Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-05
TWO-SHIFT FIGHT
WON BY FIREMEN
Governors Signature Makes
Salus Bill Law, Effective
Next Year
EVENING LEDGER HELPED
Newspaper Fought in Campaign
to Give Decent Home Hours
to Men

Eiremen Of Philadelphia, backed by the
EVENING LEDGER, have won their fight for
= 'two-platoon system that will enable
them to live in the peace and comfort en-
ioved by other workers in the community.
0peginnine January 1 the firemen will be
a, duty either during the day or during the
o,gbt and not night and day as at present.
with the signing by the Governor yester-
sav of the Salus bill making this possible
tbe dream of the firemen became reality.
II means that more than 1000 men, among
.,e most faithful of the city's employees.
.,ill be released from what has been virtual
bondage They will no longer be held In
their firehouses night and day for five days
cunning with every sixth day OF.
Instead of every sixth day of, with three
hours a day for meals as heretofore, the
aran,en will rest every seventh day like all
nther workers. Careful research, by the
.,ov has demonstrated that the seventh day
!. tho proper period for rest. Every sixth
A.v is a trife too early, and worker de-
ter,orates IL compelled to labor more than
.ix days without rest period on the sew
cnth H.. T.,
c,vilized fashion their fight and the EVE
MING LEpGER's fight is won.
CAMPAIGN STARTED
The EVENING LEDGER entered the fight
sor a two-platoon system for the firemen
last August, and from that time on win
Ming campaign was waged. State Senator
Samuel w. Salus introduced a bill in the
legislature placing Philadelphia in the same
nosition as cities of the second class, like
Pittsburgh and Scranton bringing II under
Ibe act of 1915, which provided for two
nlatoon system for fremen Of such cities.
Tbe hill passed both houses and Is the one
signed by the Governor yesterday.
This action was rendered necessary by
the apathy of City Councils, which did not
A Inf nrn IL
ing for a two-platoon system had been
allowed to die in the Finance Committee.
A committee composed of Battalion Chief
John J. Mesllill. Captain Joseph Eueu. of
Engine Company No. 40; Lieutenant John
R. Wills, of Engine Company No. 80; tngi-
neer Fred wiegner, of Engine Company No.
IS, and Ladderman James Sinister, OF Truck
No 6. combined forces with the EVENING
LEDGER and the fight began In earnest A
citizens committee headed by William Q.
Y.vnch, a member of the Philadelphia bar,
entered the fight at this juncture.
A salary increase and a twelVe-hour shl1t
had been asked for. The two-platoon sys-
fem has been won, but the matter of salary
increase is within the province OF Coun-
oils only When the firemen organized and
sfiIiated with the American Federation OF
Labor they received also the support OF this
powerful labor organization.
FOURTEEN AND TWELVE HOURS
As the matter stands, the firemen, begin
ming next year. will work in two shifts
There will be fourteen and twelve hours
each Men on duty in the daytime will work
twelve hours the night men fourteen. This
provides for lunch hours by an overlapping
Of time The men will take turns working
at night.
An engine company consists of captain
4 lieutenant and ten hosemen. The force
must now be increased SO there will bt
twelve hosemen Thus one of the officer.
and six Of the men will be on duty nigh
or day. The truck companies will also re
qure additional men.
At present there are no Substitutes" OF
the force, this being pne of the evils of The
system as now organized. Men could no
get home on holidays many times, one vet
eran captain having been home only twic'
on Christmas in twenty years of service
Under the new system the men will be hom'
every holiday, either day or night.