Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-09-05
Petition Council For In
crease From $40 To
800 Month
PLEDGE SELVES
NOT TO STRIKE
Declare Necessities of
Life Cost More Than
Present Income

Declaring that the cost of necessi-
ties of life for themselves and fam
lies during August, in the case of
several members, was greater than
the salaries received by them, the
members of the Americus fire depart
ment presented to the mayor and
city council last night a petition that
their salaries be raised to more near
ly living wage. The regular fremen
now receive $40 per month, and they
asked an increase to $50, the salaries
now paid members of the police
force. Increases are also asked for
the chief and his assistant chef.
In Their pet ton the men make
specific promise not TO slr.ke If
their request is not granted, but
served notice that they will be COM
PEELED individually to seek other EN-
ployment unless granted relief.
Last spring the firemen were grant
ed raise from 500 to $40 after they
had delivered an ultimatum dechr-
ing their intention 10 strike at a
fixed hour.
The petition was presented by
Stephen Pace, who stated that he
was acting as a representative of
the fire department, but merely in
the capacity of citizen. Joseph
ferkins and Lovelace Eve made brief
talks in behalf of tn tiremen. The
council without action or discussion
referred the petition to the finance
committee for recommendation.
Training Men Costly.
Mr.. Pace read the petition in an
eloquent manner, resuming his seat
without comment, preterring, he
said, to let th> terms of the petit
ION speak for themselves. Mr..
Perkins touched on tae high cost of
training new men in responsible po-
sitions, and stressed the point that it
would probably be cheaper for the
city to retain the present men, even
at higher wages, than be forced to
recruit new men and assume the
liability of a body of inexperienced
men committing some costly blum
der during a fire. Mr.. Eve, who
served several years as a member
of the city council of Decatur, Ga,
stated that he always considered that
the city should be an example for
the community as an employer of Ia
Dor. and should not grind down en-
ployees to the lowest possible wage.
He expressed amazement, consider
ing the wages being paid every
where nowadays, that the city had
been able to retain any tiremen at
the salary paid.
Following is the petition present
ed:
The Firemen's Case.
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen of the
Council:
at is not without great reluctance
and some delay that we petitioh
YOUR honorable body for an increase
in the pay of your firemen; we ap-
preciate the financial troubles and
embarrassments your administration
has had to confront in the past, due
to the accumulation of considera-
bic floating Indebtedness, but,
special levy having been provided
for the city for each year will be
amply sufficient to pay the annual
current expenses and demands for
such year in the several depart
ments:
eff, notwithstanding, our appli-
cation appears without justification,
we ask that the absolute requirements
Of necessity be accepted as our ex-
cuse:
"The current scale of sel2r.es for
YOUR firemen is as follows:
"Chief, $10O; assistant chief,
CONTINUED on Page Eight.)