Evening star., 1915-03-28
FIRE DEPARTMENT.

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Officials of the fire department and
those who served in the department
thought to the question Of funds for
the payment Of pensions at the end of
the present month. Interested persons
are anticipating a much larger de.
ffciency than heretofore.
Not only are we anticipating a de-
ficiency in the fund for the payment
OF the pensions" said one of the higher
officials of the department. but we
are wondering where money is to be
obtained to pay the Emergency Hospi-
tai for the care and treatment of the
eight men who were hurt in the acci-
dent to Truck 8. at Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and 9Th street. last week
IF the hospital bill is paid from the
current fund.-" he added, the fund for
the payment of the monthly pensions
VIII be materially reduced and a con-
ditlon VIII be presented which prob-
ably cannot be remedied. and the pay
ment of small pensions to some of the
old and disabled firemen will work
severe hardships."
Under the provisions of the law gov
ernlng the treatment of firemen injured
in line OF duty. 1t is provided that pay
made from the pension fund.
1t Is just and proper that such hos
pltal blils should be paid" said one of
| the officials of the department, but it
IS unfortunate that the money has to
| De taken from the pension fund.
Il think the money should come from
| fund appropriated for that purpose"
ne added. "and should not be taken
from retired men. widows and orphans"
The Commissioners have drafted a
Of nf No
measure that is calculated to put the
pension fund on stable basis, and 1t
| is hoped that the measure will be
! passed when the next Congress con-
venes.
Chief Wagner and other officials of
! the fire department are interested in
reports they have heard of alleged
speeding on the part of the drivers of
| the heavy motor vehicles of the depart
ment. Following the accident to No. 3
truck last week numerous reports were
circulated about the speed the vehicle
was making on it's run down Pennsyl-
vania avenue.
declared one man standing near the
scene of the accident. while another
suggested the speed at sixty miles.
"As matter of fact" said Chief
Wagner, 'the truck was built to run
| at twenty-five miles an hour, and when
tested and run at the highest possible
speed it could make it registered
| twenty-seven miles.
But" added the chief. drivers of
the heavy motor vehicles are under
orders not to exceed eighteen or
twenty miles an hour at any time
Discussing the question of speeding
of fire vehicles. constant observer
said he thought it was the easiest
| thing imaginable for a spectator to
| misjudge the speed of fire appara-
tus.
I'm the first place." he said, per
sons watching the movements Of such
vehicles are more or less excited, and a
twenty-mile gait seems to them like
two or three times that speed.
"It is just the same as persons at
fire thinking f1remen are slow reach
ing the scene" he added. when the
records will show to the contrary"
At several of the houses of the fire
companies preparations are being made
for the early planting of flower and
vegetable seed.
ut is just something to beautify the
quarters or to reduce the cost of llv-
!, ing" remarked one of the f1remen, and
to give US something to do during our
spare moments.
At the home of No. 20 engine COM
pany. Tenleytown, it is stated, vegeta-
are grown, while members of No. 8
truck company, Mount Pleasant. and
No. 27 engine company at Brookland
raise produce enough for their families
and have some to spare.
Members Of No. tyuck and No. Ii
engine companies have displayed a
fondness for raising chickens, and at
the home of the latter company the
fowls were on exceedingly friendly
terms with the horses. vineyard
provides exercise for firemen of No. Is
engine company, members of NO IL
engine company enjoy looking after
flowers, and fishing is what attracts
many of Capt. Harper's company.
Private Frank Markward of No.
truck company was on the sick list
last week. Markward sustained an in
jury to his back in a fall from lad
der several years ago, it is stated. and
his trouble last week probably was due
to that ailment,
Private r. w. Slime of No. truck
company one of the members who was
not on duty the day the accident hap
pened, is on the sick list. He was sick
the day his brother-firemen were hurt
Driver c. H. De Perini of No. 4
truck company took four days holiday
the past week. He spent his vacation
at home.
Private w. W. Rollins of No. truck
company was the only member of that
company on the sick list last week.
An attack of grip prevented Private
Charles Wells of No. 10 engine COM
pany from being on duty last week.