New-York tribune., 1919-05-25
Operation of System May
Be Delayed Two Years,
but Will Be Tried in
Busy Sections in July
Fewer Men Seek Places
Applications insufficient De.
spite Less Rigid Re-
quirements for Entrance

Because Of unattractive compensa-
ton and working conditions, it will
be impossible for at least two wears
to put the two-platoon system into
operation in the New York Fire De-
partment. This was revealed yester
day when it was announced that Of the
1900 men who applied recently for
physical examination only 500 passed.
Even If all these pass the mental ex-
animation In the summer and are
finally appointed the department will
still be short 900 necessary to oper-
ate the system.
1t is expected, however, that about
July 1 the two platoon will be started
in 100 Of the busiest houses of the
city. The lSo men on the present out
standing civil service list already have
been summoned to the department for
instruction, and they will be appointed
Immediately. Provision for their pay
was made on Friday at the meeting Of
the Board Of Estimate when the S105.-
900 appropriation of the Board of AL
dermen for the trial Of the two-pla-
toon system was made available. This
appropriation was made in 1917.
Commissioner brennan has estimated
that it will take 1,1O0 additional mem
bers of the uniformed force to operate
two platoons. Because Of lack Of ma
terial the required height for appli-
cants was reduced from s feet TN
inches to feet 6 inches, but this failed
ITO attract large number. Long hours
and comparatively poor pay arc given
as reasons for lack of applicants.
The new plan of operation will be put
in firehouses in lower Manhattan and
the busy sections of Brooklyn until
men are available to extend the system
to the outlying houses. Under this
plan the uniformed force in these sec
tions will be divided into two equal
platoons. One platoon will be on duty
continuously from 9 a. m. until 6 y.
m. when it will be relieved by a sec
ond platoon which will remain on duty
from 6 p. m. until 8 a. m. No pro-
vision will be made for meals as the
men are expected to eat before going
on duty.
"A Neutrality-suspicious. leave of absence
Will be given every six days. In al
lottlng these periods the companies of
the department will be divided into
three sections; thus the two platoons
will be divided into six squads. On
each third day, when one squad is
granted leave to its companion" squad
will be on duty for that twenty-four
hours. Under this system one-half the
force will be on duty at all times and
in cases Of emergency five-sixths of
the force which will be in quarters at
the times prescribed for changes of
tour may be held on duty.
1t is also the plan to have q card in
dex in each fire house containing the
name, residence and telephone number
of each member of the company, so that
in case Of great emergency the "off
tour" platoon may he called.
Under this system the officers and
men of the Fire Department will work
twelve hours day, 365 days a year.
There are 5000 officers and men in the
present department, which will have to
be increased by 1,100 to operate the
new system in it's entirety. About 1900
firemen and officers will be working un-
der the two-platoon in July 1t is also
planned to reduce the number Of bat
talions in order to save men and give
greater protection to the $11 ,O000OO,0 900
worth Of property in the greater city.