The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-04

A first grade patrolman whose duties are /perhaps in the whole more arduous than those of car riers, receives about s1.2OO a year. A fireman is on duty 24 hours a day. He is practically a prison CT. He has scarcely time to get acquainted with his children.
 In most factories, the man who works more than eight or ten hours. according to the trade. re- ceives more for each subsequent hour. Overtime is a time and a half or double time.
 The basis of payment usually is the number of hours of the time of the worker that is actually talk en by the employer.
 So considered the firemen are the poorest paid men in the com munity. They get more than street workers. to be sure, but only by giving substantially every hour of their lives to the employer. They get less per hour than all most any other class of workers. '.Au that a man hath will he give for his life" The firemen do dan- gerous work.
 No old line insurance company will take a fireman as a risk.
 Should this not be an element in fixing the wager
 Under this increase the firemen
 
 purchasing power. than they would have got ten years ago at $500.
 According to the figures furnish ed by the United States govern ment the cost of living has in- creased 4s per cent in ten years.
 If in 1897 $500 was not too much for a fireman to get for wages. $1,200 is not too much now.
 Perhaps one other phase of this subject should be discussed
 The firemen have been threaten ed with punishment because they have tried to better their condi- tions-.
 The hur,blest workman in this land has the right to fife liberty and the pursuit of happiness. of which the right to seek a high CT wage is not the least
 The law provides that the Com mon Council, which proceeds di- rcctly from the people. may in crease. or decrease the pay of the firemen.
 This duty Is not imposed upon the fire commissioners
 Therefore the firemen had a right to come to the Council It was the only proper place for them to come for such a purpose. They committed no breach Of law, or duty, because they did not solicit the support of the fire commis- sioners.
 . Every criticism that has been made against the fremen in the above respect. and every threat. was improper.
 No man in this country may properly condemn another for pur- suing his equitable and legal right. in the manner. and before the body. provided by law.
 As an alderman I say frankly that I am not sure but that it would be my duty to vote for the impeachment of any public officer. subject in this respect to the Com mon Council. who so far forgot his duty as to endearor to punish the men under him for trying to improve their lot .n life, in a usual ard lawful manner.
 I owe my election directly to the freemen. I am not one of those who participate in the government by virtue. of an appointment I am most zealous to do that which the people would have done. I believe that the people favor the firemen's increase. The people be- lieve in righteousness, and a just wage. They wish the city to be a model employer and to set an ex- ample to private employers and duty. I shall vote for the in crease and against the veto of the mayor.
 Very respectfully yours.
 EUGENE I. MEYER