Evening journal., 1920-09-03
FIRE COMP PANIES
AGAIN ON DUTY
Continued from FIrst pags

continued from First PAGE.
ings' secret conferences, telephone
calls and hasty arrangements TO pur-
chase additional apparatus with
which to equip properly the remain
ing companies. Fire Chief William
J. Lutz, yesterday morning made the
llret move that resulted In the meet
ing IN the afternoon. He communi-
Gated with the various officials OF
tne striking companies and asked
i lhey would be willing TO meet
Council Receiving assurances that
they would, the meeting was srrans.
"a TOT O'Clock In the mayors ofilcc.
Those present were President OF
Council Lyon, Councilman Forwood.
CHAIRMAN OF the finance committee;
councilman Mearns, Councilman Abb
ranams, chairman OF the fre COM
mlttec and the representatives of the
IRE companies Alfred d. Warner,
Jr., chairman OF the Fire Prevention
Committee, was also present
President Lyon informed the fire.
men that III hey wished to confer
with regard to the present critical
situation they were welcome" COun-
Gilman Mearns stated. I'VE have re-
celved an opinion from the city so
'Nie'i NiAvt nuns uo tlldb II bit ult-
men accept these contracts we would
be in a position TO increase their
appropriation later" Councilman
Mearns explained that Mr. Huxley
had stated that as the contract price
was set in the budget no change
could be made until after the con-
tract became effective.
Representatives Of the fremen asked
mat Council give shem some "assur-
ance in writing" they would get addl-
tlonal money. President Lyon said
We didn't give the companies that
have already sLgned any written as
surancs and we will not give any in
lhls case, These contracts must be
signed as the ystand with the under
standing that Council will make every
effort to aid the companies after re-
lations have been assumed"
Finally the representatives OF the
five companies held a brief confer
ence after which they agreed to sign
the contracts. Chief Lutz rescinded
his order that those companies that
had remained in service would an
swer all alarms and as quickly as
word could be sent 10 the stations OF
the companies that had left the ser
vice they resumed their activities. By
i3O o'clock all the eleven companies
were in service.
Following the transaction OF rou-
line buslnes last night, Council took a
recess % receive the contracts which
The five companies had agreed TO sign
and have ready by s O'Clock. Much 10
the surprise OF the members. a repre-
sentative Of the Phoenix Company an
nounced that his company could not
sign the contract He said I'VE noti- |
fed Council three months ago that
after August 81 our ladder truck would |
be out OF service and we naturally
supposed AS we received no reply that |
you folks understood 10 and that the
contract as drawn up was a mistake y !
1T is the same contract that You
people agreed to sign this afternoon. ." |
said Councilman Kane, III it was all |
right then way is 1t all wrong now?"
We have fooled over this business |
long enough" inieriected Councilman
Mearns. "the public is holding Coun- |
Gil responsible and we propose to do |
business tonight You either VIII
sign, or you won't sign. We can have
the needed additional fire apparatus
here Saturday morning and will put I
the order on the wire tonight If we |
have to do So"
The representatives Of the Phoenix !
company withdrew for consultation
ana came Dack ana announced tnat
they would sign without any change
in the contract.
During the discussion Michael F.
Cannon, chairman Of the executive
committee OF the five companies,
pleaded with representatives OF the
Phoenix company 10 sign the con-
tract, assuring them that he believed
Council would help them out at the |
proper time.
When Council reconvened Chair |
man Abrahams, Of the fire committee, |
presented the contracts and vouchers /
for the first half Of the budget appro-
priation. and allowances were made |
as follows: Phoenix. $3.50: Wecca-
roe, $3.50; Washington, $1,000; Lib
erty, $1,000; Fame, $1,000. Earlier
In the evening the appropriation for
The Reliance Company, which. signed
up after the meeting Of Council last
Tuesday night, amounting 10 $4,000,
was allowed The contracts were all
accepted without a dissenting vote or
discussion.
During the day II became known
hat Council had formulated a denn-
he plan 10 cope with the situation.
Realizing that some such emergency
was impending, Councilman Abra-
hams had communicated with fire
apparatus manufacturing concerns. ]