New-York tribune., 1919-02-14
Aldermen Approve
Eli eht-Hour Shifts
For City's Firemen
Chief kenlon Asserts Three
Platoon System Is Essen
tial to Department; Lead
ers Speak for State Bill

The three platoon system for fire
men yesterday received the unanimous
approval of the Aldermanic Committee
on State Legislation, before which
public hearing was held in the Alder
manic Chamber at the City Hall. The
room was packed with men in blue and
citizens interested in the measure now
before the State Legislature
While the bill before the state bodies
does not directly refer to New York
City, 1t is devised to promote the
health and efficiency of firemen" in the
frst, second and third class cities of
the commonwealth 1t provides for an
elght-hour day; one day off in seven
and the dismissal on complaint of any
private citizen of any Fire Commits
sloner throughout the state who fails
to comply with the law if enacted
Although the measure or a similar
one has been up for placement on
the statute books at various times dur
ing the past years, the situation in the
FIRE Departments of this ano other
cities had not been so critical as to
practically compel the enactment of
the law. In the past year especially
a growing discpntent "and even mutiny
among our men" has been noted by
Chief John Kenlon
Work "a Hours a Day Now
At present fireman is compelled to
work twentyfour hours every day, with
one DAY off in ten. Occasionally he has
chance to 70 to his home for a
bIfe to eat or short visit. but these
occasions are few and far between.
THIS was made one Of the many argu-
ments presented yesterday ,in favor of
the elght-hour measure.
When the three platoon system bill
vas was originally introduced into the
State Legislature opposition to it was
based on its tending to detract from,
rather than add to, the efficiency of
the ilremen. 1t was pointed out that
with the present system any number
OF flremen could be calico to duty in
an emergency; or, rather would be on
hand at large contiagrations.
On this score it was pointed out that
with the three e-platoon system in effect
there would be but one-thrd of the
usual number of men at a conf1agra-
to what would happen, on the three
platoon basis, if. during fire, the term
OF duty OF one gang of men expired and
the new gang came on.
Adverse Arguments Discarded
These arguments were thrown into
the discard by almost all the advocates
of the three platoon measure at YES
terdays hearing. A fireman explained
the system as follows:
I'VE will suppose that the hour for
starting work in the morning is 8
o'clock. The next shift would come
on at in the afternoon.
AT about 10 o'clock an alarm might
be sounded When the first company
to arrive at the scene of the fire sees
that there is a likelihood of its grow
ing, second, third, fourth or pos
sibly fifth alarm is turned in. At 12
o'clock the relieving shift comes on.
What happens?
"The new shift runs to the fire. but
the old shift does not leave Instead.
the men who have been working stand
by as sort of auxiliary, while the
fresher men assume the duties of
fighting the blaze. If the fire RACES
until the time for the third shift to
come on the same practice will ensue."
Provides for Emergencies
The proposed legislation provides
for just such an emergency. 1t stipu-
lates that mo one of such platoons or
any member thereof shall be assigned
to more than one tour of duty. Such
tour of duty shall not exceed eight
hours of each consecutive twenty-four
hours, excepting that in the event Of
oonflagrations, riots or other similar
emergency, or for the purpose of
changing tours of duty. SO many of
sand platocns or the members thereof
may be continued on duty for such
hours as necessary"