Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-31
FIRE CHIEF ASKS
FOR 50 MORE MEN
Declares, in Report, Present
Size of Force Makes Domestic
Sacrifices Necessary.
URGES MORE time OFF
TO BETTER EFFICIENCY
Pension Fund Inadequate, Bene-
ficiaries Receiving Curtailed
Allowances.

Washington's fire department is in
urgent need of the services of fifty ad-
ditional men, according to the annual
report of Fire Chief Frank j. Wagner.
who recommends that Congress be
asked to approprite for this increase
in force.
With the present force at the COM
mand of the fire department." says
Chief Wagner. cit is necessary, in or
der to secure efficiency in fire fighting,
for the officers and members to remain
continuously on duty. with the excep-
ton of one days leave of absence
every fifth day. and even this days
leave must be refused in the event Of
sickness involving two or more mem
bers of any one company. The domes-
tic sacrifices rendered necessary by
this confinement are only too evident.
and. in my opinion, the members of the
relief from such confinement and their
arduous duties"
Relief Fund Inadequate.
The report expresses regret over the
continuing inadequacy of the firemen's
relief fund. The inadequacy of the
revenue now forming the fremen's re-
lief fund has again been demonstrated
during the year, and I regret to have
to mention that the retired members of
this department, and the widows. chill
dren and aged parents of deceased fire
men, have during the year been com
PEELED to endure a reduction In the
amount of monthly pensions which
have been granted by the Commission
ers. 1t is not necessary for me to dwell
upon the hardships which must be suf-
fered by these pensioners coincident
with a reduction in the amounts al
necessary to urge upon you the re-
newal of your efforts to obtain from
Congress the desired relief.
Chief Wagner's report shows that fire
losses in the District last year amount
ed to s444.329, covered by an insur-
ance of s4.sss,574. This loss is de-
crease of s4O9,7s9 as compared with the
loss for the preceding year, notwith-
standing the fact that sixteen fires
alone. for which extra alarms were
sounded, caused a loss of $231,01S.
This exceedingly large decrease in
the amount of ire loss,' 1t is stated,
lis offset to certain extent by the
fact that during the preceding year an
incurred. but it Is none the less graft
flying. indicating as 1t does the eff
cheney of the fire department and the
splendid effect of efforts looking toward
nre prevention.
New Equipment.
During the year the Commissioners
purchased and placed in service, the
report shows, three passenger mo-
tor vehicles for use by the battalion
chiefs and the fire marshal; two two
wheel motor tractors, which were in
stalled in No. ] truck and No. truck
T.
shop. The Commissioners also have or
dered for use in the department a mo-
tor pumping engine and motor chem
ical and hose wagon.
Pensions were granted during the
wear to Privates D. F. Shea, A. H. Syd-
widow of Private ]. F. Rock, whose
death occurred May 81. 1915. Private
Rocks services are made the subject of
special comment by Chief Wagner, who
lost faithful servant and his asso-
ciates i'll the service respected COM
rade.
Other Reports.
Accompanying Chief Wagner's report
are reports by =. w. Nicholson, fire
marshal; T. NJ. Robinson. superntend-
ent of machinery; Fl. NJ. Lawson. secre-
tary of the board of police and fire
surgeons, and DR.. c, p. Robinson. Dis
trict veterinarian.
Fire Marshal Nicholson states that
during the year 21.1"2 inspections were
made of rnerchantile establishments.
hotels, stores. apartment buildings and
other places for the purpose of correct
ing any conditions that might cause or
promote a fire.
Recommendation is made by Supt
Robinson that a new engine of not less
than $50 horsepower be installed on the
fre boat. while Secretary Lawson states
that 279 applications for positions in the
fire department were examined during
the year and fifty-seven accepted Dr.
RObinson's report shows that there we're
2l2 horses in the fire department at the
beginning of the last fiscal wear JuIy |