New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-09-22
TWO PLATOON SYSTEM IS ADOPTED
BY COMMON COUNCIL AFTER DEBATE

fremen. or should we vote against
a modified plan. and satisfactorily
safeguard the interests of the peo-
pie at large?
Politics. or efficiency and econ
omy, which Is 1t, gentlemen?
las a member of the board OF
fire commissioners, I vote only for
efficiency and economy. / therefore
must recommend that the modified
plan should not be carried out.
"Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM c. KRANOWITZ."
Ordinance Submitted.
Tho ordinance committee presented
tho following ordinance providing for
two platoon plan for tho fire depart
men;. az follows:
Section 1877. Fire Department COM
panic, and officers.
The fire department of said city
shall consist OF n permanent chic, en-
gincer. n permanent assistant engineer.
ono master mechanic. not moro than
eight permanent captains. not more
than eight second captains and not
less than ifty-five permanent men and
sixteen call men. Tie force shall be
divided into two shifts of a number
OF hours each day for each shift, as
assigned by the board OF fro COM
missioners and the board OF fire COM
missioners shall adopt such rules Of
operation as to vacation. absences, off
duty and sick leave as they shall deem
1T, subject to the approval OF the
Common Council.
All ordinances or parts of ordin-
ances inconsistent herewith are hereby
repealed"
Council Members Speak.
Councilman 81. F. King moved the
adoption of the ordinance, thereby es-
a two-platoon.
Council NJ. S. Porter asked about
salary cuts.
Councilman King explained that it
was up to the council to decide that |
phase of the question.
Councilman II. S. Hart spoke against |
the resolution. He pointed out that |
many are out OF work and others are |
on short time and not getting full pay. |
He felt IL unreasonable to give class |
o fmen with good jobs and good pay |
a better job. To decline to give a
o-platoon would be in keeping with |
policies, he said. The duty |
of the council. he said, is to watch |
expenses and cut while necessary and |
check expenditures. He questioned il |
the city meeting board today would |
pass the measure.
"Soft Job" says Hart
1.-The firemen know. as you and I |
do" he said that they have a soft |
Job and we shouldn't make it softer. |
We should hire men at market rates. |
It's our business to make harder jobs |
for little pay: we're doing the oppo- |
site. The firemen nave three hours |
g. xrIn
works 10 hours a day in the shop and
sleeps eight hours has but few more
hours. We can count on several years
of poor business. without more con-
sideration we should not go ahead.
II there is a question and money is
involved. think the matter should be
held up for a time. It's too much
money to pledge ourselves for"
Alderman Paonessa agreed in part
with the speaker as to the duties of
the council. The matter, he said, was
before the council for two years and
he body has unanimously voted to
put the system into effect. He prom
sed vote in its favor.
Macl<irdy Disapproves.
Councilman Norman MacKirdy said
L Is the worst year that the council
,ould possibly put the system in effcct.
He was strenuously opposed. ]
Mayor Curtis presented an opinion
rom the corporation counsel on the
,ity's power to postpone the system.
rhe interests Of third party were
not concerned he pointed out and
here could be no breach of contract.
Cases of similar resembling OF votes in
,ther Connecticut cities were pointed
tut.
- t.
avor OF the two-platoon plan. He
cit a continuance OF the present plan
unjust.
Unjust, Says GIL.
Alderman J. F. Gill felt that the cor
,oration counsel knew what kind of
| report was being expected of him
nd accordingly prepared the one sub
nitted. He read a speech covering
his points. The council member fav-
red a two-platoon without cuts.
Councilman Hart again took the
ioor and reiterated that this is not
he time to make n good job a better
me. Goode made in New Britain are
icing duplicated in Europe at ridicu-
ously low wages. he pointe dout. The
effects OF the two-platoon on taxes was
argued as n reason for a continuance.
Aneni Living Costs.
why not bring living costs DOWN."
Alderman Gill asked.
That's too big a question for the
council to discuss" Councilman Hart
replied.
Alderman Wells wanted favorable
ction on the matter. He would not
push his request for a cut, he said.
Councilman King said it was the
ire chiefs opinion that the new plan