Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-26
MUST RESTRICT LEAVE
FIRE CHIEF UNABLE TO GRANT
ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGE.

Fire Chief Belt reported to Commissioner
Macfarland this morning that after care
full consideration of the plan to allow the
members of the District fire department
twenty-four hours off in every four days
and a night off in every twelve days. he
does not think 1t is feasible. He has gone
over the situation thoroughly with the
captains of the various companies and Is
satisfied his fire fighting force is so small
that to allow the men this time off would
have Gripping effect upon his department.
He suggested. however, that an addition
of thirty-five more privates would enable
him to provide for the desired leave without
unnecessary risk of jeapordizing the fire
service and recommended that the Commits
sioners add to their annual estimates an
item for these additional fremen.
Commissioner Mcfarland, under whose
supervision the fire department comes.
first suggested this plan to give the fire
men more time off in order that hey might
get better acquainted with their families.
as he termed 1t. He was greatly disap-
pointed when he received the chiefs adj
verse report today. and stated that he and
the other Commissioners will exert every
effort to put the plan in active working Or
der.
81 shall ask the Commissioners to con-
slider the suggestion" he said, "for the
increase in the number Of prtvates in this
department in connection with the prepa-
ration OF the estimates next year. Inc eS-
Inmates for the next fiscal year were sent
to the Secretary of the Treasury on the
18th OF this month. Meanwhile / am not
satisfied that some provision cannot be
made for the benefit Of the men In either
one or the other directions indicated In my
letter to the fire chief. / desire that upon
the close OF the furlough period next month
Chief Belt shall report whether between
furiough periods a Encouragement OF the
hours In the companies cannot be made so
as to permit the men to have one day of
In four, or one night of In turn.
Result of Conference.
When this plan of giving the firemen ad-
ditional recreation was first considered
Chief Belt was directed to consult with
his captains and see just what effect 1t
would have upon their respective forces.
As the result the captain of each COM
pany forwarded report to the Chief after
talking the matter over with every MEM
Der OF his command and they nearly all
agreed that they could not keep the neces.
sary number of men in their companies II
the leave mentioned should be granted.
At the present time there are more than
thirty firemen detailed to some particular
duty every day, chiefly at the theaters ana
public halls. and 1t Is pointed out II these
details were not necessary there would be
enough men on hand In the various nre
houses and 1t would be necessary to only
ask for about five additional men from Con-
gress instead of thirty-hve, as Is recon-
mended by Chief Belt. The latter, In speak
ing of the details" said II the theaters
would employ men to act as substitutes In
the place of the firemen on detail at the
theaters there would be sufficient number
of men on hand in the department at all
times. and Commissioner Macfariand
plan could be put into operation without
any risk of reducing the strength of the de-
partment for the proper performance OF fire
duty.
Chief Belt states that he has always had
the firemens interests at heart. and would
cooperate In any plan to better their con.
dition. but In spite of his feelings he would
reduce the efficiency of the department.