Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-15
1860

municipal affairs and social betterment
have Joined in the campaign being waged
90 obtain for Philadelphia fremen scale
OF wages that will place the Bureau Of Fire
on par with similar departments in other
cities.
The New CeAtury Club has named a COM
mittee which will wait upon Mayor Smith
aud urge his favorable interest in the
movement TO obtain higher wage scale.
This proposed personal appeal on behalt
OF the firemen resulted from a visit made
by several members OF the club to fire sta
tions in various parts Of the city.
Guided by members of the committee in
charge Of the campaign the ladies' were
taken through the quarters Of engine COM
pany No II. on Fifteenth street below Vine.
in the rear of the Twentieth District police
station. Here the routine of a fremans life
!, was explained by personal observation ana
the various parts OF the apparatus and hre-
fighting paraphernaliR, together with their
uses, were illustrated. The headquarters OF
Engine No. l3, on Parrish street near Six
teenth, and Of engine No. 43 and truck No
.. Market street west of Twenty-irst,
were also viewed by the New Century Club
members Heaquarters OF the hlgh-pressure
service No. 9, at Sixth street and Lehigh
avenue. also came in for inspection.
ARDENT ADVOCATES
"a
IA first introduction for most OF them--the
committee members became ardent support
ers of the hreman's appeal for fair sal
AIRY and an opportunity to see his family
oftener than the three hours day now
prevailing.
Arrangements are now pending with the
Civic Club toward similar personally
conducted tour" and delegation from this
organization is expected to make trip to
various company headquarters within a few
days. The firemen are confident that their
campaign will gain influential and powerful
support from civic and other organizations
intere sted in their welfare in proportion as
the members Of these bodies become fa-
miliar with the conditions under which the
firemen now labor
With the petition which was presented
to Mayor Smith late yesterday by William
G. Lynch, chairman of the citizens COM
mittee in behalf of the firemen, was a let
ter addressed to the Mayor by Mr. Lynch.
CITIZENS COMMITTEE APPEAL
This communication read. in part. as fol-
lows:
las chairman of the citizens committee
Interested in the city fiTemen, I appeal to
you in the name of over $500 leading mer-
chants, manufacturers and professional men
OF our fair city to ask you to simply say
the word to the Finance Committee of Coun-
ellis requesting them to find the means TO
provide better conditions and adequate COM
pensation to these brave and faithful en-
ployes OF the city.
THE men OF the Fire Department for the
last two or three months have conducted a
beautiful and noble campaign Of education
and the general public has very readily re-
sponded thereto. The people OF the city OF
Philadelphia are perfectly willing that botf
the police and firemen shall be properly
taken care Of by the proper authorities
especially in the case OF the hremen Tn,
consensus Of opinion both by the men II
City Councils and citizens alike is that thl,
matter is up TO you. Mr. Mayor and now
what VIII you do for them?
Can IL be true that you intend TO throw
them down at this time? l do not belev,
It, nor do the other members of the com
mlttee.
1T is a wellknown fact to every one tha
the fremen are working under the same
conditions since the organization of the
Fire Bureau in 1871 and no increase il
salary has been given them since 1902
while other cities have been more kindly tC
their hremen.
"Since making an investigation for my
self and others interested in the firemen
have learned great deal OF the tru,
condition OF the men OF the Fire Bureau
and can frankly and seriously state to you
Mr.. Mayor, that unless some speedy chang,
Is made for these men, to their advantage
both in time and money, the morale anc
tone OF the department will be seriously
lessened and the brains and Drawn of tn,
service will seek service elsewhere. as tn,
conditions In the service are intoIerable
You do not have TO take my word for this
but simply call on your chief engineer nnc
the deputy chiefs.
SPEAKS OF PENSION FUND
The pension fund is not in a very health,
condition and is a source OF concern anC
alarm 70 the men, as at the present tim,
twenty per cent of the men are eligible FOL
pension and dare not think OF such a thinI
q. the present time TO go on the pension. al
ths fund will not continue to exist more thar
three years until IL is entirely depleted ant
exhausted unless conditions are made bet
ter Can you then get young men 20 e,
into the service? Can you get them TO z,
IN now? How many are resigning ever,
month? Learn these conditions from you
chief engineer.
kindly consider this matter from IN,
tsxpayer's point OF view. that N this bursat
is placed In the condition II should be. by
making the proper and necessary changes
IN having more men Of the proper type II
the service. and this can only be done by
giving them better working conditions and
scme increase in salary. and $500 per yeai
"a not too much for the ordinary fireman
when the New York men receive $500 fol
like service and they only have to respond
b alarms OF fire in their own district--theI
TN city will have better protection anc
our Insurance rates will be materially less
ened
ffcm citizens asking you 10 do what you car
for these brave men. and again urge you
% take up the gauntlet for these brave mer
and thu DOlica alan IN VIM will and moi