Putnam patriot., 1918-08-09
SHOULD FIREMEN
 GET EXTRA PAY? ?
Question Arises When Chief Boursier Asks That Three Members of Department Be Compensated For Watching Mullan Fire.
Mayor Does Not O. K. BiIl.-Matter
 Is Left to Ordinance Committee

When Chief Alphonse Boursier ot the Putnam fire department, at tn, regular meeting of the common coun eil on Tuesday evening, presented tc that body bill for nine dollars. which he asked as compensation for three members of the department who had remained as watchmen after the re- call had been sounded in the Mullan fire three weeks ago, the question at once arose among the council mem bers whether or not, under the exist ing ordinances. this money should be paid. Mayor Allie W. Marcy was of the opinion that the bill should not be paid, for, as he said, it was part of tireman's duty to remain as watch man to insure no further outbreak of the blaze, if so ordered by the chief of the department. Alderman George Padgett, and other members, were. on the other hand, firm in their belief that tiremen so staying after recall should receive extra compensation.
 There was considerable discussion Chief Boursier said it would be inn possible to single out three or four men after a fire and ask them to re- main for further duty, and allow the ot aY-c to ,.aturr 4o 4I,.;r h ao l o,,, ,.. He said that he believed the men so asked to remain would refuse, at which Mayor Marcy replied: .Mr. Boursier, if was chief of the fire de- partment I'd have the men stay if I told them to-or I'd have them out"
 Then you'd have no department at all, /" retaliated the chief.
 Mayor Marcy suggested that if men were to have compensation for duty done after a recall, it might be we'll to let some of the companies return to the barns, keeping others, and not sounding recall until there was no need even of watehmea. Chief Bour- - would stir up trouble among the of the department. making those who were compelled to remain after fire.
 Mayor Marcy tried to make it clear to the council that he was in favor of firemen receiving all the compensa- ton that they were entitled to, par ticularly so in view of the ridiculous Iy low pay" they now receive. But" said the mayor, T am not prepared to 0. K. this bill until we get more in formation as to the legality of it's payment"
 Ut is not a question of legality" said MT. Padgett, it is question of justice. I believe the men should re- ceive pay for the extra work that they have done"
 Alderman Lapalme said that he had always understood that when a recall was sounded the men were supposed to r. Irn to their headquarters, as they had re their duty and could go he. ?. He remarked that if he had to stay beyond the recall at any fire he should rect and want extra pay for his services.
 Again the mayor suggested that it mi ght be possible to keep some men CT dutg by refraining from ringing a
 gall until later At this Alderman eadgett questioned, You wouldn't leep the whole department, would you?"
 "Nq,' replied Mayor Marcy, but l believe thatsth chief could keep one or 2 9 men if necessary"
 Alderman Lapalme; But on the recall the men go"
 Ilayor: But don't ring the recall until the fire is absolutely out"
 At this point Alderman Johnson in tervened to say that this question had arisen before and he believed that it should be settled for once and all.
 VOTCDC ACKER TT