Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-09
SEGER PROMISES
AID TO FIREMEN
with You Heart and SOUL
Seventh Ward Leader
Tells Committee
pttT BUREAU MUST WAIT
When Controller Opens Books
Time for Action Will
Have Come

-,.,tos seger. Penrose- -McNichol leader in
..,.o, ro,,rciI In which body he represents
~. eeyontb ward has enrolled himself as
,,aunch friend Of the fremen Of Philadel-
,bis in their campaign for salary IN
s,oase and better working conditions. In
toort.to-heart talk with the members of
~. r-iremen's Campaign Committee, the
e,,srth ward leader placed himself on
,.,,rd as favoring the request Of the men
Of the Bureau of Fire
..rm with YOU heart and soul' Seger
,o,d the fremen. ~ have always been
s.icrd nf the Bureau Of Fire ever since the
creation Of the department OF which l was
a., of the original members. Anything |
w do 10 help you and the men of the
b,,rcau I will do gladly and willingly. In
s,ct introduced an ordinance that passed
Sruncils in 1911 which would have given
tbe bureau more than 900 men, just about
what you are asking for today. That
ordinance is still on the books. but 1t has
never been enforced. That would have en-
oIIed chief Waters, then head of the bu-
reau to obtain the men necessary TO put
the whole bureau on two-platoon system
EXPLANATION LACKING.
Mr. seger did not explain how the
ordinance "fathered" by him for the relief
of the firemen, failed of its purpose, after
passage.
lie was more frank in his discussion OF
the fremens present plight and their cam
paign to enlist public assistance to bring
about relief.
$50 far as Councils are concerned they
are all in sympathy with you, and I be-
iieye they are ready to help you" he con-
tinued but just now there isn't a chance
in the world. We must wait until the City
controller opens his books and let's us know
what money there is There may be mill
lion. maybe more. The City Controller
usually underestimates, and hope he has
done so this year. If there is enough in the
surplus to tage care of the fremen. l. for
one, will do all that can to see that they
get what they are asking for.
II am opposed to salary increases for the
heads Of departments and high-paid off,
cias. | believe that we ought TO take care
Of the little fellows. and the fremen are
certainly in that class today They de-
serve more money and they should get it as
soon as we can lay our hands on it,"
AGAINST STATE ACTION
The suggestion of State legislation Great
ing a two-platoon system for the Phila-
dephia Bureau of Fire similar to that
enacted in 1915 for cities of the second
class was made. II don't think that plan
would be proper at this time" said Mr.
Seger. We have appointed a committee
on legislation to go to Harrisburg in order
to secure a greater measure of home rule
for Philadelphia While we are committed
to this platform It doesn't seem to me to
be consistent to ask the Legislature at the
same time to interfere with branch of
our municipal government.
"IfCouncils can find the money necessary
TO take care of the Fire Bureau II won't
be necessary to go to Harrisburg or to
appeal outside of the Council chamber to
obtain relief. I don't think the Mayor
would oppose the appropriation of money
for such a purpose, when he sees that It
is needed. But Il all depends upon the
amount of surplus that the City Controller
: is able to show us on the Goth or 25th or
whatever day he presents his statement.
If It Is sufficient to take care of the fire.
men, there is hardly a doubt but that you
will get what you are asking for So far
as am concerned. / have always been your
friend and 1 will continue 10 do all that
] can to help you"
Assurances from other members of Coun-
ellis that they will support any measure
looking TO the betterment of the Bureau of
Fire are also being received by the commit
Tee The sting of civic pride is being felt
oy some of the Councilmen. Since Camden
placed its fire department upon a salary
oasis which gives its hose and ladder men
alOO year more than the maximum pay in
Fhlladelphia there has developed a senti-
lneht that a step forward should be taken,
ana that Philadelphia ought not to be per-
mltted to fall further and further behind in
the category of American cities At present
II is surpassed by fifty-iwo other municpali.
ues' only two of which are larger i'm size
or population. Fear that recruits of proper
htness to replace the rapidly retiring vet
Grams cannot be found is another consid-
grafton stirring property owners and bust
ness men TO impOrtune their Councilmen to
10 something as soon as possible to relieve
the deplorable situation existing in the Blu.
reau Of Fire