Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-26
STATE AWMAKERS
MAY AID FIREMEN
Extension of Pittsburgh
Plan by Legislative Act
Is Being Discussed
GIVES TWO PLATooNs s
Adoption Would Cost More Than
"Every-Fou Day-0T"
Project

ThA approaching session Of the State Leg
isletnre. which opens az Harrisburg im-
hodlntsly after the advent OF the new
fear may be called upon TO consider the
case of tho hremen OF philadelphia. ~
Il possible that legislation viii be sub
mItted that will result in the compulsory
placing or Pbliadelpha In the rapidly
rrowinF list OF clties where The fre-nghting
tern.
flasls for this possibility. In the minds
Of the hremen's campaign committee. is
founded upon the action taken by the last
LeFislature. which passed an act ITO pro-
mote the health and efficiency OF flrenen.
n cities OF the second class, by providing
Cor two-platoon system for hremen In
the Department Of Public Safety OF such
citioa"
Under the application Of this bit Of
LEGISLATION. which was approved March 80,
1915, BY Governor BrumbRuEh, the Pitts
hufrh department abolished the antiuuated
twenty y-four-hour schedule OF duty and
raised that bureau TO the level OF n two
platoon city According to Information OBJ
tainod by the Philadelphia flremen, the
operation OF the two-platoon system In
Pittsburgh has been successful and salts
factory to the men in the bureau,
The campaign now waging among the
nfcmen Of this city has not put forward n
two-platoon system aB one OF It's desired
objects. Tho consensus Of opinion. as
pressed both by Chief Murphy and by many
Of tho rank and file OF the department has
generally been in effect that schedule by
which the men could enjoy every fourth
day or duty would be more acceptable
than two-piatoon arrangement with
weeks of alternating day and night duty.
Some or the more experienced fremen,
however, voice the belief that two-plntoon
system, arranged In twenty -four-hour shifts,
day on and day or alternately would
work out advantageously. These men
point, for an example, to the operation of
the hieh-pressure. pumping stations where
the men work In two shifts In tours OF
twenty-four hours each. changing at
o'clock every afternoon.
PITTSBURGH SYSTEM
Tho two-platoon system in vogue at Pitts
buFgh MS established by the Legislatures
enactment. Is thus provided for in the net
Of Assembly creating Il
Section /. BE II enacted. etc, That
The head of the Department OF Public
Safety In each city OF the second class
shall divide the officers and members
OF companies OF tho uniformed FIRE force
In the employ OF such cities. except
ing the chief engineer and assistant
chiefs. into two bodies or platoons--
one 10 perform day service and tho
other 10 perform night service. The
hours OF day service shall not exceed
ten, commencing at o'clock In the
morning: the hours OF night service
shall not exceed fourteen. commencing
HL . O'CLOCK III inc 4INeTUOOns III
cases OF riot. serious connagratlon or
other such emergency, the chief en-
sineer Of the bureau OF fire. or the
assistant chief deputy, or chief, officer
in charge Of any fire, shall have the
power TO assign all the members OF tho
fre force to continuous duty. or to
eoutlnue any member thereof on duty,
II necessary. No member OF either OF
said platoons shall be required to per-
form continuous day service or con-
afntIotIu might uaryira for n lOnHpr
secutive period than two weeks; nor
be kept on duty continuously longer
than ten hours in the day platoon. or
fourteen hours In the night platoon,
excepting as may be necessary to
eQualize the hours OF duty and service,
and also excepting in cases OF riot,
serious confRgration or other such
emergency as above provided.
Sec. g. The provisions hereof
rhhIl not repeal or affect any law or
ordinances relating to salaries. vaca-
tions, sick or disability leave, or pay
OF members OF fire departments in
cities to which this act applies.
Inclusion OF citios OF the nrst ciass--
which means the city OF Philadelphla--lu
this measure failed by narrow margin In
The 1915 Legislature. 'ReYlval OF the aglta-
tlon for more consideration OF the hremen's
condition before the coming sesslon in
view Of Pittsburghs experience under two
platoon system, II 10 declared by advocates
Of that method. might easily end In the
introduction of similar act embracing the
Philadelphia Bureau OF Fire.
TO adopt the two-piatoon system In this
city. whether as the outeoms OF Councils
manic action or by legislative enactment,
would neceBsnate an increase In the num-
ber OF men and n consequent expense much
greater than would result II the fourth
day-offf plan were TO be authorized.
GIVES PRAYER FOR COUNCILS
Prayers that Councils be enlightened and
an appeal for Divine help In bettering the
working conditions OF hremen were deliv-
ered BY the Rev. Dr. a. l.. Copper. OF the
Seventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
AZ the Christmas celebration held In tho
house OF Engine Company NON. 20. at 2OsI
North Seventh street. christmas carols
were aung by tho choir OF the church.
One OF the features of the celebration was
the presentation OF letter OF commenda-
ton from Chief Murphy TO Hoseman Sam
A. Fogel the baby" member OF the com
pnily, who. on December 21. rescued hvs
persons from a fire near his home before
the arrival OF theh hremen.
Members OF the company distributed 100
bags OF candy toys and sweets 70 the poor
children OF the neighborhood