The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-01
NO APPLICANTS
FOR VACANCIES
Sixty-eight Firenaen Pre-
pare to Quit City's
Service Following De-
cision of Commissions
ers; Unprecedented Ac-
ton to Take Effect in
Five Days.

AS consequence Of the refusal Of
the city commission to grant their Pc
| tltlon for an increase In pay, every
| member Of the city FIRE department,
with the exception OF the chief and
one other man, has signed a blanket
resignation from the city's service.
This resignation. the men said last
night, would be given to Chief Bywater
| this morning. The latter will at once
\ transmit it to the city commissioners
through Mayor Samuel G, Park. The
designations are to take effect within
FIVE days.
Firemen objected last night to giving
their action the term "strike."
HThe book Of rules Of the depart
rnent,' said one man, specifically
states that a man can sever his connec-
tion with the service at any time by
giving FIVE days notice. Surely man
has right to quit place where he
| believes he is underpaid. All of the
men think they are underpaid, We are
giving the city it's notice and will leave
| the department Monday
Not an Ultimatum.
The designations to be given Chief
| Bywater are not in the nature Of an
ultimatum or a threat, and should the
commission accept the designations the
service of each man will be automsti
cally terminated Monday.
Prominent business men were strong
in their opinions on the matter last
night, the majority saying they be-
lieved that the increase in pay should
be granted
Should the plans Of the hremen be
carried out and the designations &C.
cepted by the city commissioners 1t Is
expected that the arbitration commit
tee of the Commercial club will i'm
mediately meet for the purpose Of TAX
ing action on the matter.
There is said to be total Of sixty
eight names signed to the blanket resig-
nation. and should the men all quit
Monday it would, in the opinion OF
Mayor Park, be impossible to fill their
places at once, The mayor said last
night that contrary to popular belief
of the number Of Office seekers,
there was not a single applicant for ap-
pointment to the fire department.
No Job Hunters.
"The fact that we have no applica-
tions on file is surely guido to the
general opinion among men in reference
to employment in the fire department,
said the mayor.
While it is not thought there will be
any immediate effect upon fire insur-
ance rates In the city. George V.
Lawry Of the Pacific board of fire uu-
derwriters said last night that should
the condition continue or arise at fire.
ouent intervals readiustment of rates
would be necessary.
The action of the ireInen had its
inception 10 n petition presented to the
city commissioners last November in
which an increase in pay was asked
The petition set forth that Salt Lake
was paving its fire department. EN-
ployces less than any other city OF
equal size in the United States.
The question was brought informally
before the city commission and action
was postponed until the 1913 budget
should come up for consideration. Then
it was postponed from time to time,
aud yesterday Mayor Park submitted
an ordinance granting the ipSresse.
Motion Carried.
Before a vote was taken on the
ordinance Commissioner r. p. Morris
introduced IL motion that the salaries
of the department should remain un-
changed The motion was supported
by Commissioners Morris, korDs and
fCoutinued on Page S8vfu.)