Evening star., 1918-04-16
TW0-P[ATOON PLAN
CALLED WAR BILL
Representative Van Dyke, in
Making Favorable Report,
Asks Prompt Enactment.
MAY ASK SPECIAL RULE

system for fremen in the District Of
Columbia, as authorized by the House
District committee, was made to Con
gress today by Representative Van
Dyke of Minnesota, author of the bill
This report states that it is essential
that this measure be enacted promptly
as war legislation.
Representative Sisson of Mississippi
chairman of the District appropriations
committee, has given assurance that his
appropriation bill. which will be sub
mitted in a few days. will carry an ap-
preparation for employing a sufficient
number of firemen to put the two-pla-
toon system In operation promptly
upon passage of the bill.
Representative Van Dykes report
says that this is war legislation. be-
cause it would add very materially to
the safety of government and private
property and the population of the Dis
trict. all of which are increasing rap
idly. Expressions of opinion from
members of Congress generally indicate
that there will be no serious opposi-
tion in the House. II necessary. Chair
man johnson of the District COMMITTEES
will ask for a special rule on this bill
giving it preferential consideration on
account of the vast quantity of valua-
BILE records connected with war work
which must be given more adequate
protection.
On Duty Ninety-six Hours.
The report points out that under the
continuous duty system fireman Is on
duty ntnety-six hours continuously
night and day and then receives q
twenty-four-hour of duty. But II some
other member of his company Is of
duty by reason of accident or sickness
he will lose his rest period and be or
duty 1872 hours continuously. Should
two members Of the company be OF
duty on account of accident or sickness
no other member of the company could
the absentees. Each foreman is allowed
three hours on out Of each twenty-foul
hours to permit him to go home to hii
meals. He has furlough of twenty
days each year. There are only three
ways in which he may be excused from
duty. and in each case he is subject te
call at all times. and Is therefore poten.
tally considered on duty every day ir
the year.
Under the two-platton system Rep
resentative Van Dyke points out {
fireman is permitted to have one-hal
of his time on duty. Under the two
platoon system one shift would be a
rest at all times, and in case Of q con
aaxration tho Oh shift would b calle,
to duty. In this way five to sevel
companies could be placed in-ssrvio
BY using the reserve apparatus Of tn
department. These companies couIa
be placed to cover the territory vacat
ed by the companies operating at tn,
fire. The remainder of the shift wouls
report to the officer in charge at tn,
FIRE, would double up on the engine
thereby duplicating his firedghtins
force without additional fire appara.
tus.
Serves Two Purposes.
Representative Van Dyke says thu
two-platoon system is a scientific ad.
justment of the fire force serving two
purposes. First. using the fire fighting
appartus to the. utmost capacity
thereby decreasing the expense OF
purchasing and operating additional
apparatus.
Second. permitting the members OF
the department more time OF duty
which will make for efficient service
by reason of a contented personnel.
This system would also place a re-
of the chief engineer. which. in the
event of large and long-drawn-out
fire, could be called into service and re-
lieve the shift already working at the
fire. which would be more or less ia
LIB uSu ditoL a pSiiOo "a leH AouIo. He
shifts coming on duty would be fresh
and vigorous and thus accomplish
more.
Proper amount of rest and recrea-
ton is conceded to be one of the great
est assets in the prosecution and sue
cessful operation of any undertaking.
the report says, and this is applicable
to the personnel Of the fire fighting
force in the District as in any other
walk in life.
In emphasizing the fact that the two
platoon system is not an experiment OF
theory, but absolutely practicable, the
report submits statistics showing the
operation of this system in more .han
a score of the largest cities in the
country.
Working Days Of Fireman.