by the appointment of the
twenty additional men provided for in the
District appropriation act approved March
3, 1902
Mr.. Macfarland's Endorsement.
In forwarding the papers to his asso-
ciates for approval Commissioner Macfar-
land Endorsed them as follows:
Il move that the recommendation of the
chief engineer of the fire department be
approved: 1t is in the line of the policy
of the Commissioners to improve in every
way the conditions under which the men,
bers Of the fire department do their work
so faithfully. At best, in the nature of the
employment, the men must suffer much de-
privation of home comforts and privileges
besides facing danger at all times when on
duty. The Commissioners have endeavored
to secure not only an increase of pay, but
an increase of leave and have measurably
succeeded. 1 believe that the efficiency of
the department will be increased, not de-
creased, by giving the men the additional
liberty suggested by the chief engineer
The men responded in case of need even
on their holidays, and 1 am assured that
they will continue to do So