Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-18
SALTER EXPLAINS HIS CASE
Fire Chief elves Feobniqus Of HIS oppOSi-
tiOn to Double Shift
OEEMsT cONTaARY 10 sEsT INIEaEsIs
ana Coanercial Club Committee
= Oppose Measure OnIy Because
OF Relation 90 Omaha's
Welfare, Tbey Say.

The Commercial club committee which
went to Lincoln Wednesday 70 present TO
the legislative committee on labor argu-
ments why the proposed double shift bill
for the fire department should not be passed
returned we'll pleased with the showing
made.
Just what kind Of a report the labor COM
mittee win present ls not yet known, but
the Commercial club committee hopes to
defeat the bill on purely business grounds
The Douglas county delegation Is divided
on the matter. ler > ~
The bill win be brought up Thursday.
{ Those who went for the Commercial club
were w. 8. Wright, Frank Carpenter. Frank
sanborn. David Cole Ed George. Byron
Hastings. Walter Jardine, John 9. Brady
and q. w. Hoobler. Chief salter Of the
hre department accompanied the Omaha
committed 70 explain conditions as they
actually exist in Omaha and to give expert
testimony on the question of double shift
system. '.'
In Justice to himself chief saiter wanted
It understood ne did not go to Lincoln with
any idea OF either opposing or supporting
the bill, but merely on request Of the Com
merciaf club and with permission OF the
Board OF Fire and Police Commissioners.
states HIS Position
II really did not want to CO. but felt It
my duty when the Commercial club made
the request. and II any of MY statements
had the effect OF placing the double shift
bill in an unfavorable light l could not
help that. for l said only what could be
verified by investigation and answered such
questions es were asked me-" Chief salter
explained An impression got out that the
chief went to Lincoln with the avowed
purpose Of opposing the measure.
Part OF the facts and igures presented by
Chief salter Wednesday before the commit
tee on labor of which Representative Ed
Leeder is chairman, was:
Should the double shift system be adopted
it would entail an additional cost OF nearly
100000 to maintain the department on a
safe footing. allowing for reduction OF
one man from each hose company and
figuring tho salaries on basis OF the high
est that might be paid according to present
conditions. At present the department has
III men besides the chief, two assistants
and n secretary the salaries amounting II
$l19.100. With the double shift system In
operation and allowing but FIVE men &c
each hose company. in place Of six as al
present, and eight men for an engine com.
pany. the salaries would figure s1ss,OoO, OF
a difference of seventy-seven men and
NS,eO ~ expense
Coming Down TO Brass Tacks.
Chief salter explained that by reducing
the number Of men on the hose wagons
and engines the salaries would be reduced
but to cut the department. under the double
shift from the figures presented by him
would make the department inefficlent and
cause excessive insurance rates. At present
he said the men receive twenty-four hour
IN offs" each in six days and ten days q
year vacation with pay, making abou
seventy-two days a year off duty. Thu
chief explained how less than FIVE men t.
hose company would not be practica
even under the double shift system. HI
said:
.rone man has 10 tak6 ieare of the horses
one man stays at the plug. a third maj
may be absent for one OF several reason
<and there you have two men to carry hos
and handle II. 1t Is not feasible"
y Ed George, one Of the Commercial clu
committee, said the Commercial club wa
opposing the bill on straight business line
land had not the least desire to entail an
unnecessary hardship or the firemen.
"The double shift system has been trie
elsewhere and found wanting" he said
BY the best figuring the adoption OF tn
system would entail an added expenditur
OF nearly 10000 and would not yield re
turns commensurate with the expense.
is, therefore, patent that the taxpayer
would be paying for something they woul
not get. To reduce the force numerically
! 70 offset the added expense would be GU
of the question, because the force is non
-Atoo strong as It is
II. r-,rTrD cDrCTaT ToTc