New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-26
Advocates of Malone Bill De.
clare Ladies' Health and
Morals Are in Danger.
HIGH DEATH RATE SHOWN
Expert Says Physique Is Hurt
by Loss of Sleep and Dis
turbed Domestic
Relations.
tPv Telegraph 20 The Tribune. J

Albany. Feb. 3.-Advocates o: Senator
Maione's bill establishing 4 two-platoon
system In nre departments Of cities OF the
first class told the Senate Cities Committee
to-day that K ought TO be entitled q bill
to preserve the health and morals of IRE
men and their families" They declared
that the hard work Of the iiremen under
existing systems irregular hours. en-
forced absence from their families and
deprivation Of recreation periods pro-
duced occupational diseases and tended 20
ruin their morals.
Frederick T. Cowles, a fire expert Of the
National Board of Fire Protection. gave
startling figures OF the results in the New
York City Department. Since 1917 tire
membership Of the department mad in
creased 100 per cent, he said, while tho
deaths had increased 1s5 per cent. Stats
ties showed that Of leo men Who Joined
the department, Oily % were left in y
years. and at the end of 70 years only ten
had not died or been retired. He ssid there
was a tremendously high percentage OF
tuberculosis. kidney disease and pneumo-
MIA among the frcmen, who we're the pick
Of the Young men Of tho city. physically,
when they were taken into the depart
Tucnt In n given period Of service. he
said. the disease percentage and the num-
Der Of rctireDients Tar surpassed those
from the police force. Improper working
conditions, chiefly lacl, Of sleep and dis
turhed domestic relations, broke down the
physiquc Of the men. be said. and in
many we'll known instances resulted in
lack Of Judgment or cloudcd mind which
caused tad accidents or even fatal acct
dents. This cost thc city millions OF dol
lars in death and Retirement pensions, he
said.
Solomon Iecnt. of The Civil Service
Chronicle New York. declared that the
average fireman worked fourteen and
one-haif hours a day Sj5 days in the year.
counting his time OF reserve duty in the
fr. houses. He held il would be cheaper
for the cities Of the state 10 have the
two-platoon system. where al the work
ing time OF the men would be wide
awake than TO LAY the men for time
spent in going TO their meals and time
asleep ia tho houses. u cost New York.
he said, si.c000io to send the arcn,en 70
their meals. and for this 1000 additional
hremen could be hired. He declared that
eighteen tircmen were retired az diss bled
every three years 10 one policeman, al
though the two services had exactly the
same physical standards for entrance.
lie said the New York men were prohb-
tied by department orders from agitating
70 obtain relief By law.
Ex-Senators Hartc. OF Long Island City.
and Burd. OF Buffalo. spoke FOR the meas
ure. Peter Clifford. president OF the New
York Firenen's Associa ton. said that
Governor Sulzer the Federation Of
Churches and others bad inGorsed the
Legislation He asserted that If the fir
man. under the present system Of prac-
teal separation from HIS family. wasn't
ruined physically by the hardships q his
calling he was likely TO lie ruined morally,
o, his children 20 wrong FOR lack OF
parent lie said the fireman wasn't even
certain OF his day OF.
Chauncey IIamlin. head Of the Progress
sives OF Buffalo, said it would be only
common justice to give the frcnen relief
from the tremendous strain Of long hours
and bad working conditions Among 9TH
ers who spoke for II were John KENNEDY,
State Treasurer; Edward y. Boore, OF the
D2urtless Club: the Buffalo nremen's or
SANITATION. Captain Fluid, Of the Buffalo
IRE Department; william, Sch~artzen-
berg. an engineer: JOHN Flood, an old
fireman. and d. V. Murphy, Buffalo
lawyer
assistant Corporation Counsel McGold-
REX. of New York City, filed orIel
acainst the bill.