Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-10-24
FIRE DEPARTMENT
IS LOSING HEART.
Heavy Campaign Assessments
BY American" Inner Cir
Gle Are the Cause.
OARMER BUYS NEW SUITS.
But Party Chairman Doesn't Have the
Diniculty In Paying for Them
That Fircmen Have.

There is a good deal Of dissatisfac-
ton in the fire department among the
old time members on account Of de-
mands for campaign donations" and
they are making vigorous complaint
Several men who have been in the de-
partment for many years have left for
other fields Of occupation. The fire.
men. most OF them, feel that it is an
injustice TO be forced TO pay "Ameri-
can campaign ASSESSMENTS IN view Of
the small salary received and this is
one OF the reasons some Of them have
left the department Among the old
timers 10 leave recently were Pete
Mccarthy and Lieutenant Fred Kemp
ton.
When a man is appointed to g posi-
ton ON the fire department. and ic con-
iirmed by the council. his salary Is $50
per month for three months when he
receives SOS. There is an increas every
three months until the $50 point is
reached and there &c remains.
CAN'T GET LIVING WAGES.
one of the older members stationed
at No. ] said today. Il am getting Ss5
per month but what Is that when you
take into consideration that I must buy
my uniform and put up for campaign
expenses. Hardly "a month goes by we
don't have to purchase a new pair OF
trousers They cost 49, The uniforms
are $25 and they are soon rendered
useless by hard usage. All we want is
living wages How can a man keep
family on SIS when he has to pay
big part Of that for uniformsg
RECRUITS NUMEROUS.
AT the present time there are many
500 a month men on the force for the
reason that older members became dis
Eusted with conditions and quit. A
short time ago ollie Workman left the
department after years OF service be-
cause he could not stand for the con-
ditions prevailing Pete Mccarthy left
for the same reason. So did Fred
Kempton. d. G. Willie is another and il
is expected that many other old mem
bers win get out as soon as they ind
other employment.
SOME EXPLANATIONS.
The secretary OF the department
stated TO the News" today that the
suspension Of Alexander Baker who
recently left was for insubordiation
and that his case will be settled upon
the return OF the chief In the case
Of George Walter. the secretary ex-
planned that he was discharged for
violating one OF the rules Of the de-
partment a rule he says that must be
strictly enforced al all times. He says
that Baker was caught taking liquor
into station No. 8. on the first oc-
casion he was excused because he
declared he did not know il was
against the rules. sNort time after
that says the secretary. Baker was
caught again taking liquor into the
station house ana was promptly re-
ieved from duty.
MUCH DISGRUNTLED.
The old time members. that is those
who We're left after the almost clean
sweep made by Chief Vail after his
appointment under the American"
party so-called reform administration.
are decidedly disgruntled. They have
been promised many things but they
consider that promises were like pie
crust
When they have asked for an increase
In salary they we're either given a half
hearted promise or told that the treas
ury was I'm such a condition that "a
raise could not be granted now. Time
after time the men have demanded
more pay but they have failed to re-
ceive Il. Now, when they are expected
To- come through" with part OF their
hard earned money for American"
campaign expenses. they naturally OBJ
ject and protest.