The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-19

Absolute and unequivocal loyalty to
the city administration is being de-
manded of every city employe in the
present crisis by commissioners and
serving of two masters and the city
employees duty to the whole people
must be put ahead of any personal
friendship or sympathy that may exist
between former members of the fire de-
partment and employees of other city
departments.
This rule will be strictly adhered to
by the mayor and commissioners and
in all instances where the orders of
the higher officials are obeyed willingly
a whole the employe will be protected
With all the power of the city govern
ment and any assistance that it may
be able to call upon.
With the walkout last Thursday of
the entire fire department, other city
departments were called upon to assist
in many ways in the emergency and
their assistance has been of inestimable
value to the city.
I For instance, upon the engineering
department devolved the duty of sup
plying men familiar with the fire en-
gines and other fire-fighting equipment
These employees of the engineering de-
partment have devoted a great deal of
their time and energy in demonstrating
the handling of the engines and equip
gineering department were compelled on
short notice to furnish supply of maps
showing the location of fire plugs
throughout the city
Practically every department of the
city has been called upon in some way
for assistance in this emergency and
with but few exceptions the response
to the call of duty for the citizens, has
beensmost hearty
There have been two notable excep-
tions to this, however, and in both IN
stances Commissioner Edgar and Mayor
Paine have acted without hesitation and
in such manner that they have dem
onstrated to the citizens of Memphis
that discipline can be maintained.
Joe Flynn, city fire prevention Off
Ger, was asked by Commissioner Edgar
to take charge of a company of volun-
teers during the emergency and be,
cause he was an experienced man and
would have been valuable. Flynn de-
clined to comply with the commission
er's orders and was discharged forth
with.
Later f. A. Murphy, member of
the sanitary force and former
fireman, was asked by the mayor to in
struct volunteer firemen in handing
equipment and fighting fires. Murphy
is said to have declared that he was
physically unfit for such service and
declined. The mayor discharged him
immediately.
, City officials do not wish to work
-'any hardships upon any employees put
they maintain that the duty OF CITY
employe to the taxpayers must be put
above any personal friendship. defi-
mite policy has been outlined by the
administration and there Will be no
deviation, they say, In this present
crisis or any other that may come up
The best interests of the city as whole
are always to receive foremost consid-
Afation, rather than the personal wishes
of an employe or group, be they en-
ployes or citizens.
Murphy, an employe of the city for
16 years, and the father of 10 living
children, will be reinstated, it is under
stood. under certain conditions but or.
ders of the officials must be carried
out, they say, or the employe in ques-
ton will be summariy discharged.
These officials believe that these two
exceptions are the only ones OF their
kind where drastic action VIII be
necessary and point with pride to the
hearty cooperation that Is being given
nv city employees as a whole and they
predict that this Will continue so long
as the emergency exists. go
The city administration bears no i'll
will toward any former member of the
fire department and there VIII be no
effort on the part OF any city ottlcial
to prevent these men from obtaining
employment anywhere or in any line OF
work. on the contrary, the city wishes
for them success in obtaining employ
ment Immediately and in whatever line
they may select. This declaration was
k6iced by Mayor Rowlett Paine Monday
in refutation of rumors that have been
current to the effect that the city
would endeavor to prevent resigned
firemen from obtaining employment
anywhere in Memphis.
Heartlessness on the part of city
officials is not to be practioed nor
countenanced, the mayor declares. The
nTesent crisis which, the city is going