The Washington times., 1917-12-16

That the two-platoon system for
washington's fire fighters will have
the unanimous support of both houses
OF Congress was the unqualified pre-
diction OF Commissioner Louis
BrOwnlow at a meeting OF the Dis
trict Firemen's Association last
night
District firemen are happy today.
Not since they began their light long
ago for relief from>th twenty-four-
hour day has the outlook for success
been so bright. They hope soon to
have an opportunity to know their
families. Commissioner Brownlow,
acclaimed by the hremen as their
champion, has given them the word
that they have for years hoped to
hear.
Il believe the twO-platoon system
for the District Fire Department will
have the unanimous support OF both
houses OF Congress- said Commits
sioner Brownlow "Rut the fight is
not yet won. We must put the facts
and conditions fairly up to the Con-
gressional committees in charge OF
the matter. When we do that,
know that Congress can be depended
upon to act wisely and we'll"
Meeting EnthusIastIe.
The room in Perpetual Hail. at Elev-
enth and Z streets northwest, where the
firemen meet. was fairly alive with
suppressed enthusiasm before the Com
missioner arrived last night The larg-
est number OF husky fremen that had
ever attended a meeting thee was pres
ent, II was said. Chairs had 10 be
brought from every part OF the building
TO seat the men. One-half Of the entire
FIRE lighting force OF Washington was
there. They were waiting with sup
pressed excitement for Commissioner
Brownlov- their champion. with news
nom the front Many Of them, did not
know the Commissioner. they said. These
did not remain Tong IN ignorance about
him. and what he had done for them.
Il was announced that the COn1Inls-
sioner was coming. Big hands famed
the cigar and pipe smoke from the room.
The Commissioner appeared at the door.
Nobody walked gingerfy up and said,
"Howdy-do, Air. Brownlow. Come In !"
Two hundred voices and two hundred
pairs OF hands gave welcome. Mr.
Brownlow smiled and bowed and took
all the hands he could, but he couldn't
roar Thank YOU Ike two hundred
men. and he couldn't take two hundred
hands at once.
MAN We All L0ve.s
He took the platform and was in
trodueed by r. L. Odeh. president
OF the F'iremen's Association, as the
"nIan that we >all love" Another
tumult showed that "love" must. have
been the right word. They all seem
ed to feel that Commissioner Brown
low had good news He explained
that during the last few days he had
needed q two-platoou system himself
and could, therefore, EympGthize with
I the firemen more than ever.
ITO introduce the two-platoon sys-
| TEN in Washington Is one Of the main
things that we are asking Congress to
do this year" said Mr. BrownlOw
The Commissioners did not ask -:
Increased salaries TO- the firemen this
year. Instead, we asked for better
working conditions. When a man
and more pay at the same time, he is
pretty likely to get turned down on
both, SO we asked for shorter hours
this time.
"Our progress in getting better
working conditions for our firemen
and policemen has not been so great
as in some other cities. Yet, we have
made great progress. Last year the
firemeu were the only District en-.
ployes that got an increase in base
and percentage pay. OF course the
two-platoOn system is Nbe first thing
we are after. When We get that we
arc going 70 get better houses for
many OF the stations. There will also
be great effort made to secure more
motor trucks. Moter trucks make the
fire fighting more efficient I'm that
more territory can be covered by one
station. II would decrease the cost
Of apparatus. because not SO many