The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-22
MEMBER OF FIRE
 BOARD SAYS MEN
 LOBBY FOR FAVORS
Commissioner Accuses Fire men of Starting Agitation
 for More Time Off.

SCrenuOuSly obJect to any state ment by anyone that the men of the Bridgeport Fire department are be- coming physical wrecks because of the arduous duties they are required to perform, declared President John A. Leonard at a meeting of the fire commissi sioners last night.
 The ordinance proposed by Alder man Casey to allow the firemen four 12 hour periods each month in addi- ton to the four days off they now have the six extra days in each year, did not come before the commission CTS although it was referred to them by the common council. The com nnissi oners discussed the matter i'm formally though and decided that if the proposed ordinance does come be- fore them they will go before the council and oppose it. Alderman Ca sey had hoped that if the commis- sioners could not see their way clear | to grant the four periods they might grant three or even two.
 CT would like to see some of the physical wrecks in the department and retire them,' continued President Leonard last night. There are plen- ty of men in this city willing and anxious to take their places. I would be glad to see the men have more time off. believe the longer a man stays \in the department the better his physical condition iss I think all l the conmissio oners would like to see the men have more time off but with the conditions as they exist in the department at present we cannot give it. No one knows this better than the men themselves I have seen companies respond to an alarm with, only three men, the others being on days off or at dinner. The board of apportionment has not allowed us a single man in two years.''
 1 There is a rule of the fire depart ment that says that any man who 1 shall attempt to influence legislation 1 except at a public hearing shall be l dismissed from the department,'' said l Commissioner Tague. ''This move ment started from within the depart l rnent and the sooner those behind it cut out this kind of business the bet l ter it will be for them. When a char ter amendment referring to the police and firemen's pension was proposed the comTnissi Oners took the men into l their confidenc and after taking a. poll of the men and having confer ences with the captains a bill that suited the majority of the members l of the department was recommended. l This is the first time in the history of l the department that this has been l done. It seems to me it would have been far better policy and more cour- teous to the commissioners if the men had come to us instead of trying to put through legislation over our heads.'s
 Ladderman Thomas F. Reilly, lad I derman of Truck No. 1 pleaded guilty to intodcation while on duty on April 1 and was denoted one grade. This is equal to a fine of $100 besides the loss of his pay during the three | weeks he has been suspended Reilly was ordered on duty today but he I will be transferred to duty as hose man with Engine Co.,, No. 1. There is another Thomas F. Reilly who is a 1adderman with Truck No. and f the similar names and positions have I given rise to much confusion in the last night were: Hoseman J. Orditz l from No. 1 to No. 3 Co. and Hoseman | George Smith from No. Engine Co. to No. 3 Truck
 Commissioner Lindquist favored dis missing Reilly from the department as was done in Tmkoss case but the other commissioners thought the | eases were different and Reilly had never been before the board on a similar charge while Tfmko was up three times before he was dismissed. Commissioner Tague said drastic measures should be taken to stamp out drunkenness of men while on duty. He said Rei1ly's offense was the more serious because he knew that Timko had been dismissed from
 
 fireman had been fined $1O0 for the same offense.
 It was voted to have an expert from the Gamewe1I Fire Alarm TeIe- graph Co., come to Bridgeport and go over some of the old signals and quicken the repeaters. This will cost l $7.5O per day and expenses of the : expert.
 It was arranged to disconnect the horn on the fire alarm signal at State and Broad streets during the church
 hours on Sunday. Members of the
 North Congregational church com plain that their services are disturb
 ed by the horn.
 An application of Albert J. Schneid
 CT for back pay amounting to $3.5C was granted The application o1 ! Lieut. J.. J. Kane for $3.2o back pay was referred to Comnissi oner Ca@i dS for investig gation. The application o1 ? Allan Cameron for 10 days back pay was referred to Commissioner Lind quist. An Application for the location
 for the location of a fire alarm box il
 the block between Harrison and
 Broad streets was referred to Com
 missioner Tague The application
 was signed by every business man il
 the block.