Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-21
FIREMEN ENTER
JOINT Meeting
WITH The CITY
Secret Session Held Yesterday Att
erROOn Attended by Several
On Force.
COMMISSIONERS TELL PLAN
win Deal With Men As Individuals
Offer Raise by Closing An
other Station.

Rock Island city commissioners
held a secret session yesterday aft
ernoOn with six members of the fire
department for the purpose of dis
cussing the situation brought about
by the resignation of firemen Oc-
casioned by the wage dispute
Previous to this session the COM
missioners met and accepted the
designations of % firemen who noti-
ned the city Of their decision to
leave their positions beginning yes
terday and with the entire number
to have left their posts by Sunday.
Commissioner John Dledtke
stated yesterday afternoon that he
had called the men to attend the
meeting and several complied.
Those who were present are: Au-
gust Schmidt, captain at station No
); Emil Schadt, captain at station
No. 3; Harvey Bloomquist, captain
at station No. 3; William V. Todd
and c. Boynton. The last two men
named are new members on the
force. Fire Chief G. w. Newberry
was also present.
Mayor William McCOnOchie, who
was present at the. meeting for but
a short while, and who left with the
statement that anything done by
Commissioner Liedtke would re-
ceive his support, announced that
one of the firemen desired to know
what they should report to the men
who were not present. The mayor
states that this fireman was told
that all designations had been ac-
cepted and that the city did not in
tend to deal with the firemen as an
organization, but as individuals.
Reports as to what happened at
the secret meeting are to the eff
feet that several points leading to
an agreement were holly contended
by first the firemen and then by the
commissioners.
The firemen were told by the
commissioners, according to re
ports received, that the men will be
dealt with as individuals and that
any of the men who so desire may
fill out applications for re-employ-
ment by the city. The fremen are
reported as saying that their or
ganized was formed merely as
a means whereby legislative mat
tiers might be better taken care of
and not for purpose of forcing
wage increases by threat of strike.
They cOntended that their wage
was not sufficient at this time when
the prices of necessities of life are
rising by leaps and bounds.
Offers S15 Increase.
Commissioner Liedtke said after
the meeting that he had offered to
raise the firemen's wages SIS a
month with the abolition of the
bonus now received. and make this
raise permanent by amendment of
the city ordinance now in effect
The commissioners stated that the
permanency Of the increase, how
eevT. while respected by the pres
ent city administration. might come
up for reverse under succeeding ad-
The men in their
petition to the commissioners last
Monday had asked for a permanent
raise of $40 a month with the aboli-
ton Of the bonus now received
The fremen made no answer to
the offer of the commissioner. but
took away applications. according
to Commissioner Liedtke
Statement was also given out
that in case the men decide to come
back at the increased wage the city
will find it necessary to close sta
ton No ;. situated at Ninth street
and Eighteenth avenue Four men
would thus be cut off of the force,
and the money thus saved would be
used 10 increase the wage of the
remaining firemen. This would put
two stations out, as No / was
closed in July
First wear men are now drawing
SIS q month and all over one year
men. are being paid $95 a month.
The raise contemplated would re
quiTe the CITY to add but IS
month to each fireman's wage S
so is already being paid as a bonus
and this will, with the additional
s. be made a permanent raise. The
men will then draw $50 and 500
month respectively.