The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-14
3 PLATOON BILL FOR
FIREMEN ENDORSED
Aldermanic Committee Unani-
mously Recommends
Boards Approval.
CHEERS FOLLOW VOTING
Expression Of Opinion Is All
One Way at Hearing on
Measure.

A public hearing In which the express
sion of opinion was all one way ended
yesterday in Endorsement by the Alder
manic committee on State legislation OF
the bill now before the Legislature es-
tablishing a three platoon system for the
fire departments of cities OF the first,
second and third class. Without leav-
ing their chairs the COMMITTEES unani-
mously recommended that the Board OF
Aldermen on Tuesday next pass a reso-
LUTON urging the Legislature to put
the bill through and the Governor to
sign It.
John Kenlon. chief OF the New York
department who has In former years
opposed any change from the present
system, did not attend the hearing.
Several hundred of his men in uniform
crowded the gallery and the space back
OF the Aldermen's seats and cheered
wildly when the vote was announced.
Under a three platoon schedule the
fremen would be divided into three
shifts. would be on duty eight hours q
day instead OF twenty. as they are now,
and would live at homo instead OF In
the fire houses. The eight hour limit
is waived 'in the event OF conflagra-
lions. riots or ether similar emergency"
in which case as many firemen as were
needed could be kept at work as long
a. they were needed.
Cost S1,5OO,OOO Larger.
II the programme Is adopted the fire
force must be enlarged. The additional
cost to New York city Is estimated at
81
backed by the American Federation OF
Labor. with which the New York firemen
became affiliated last year. 1t was said
at the hearing that Gov. Smith and act
ing Mayor Moran favored it.
Speakers at the hearing were Alder
man Gilmore, Albert f. Guinness. pres
ident OF the New York Uniformed Fire
mems Association Thomas $. Spellacy,
president OF the International Associa-
ton OF Fire Fighters Joseph J. O'Reilly
editor OF the Chief; the Rev. Thomas
r Thornton, pastor of the Roman Cath
Ole Church OF St Columbia in West
Twenty-fifth street. Frederick Coles, an
insurance man; James J. Bagley, repre-
senting the labor unions OF Greater New
York. and Alderman Collins. All the
members of the Aldermanic committee
present were Observation-Disclosures. Cas-
sidy. Collins. Wise, Dunn, O'Rourke and
lHe dDseHteeS were fHlCOner
and Bostwick, Republicans. and Lee
Socialist.
Alderman Gilmore, who led off said
New York's firemen had not had a
square deal. and that he had no doub,
that ''the Governor of the State, who is
a fire buff will sign the BILL
"And after you have the three pla.
toons," he said to the firemen. "wel
see II We can't Ak up little more com.
pensation for you. A salary of $500
is none too large. and IL we don't start
1t here In the Board OF Aldermen the
men Of the uniformed force will have
very little chance in any other direc
uon."
Letter From Adamson.
A letter from ex-Fire Commissioned
Robert Adamson. read by Mr.. O'Reilly
said:
ut Is not merely that the cost of Twins
has risen abnormally but that employer!
everywhere recognize that more thar
ever before the rewards of those wht
hear the burdens of the worlds worl
must be made more fairly commensurate,
with the work which they must perform
Otherwise the worldwide revival of de
rlocracy would be nothing more than al
empty form. I see that bette" hours ant
better wages are the rule in every branCl
OF industry the world over, and there Il
10 reason why the brave men of III,
New York Fire Department should b,
made an exception to this rule
Il therefore sincerely trust that tn,
resolution now pending before the Boar,
OF Aldermen will be passed. I might adj
that this Is more than a matter OF dom,
justice to the men of the New York Fir
department: II is a practical matte
which concerns the future recruiting o
the force. When left the department
1t had already become difficult to ge
men to accept appointment in the depart
ment because they could get better pa,
outside. This condition. / understand
1, even more acute at the present time
and In order to meet II and to keen tn