Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-04-09
THINKS PAYMENT TOO SMALL
Monthly Prizes I'm Lieu of Proposed
$500 Wage Suggested for Firemen.

Monthly Prizes in Lieu of Proposed
$500 Wage Suggested for Firemen.
Editor Observer.-In your issue of
April 2 you mention that the City
! Council have taken preliminary steps
toward a plan contemplating the pay
ment of a small sum per month to the
members of the fire department
Now if you will pardon the imper-
tinence of an outsider who has had
quite lot of experience and an init
mate knowledge of some very effect
i've volunteer fire departments, the
writer of this would like to suggest
$500 per month will not be very much
announcement to young men who,
from motives of civic pride and nat
ural desire to help, give unselishly Of
their services in the most hazardous
OF occupations, nor do they as a rule
desire pay, but every one of them does
want appreciation of some kind and
WILL without exception, appreciate it
to the fullest extent
People who do not stop to think. or
who naturally love to knock, some
times speak slightingly of the volun-
teer tremen and their work, but those
who have had to fight fire with the
ancient style of equipment often fur
nished and under the unafvorable
circumstances often met with. will
1t hA nrI<
asm of the Dallas fire lads.
The patriotism of the volunteer
fireman is of this highest order. 1t is
however wrong to criticise a plan |
without suggesting one that may be
better Now $500 per month. given
to the boys whether they are individ-
ually or collectively proficient in their
drill or not will be money easily
earned and as lightly appreciated. nv
quite number at least
Why not eXpend the money pro-
posed to be given in monthly pay
ments, in prizes for competitive drill
given to the different companies in a
lump sum, to be disposed of as the
members elect, thereby encouraging a
pardonable degree of pride in the eff
cheney of the organization as well as
the individual fireman.
The boys Of Dallas have as much
civic pride and patriotism as those of /
any other community. and why not
appeal to that spirit ond. at the same /
time, offer something i'm the way of
reward for superior merit instead of Y
making him your municipal hireIing !
at miserly pittance. besides Iavin,y
The city open to the employers ltabf- I
ty law, with its attending possibiIi- {
lies. Dallas ought to. and can have
three companies of 10 men each with &
4 large waiting list: those enlisted
lnder a competent drill master as Y
'hief; but ii seems wrong to insult the 7
patriotism and generosity of the vol
lnteer tiremen by giving them a nit 1
ance of $500 per month for doing a
heir duty as citizens Of the commup- 8
ty and with an due Difference to the
mayor Of Hnlsboro, while his plan a
nay he better than that which Hills /,
.oro had before. il looks too murb a
Ike hiring boy TO love his mother
With the expenditure Of the amount T
{ money proposed. given as "a reward c
{ superior merit. as shown by COM
eutive drill, the task Of assembling in
n efficient force of FIRE fighters iu
'allas will not only be easier for the a
apartment officers but will. if tho
Nperienee of other towns is worth Ia
nything. give to Dallas a lot Of clean
dvertising. besides giving splendid
aiming to the young men who are T.. n
leceed the present wise generation cl
nd wiz give to the taxpayers efficient
srvice at very little expense. ID
Tn volunteer fremen deserve all at
he consideration the town can afford
nd lot more. but you win find thew ii
III appreciate whatever is given If
comes in the right spirit. ii
P
Taff-a