Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-05
MAYOR FAVORS MORE
PAY FOR THE CITY
FIRE FIGHTERS
Also Urges Rich Men to Estab-
lish the Pension Fund on a
Substantial Basis as Mat
ter of Justice
FIGHT FOR PRESIDENCY

More pay for the iremen and steps 20
place the Police and Firemen's Pension
fund on n more substantial basis wer.
urged by Mayor Blankenburg today in
the course Of an address before the con.
vention of state Firemcn at Scottish Rite
Hail.
Fire fighters do not receive enough
pay" said the Mayor. "They risk their
lives for three or four dollars a dsv
They should be as well paid as the
officials who sit in the chair and give
orders,
we have many rich men In the clty
Why don't they try to establish the
Folice and Firemens Pension Fund ON 4
firm basis? Instead of investing their
money in fiimsy things, the multimilnon.
aires could help things along in this
direction.
The Mayor reminded his hearers thai
the city had to raise sl1S,OOO for the
widows and children OF hremen who were
killed in the Bodine street fire several
years ago. He pointed to the fact that
he gave his salary as City Commissions
to the fund, although he had only enough
to live on. His address was warmly re-
ceived.
DEFICIT IN FUNDS.
One of the subjects nearest to the heart.
of the delegates is the firemen's pension
fund. and efforts will be made to adjust
matters so that the annual deficits that
so many funds are reporting will be a
thing OF the past. The subject will be
discussed all the more keenly because Of
the great interest the Philadelphia dele
gates have IN the matter. as the local
pension fund is said to have an annual
deficit of $50.
This deficit is indirectly the cause OF
the most spirited presidential campaign
the association has ever known. The
local firemen wanted to give a benefit
here this year to wipe out the deficit
of the past few years. Some of them,
including Chief william II, Murphy. say
that Judge Eugene &. Bonniwel So
lcltor for the association, prevented this
by suggesting to Director Porter that he
invite the State association to hold It's
convention here.
Murphy and his subordinates in the
Fire Department charge the Judge with
having played politics in getting the con-
vention here IN order that, with the
election in his own city. he would have
stronger chance to be reelected. Judge
Bonnlwell has denied this charge.
PR. r. ATTACKED.
Just before the meeting adjourned this
afternoon a stormy protest arose against
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Delegates
from Harrisburg and nearby points de-
clared that the company had agreed to
take the men here for special rates today
from Harrisburg, but charged the ful!
rate They also said that those who come
here on Thursday will have to pay the
full fare. The Transportation Committee
was severely criticised and many OF those
present said that the committee 'fel
down on the job"
The committee is headed by Chief
William H. Murphy, of the local depart
ment He is leading the fight against
Judge Bonniwcll for the presidency Of
the association. Murphy is supporting
George S. Weir, of Sharpsburg. The pro-
test was construed as an attack on
Murphy.
- When a motion WIS made asking the
committee to make a full report of tho
matter to the association, 1t was amend
ed to request that the committee protest
to the Public Service Commission at
Harrisburg.
Evidence ce of antagonism was manifest
during the voting on the motion and sew
eral times the cry was raised, ASK
Bonniwel about 1t "