Putnam patriot., 1918-09-06
COUNCIL VOTES TO GIVE EXTRA
 PAY FOR WATCH DUTY
Bremen Will Be Compensated For Guarding
 Property After Recall Has Been Sounded
Discussion and Argument Over Question Lasts More Than
 

opposed to paying the fire boys for any work done outside of their regu- lar duty. In the case under discus sion l believe it is not their duty to watch, but that it is the duty of the fire police. And if they are lax. and not tending to their duty they should be called to the mark They should do the guarding, and then if the fire breaks out they can ring in the alarm. In view of this l am opposed to AL derman Padgett's motion. do not want to be misunderstood. am not opposed to paying the fire boys for extra duty done, but do believe that it is the fireman's duty to do the guarding. We have full number of patrolmen, and five fire police. There is nothing to prevent their organiz- ing"
 Alderman Padgett: But it is question if we have any fire police if we impose this duty upon them. That | may have been the original intention. but we have drifted away. l put more confidence in the fremen; they are trained for this work As it is now we don't know whether we'll get i fire policeman at fire or not"
 Then followed argument as to whether fire police or tiremen would give more efficient service as watch CTS. and it was the general opinion, backed by the chief, that the tiremen would be more dependable for this sort of work. as it was in direct line with their duties
 Alderman Duvert stated to the council that this same question had come up in Willimantic, and that in that city it had been solved only by giving each fireman $3 for respond ing to an alarm It was then possi- ble for the chief to order any man to remain for guard duty, and there could he no objection. as there was compensation.
 'I don't want to throw a monkey wrench into the wheels of the ma- chine (the department) when it's working as we'll as it is now. which we would do If we don't grant this pay" said Mir. Padgett.
 "Yes," said the chief, "the men tell me that they won't stay unless they are going to get pay"
 But if they don't stay, fire your firemen," retaliated the mayor.
 But this is not like paid depart ment, where you can absolutely con- trol your men, said Alderman Rich ards. |
 Isn't it time to throw wrench in to the wheels of the fire police?" asked Mir. Johnson. Shouldn't their duties be defined?" i.
 Mayor: Isn't the ordinance as it is proposed good suggestion to ring a recall, and get extra pay?"
 Alderman Duvert: "We leave that to the honesty of the men"
 Alderman Padgett: '1f the chief should get to doing that, then"
 Alderman Richards: "I say, what else can we do but grant this extra pay?"
 Alderman Padgett: q claim if a man is called to do this duty ho should get extra pay"
 Superintendent of Fire Alarms John Daigle was present and stated that he believed that there should be extra pay granted.
 The mayor then called upon the clerk to call the roll. and all mem bers present voted in favor of Alder man Padgett's motion. Present were l: Lapalme, Padgett, Johnson, Duvert and Richards. The council then or dered the bill presented by the chief. paid.
 In doing this, however, the senti- ment of the council was that the chief should not do the guard duty him. self as long as he could get other members of the department to do it. 'T claim, stated the mayor, that it is not the chiefs regular duty to watch at fires, and it does not seem proper for him to put in a bill for watching Do you suppose that the chief of police would put in a bill for extra time he puts in in performing his duties? He accepts his position. and knows what is expected of him." And thus the matter was closed, and in the future those who guard af- ter a recall will receive 30 cents an hour for their work. Just what the fate of the fire police is, or what the exact nature of their duties consists in, was not settled by the council on Tuesday evening.