The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-02-25
Ardmore Firemen Ask an Increase in
Salaries; City Commissioners State
The Request Cannot Be Complied With;
Half Department May Quit March First

took the floor and spoke TO the fire
mems committee as be termed it.,
face to face
u believe the fire department 10
be the most Important branch or
the city government, YOU arc the
guardians uf life and property, and
as such are subjected TO many dan
gers for which you arc not getting
adequate compensation. | admit that
| the public, as Il rule, does not attach
enough importance TO your position;
they see YOU around the fire sta
ton during the day when your SER
vices are not required at some fire,
and they seem 10 think that you
have a pretty soft snap let CON
flagration break out, however, in
volving the loss of thousands Of dol
lars worth Of property, and perhaps
the lives of scores Of people then
they realize what the life OF Il fire
man really is and have nothing but
praise for you. Praise, however.
does not pay house rent. the grocer
or the doctor, and you should be
given enough or your services to I've
a. becoming an American citizen.
Il viii admit that in the past there
| has been considerable caTelessness
exercised in making out the budget
for the fire department, and for that
| reason we are confronted with the
present situation, but | want 10 AS
! sure every one OF YOU That II / have
anything To do with making it out
! in the future this condition Will not
arise again.
III the people really knew, if they
would tal,o pains to investigate con.
ditlons, they would realize just how
| important You are IL the city and
would see 10 il that you are amply
paid for your services.
IL 90 not want you 10 leave here
tonight thinking that we are going
to deny your request because we
want to, but owing to the legal
phase of the situation We are com
PEELED to deny your request at this
time.
we fully realize the reasonable
ness of your demand. Tho high
cost Of living and other expenses
works a. hardship upon you, but il
you can SEQ your way clear to con
tinuc to the end of the fiscal ycai
/ promise YOU here, now, that The
situation will be rcmcded."
City Attorney Mason stated thai
it was not only Illegal to divert
funds, but it was a felony also, an(
under such conditions it WAS not II
the power Of the mayor and commits
sioners TO grant the demand,
After the discussion it was moved
by Commissioner t'ralcy and second
ed by Commissioner Carter that The
request of the firemen be not al
lowed. Those voting for. were Com
missioners Carter Fraley and Wilson
Commissioner Young, absent.
Commissioner Fhaley placed Bol
Cunningham in nomination as assist
ant chief Of the fire department
and he was confirmed by unanimous
vote of the board.
The fire department OF Ardmor'
consists of u men and the chief. 81!
of these last night, after the meetinl
stated that they We're going to II
sign on llc llrSl Ol MARCH,. i III
reduces the department by half ant
their places will have to be file,
if insurance rates remain as the.
are in the city at present.
Commissioner E'raley stated tina
he was Of the opinion that Ardmor
was compelled under the law I
maintain I force Of II men, but Wa
not sure on that point
Just what the next step will b
was not stated by the fircmen, bu
: SIX members Of the department stat
ed that they were positively goin
: to quit on the first Of March a
they had all been offered jobs a
, much better salaries and We're ogin
| to accept while they could get them
Tho following men will leave If the
{ fulfill their intention expressed
Paul Payne, Il. d. Hartnitt, J.
, McF'all, NJ. j. Bibb, Luke BLACK
, burn.
At the next regular meeting G
the city council Friday night hop
is expressed by many that som
means will be devised TO keep thes
men on the job, as they are eXper
enced fire fighters and their qui
ting would seriously cripple the 4,
partment.