Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-05-10

per hour for fire duty performed in re-
spouse to box alarms and so cents each
meeting for attending regular monthly
meetings, no call occurring at night be-
tween the hours of 10 o'clock D. m and
6 o'clock a. m. to be for less than 81.
For responding to box alarms at any
other time when no actual fire service is
required of the department, firemen shall
receive the same pay as for attending
regular monthly meetings"
Chief Engineer Sanders said that
when. carrying out a vote of the village
to reOrganize the department, the num-
Der of men was cut from 1903 to so those
who We're released were dissatisfied and
those who remained were dissat-
isfied because they had to do the work
that had been done by those discharged
The department was not costing as
much by $500 as before the reorganiza-
ton, he said, ana he expressed surprise
that a baliff should think of still fur
ther reducing the paw as it would I'M
pair the efficiency of the organization.
In support of his resolution Mr..
Kaine said that two years ago 1t was
decided to cut off an unnecessary item
of $1,000 by reducing the number of men
and that a year ago they asked for
so per cent increase. The improved hy-
drant and water system is much more
effective than formerly, one stream of
more efficient than two under the old
pressure, being even more efficient than
a stream thrown by a steamer The du-
ration of fires consequently is lessened
and the work diminished. He said that
he had shown the resolution to several
large real estate owners and that they
had given 1t their unqualified endorse
ment Bellows Falls, he said, was pay
ing 10 cents an hour and the hourly ba-
sis there was giving satisfaction.
Walter s. Stearns, for several years a
bailiff disagreed with Mr.. Kaine and
said the adoption of the resolution
would disrupt the department seriously.
He thought the department should not
be tinkered with.
w. A. Shumway stated that where
towns pay by the hour they have men
stay in the engine house all the time,
the others being call men, which makes,
in effect, a volunteer department. He
said that since the reorganization here
there had been a shortage of men at
| every fire. l.. c. Stiff predicted a fire
| here sometime similar to the recent one
| in Bellows Falls and thought the de-
| partment ought not to be impaired.
! Another former bailiff, f. ]. Water
J man, also opposed the resolution. He
said it apparently was a gamble as tc
whether the village would be able to re-
| tain the services of the men If the new
plan was adopted lie tnOugnt the Hlef
| ought to be paid more, If anything
| Chief Sanders gave some statistic:
showing that only a small proportion o
| the firemen in New England are paid b.
the hour The resolution was lost by {
very decisive vote
Mr.. Richmond stated, relative to a cal
for a report of the committee appointed
to draft a new village charter, tina
some Of the members were away, blu
that as a member of the committee H.
would say that the original charter ant
the amendments had been placed in tn
hands of Hale X. Darling, who wa
drafting a charter showing the presen
powers of the village. When that il
completed a new charter will be draw
up. There being no other business, tn
meeting was adjourned