Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-03
FIRE CHANGES
MADE SUBJECTS
OF COMPARISON
Theatre Detail Shifts, the Men
"Out" and Those Who
Went ''In."
THOSE PHYSICALLY FIT
AND THE INCAPAclTATED
How Service efficiency" Is
Shown in Transfers-Some-
body Lying" 'Tis Said.

A comparison of the recent trans
fers in the fire department, including
the almost entire shifting of men on
the theatre detail, for efficiency rea-
sons" as announced, would seem to
| indicate that most of the men taken
from this detail are unable, through
physical disability, to render the best,
or even fairly good, service in the
active work required in the extin-
guishment of fire, while, with pos
sibly a single exception, the firemen
just assigned to the detail, though
well along in years and long in SER
vice, are vigorous from the stand
point of physical health and in every
way fitted for the more arduous fire.
fighting duty.
There is no attempt made to claim
that the new theatre detail firemen
are not deserving of consideration
and entitled to ''light-worlx" assign
ments, for they are good firemen.
The bald fact is evident, however,
that they can perform the most ex-
acting tasks called for in the general
service, having no arm, leg or any
other form of infirmity, while some OF
those they displaced, younger men
in some cases and with good records
for past performances, are handi-
capped through mishap and affliction
from other causes not of a discredit-
able nature.
Good Feeling Among the Men.
AS between the men themselves.
there is no ill-feeling shown. Those
shifted to company duty realize that
those who were sent from company
duty to the theatre detail fully appre-
ciate the situation and conditions,
but have no say in the matter. They
are not being adversely criticised for
accepting the easier berths. If dis
posed to demur they dare not with
out running the risk of incurring the
displeasure of the commissioners and
being given a long-way- home
transfer as a reminder that "orders
are orders"
The new theatre detail can dc
theatre work Just as. we'll as theiI
predecessors performed similar du-
ties, and they can also do the harder
work The shifted members of the
old detail can do the theatre work
render a good account of themselves
at a fierce fire, like the one in East
Mechanic street last Thursday, where
every physical nerve and fibre of the
fireman is called into play.
Every muscle of arm and leg and
every mental attribute are necessary
assets in ladder lifting and climbing
and se-carrying and in rescue work
The old theatre detail men are def.
cient in this respect and this fact was
exemplified during the progress oi
the East Mechanic street fire and
after the fire.
Not "Haussling' Favorites.
1t is not considered so much q
question as to whether the men shift
ed from the theatre detail to com
pany duty were injured in active
service, as it is the fact that they
are In q large sense incapacitated
Not a single man of those transferred
to company duty was ia ored ap-
pointee of the Haussling administra.
ton, as some of the present COM
missioners may think. Most of them
are civil service appointees, some
came in under the Doremus admins
tration. or were chosen under the old
system antedating both these admin
istrations.
There is a question being discussed
in an animated way just now by ad-
herents of Mayor Raymond's admin.
istration as to who or what caused
the recent transfer actions. In some
quarters it is said that DR.. Hugh NJ
Hart, the fire department surgeon
Continued on Page g, Column A.