Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-04

plans for q campaign even more active
than that heretofore waged are being ar
ranged by the committee in charge OF the
sforts OF the fircmen OF Philadelphia TO
obtain betterment in living and working
fonditlons.
The settlement OF the tax rate question,
they feel. has released the members OF
Councils Finance Committee from one or
lts most serious problems. and placed
Chairman Gaffney and his associates In
rosltlon TO take up other matters among
which is the solution of the hremen's dpea-
tion.
Assurances have been received recently
by members of the campaign committee
that with the tax rate out OF the way, the
firemen would have first consideration at
the hands of the Finance COMMITTEES. AT
this time therefore, the fremen are deter
mined to prosecute without any lessening
OF vlKor the utmost pressure they can
bring to bear upon the Councilmen to effect
the fulfilling of this pledge.
Every Councilman approached on their
behalf has assured the firemen that their
cause is righteous one. and that failure
10 care for them in proper manner Tor
20 many years is one OF the most nagrant
cases OF neglect and unrequited service IN
the clty's annals None has withheld his
nromise TO use his vote and support their
poned on the ground that the moment was
unpropltious for forcing the issue.
BY cautious and judIcious conduct OF
their campaign, the fremen, through their
committee have rested upon this promise
until the tax rate problem has been
finally disposed of. That obstacle removed,
The committee today set about to concen-
trato its artillery hre" in the direction
where they believe II viii prove most effec-
tive and decisive.
PERSONAL APPEAL TO MAYOR
A personal appeal TO Mayor Smith Is one
OF the measures under consideration to-
day. The Mayor has never been approached
directly by the firemen. Petitions and let
ters asking relief for them have been adj
dressed to him by the foremost citizens and
property holders of Philadelphia, but these
yoluminous appeals were submitted Mt a
time when the Mayor was immersed In de-
Iiberatlons over the tax rate. and was in no
position to give them the consideration they
deserved.
It is now proposed to have a delegation
Of the fremen themselves call upon the
Mayor and to lay before him In person the
needs OF the attaches of the bureau. the
preponderance of public sentiment that sup
ports their request. and ito solicit his in
nuence with councilmanic leaders on their
side.
The Mayor has never declared himself
Petition with its 5000 signatures. secured
within twenty-four hours. was handed 70
him. he expressed no opinion merely re-
marking that II was a pity that It had not
been submitted to him earlier.
The firemen and their supporters inter-
pret the Mayors remarks as indicating that
when uttered he had in mind the tax rate
negotiations--now disposed of--and that II
they had been able to submit their plea
earller in the year ample provision for
them would have been made by this time.
No time is being wasted by the commit
tee in its efforts TO reach the Mayor. It
is hoped that an interview can be arranged
TO take place within day or two. In the
meantime new petitions addressed to the
members of the Finance Committee are
being circulated by friends of the firemen
N various parts of the city.
A West Philadelphia real estate man,
aroused by the campaign. called yester-
day at the station of Truck No. g. Pres
ton street and Haverford avenue He
asked for Ladderman Sinister a member
Of the campaign committee He then eS-
planned that his interest In the cause OF
the hremen had been STIRRED by the pub-
Ilshed accounts of their condition. and that
ne was about to start petition 10 the
Finance Committee on their behalf