Norwich bulletin., 1921-03-23
Special to TKs Bulletin) )

Hartford, March 22.-Slipped in for a hearing before the judiciary committee of the legislature without previous printed notice, bill to- establish a two-platoon system in the fire departments of the state came up for hearing before the committee Tuesday, It is urderstSsd the bill originated in New Britain.
 Opposition to the bill did not develop at the hearing, possibly because those who would have opposed it did not know the bill was to come up now, but those who favor it had evidently got wind of the time to appear. Representatives of the state firemen's association, and the may DTS of Bridgeport and Waterbury, sup ported the bill before the committee.
 The bill would make it mandatory upon all cities, towns and boroughs with uni formed fre-hghting forces to establish two-platoon system on Dec. 31, 1921. Its supporters oppose any local option in the matter
 The text of the bill is as follows: An Act relative to the division of per manent members of fire departments into day force and night force.
 Sec. 1-The permanent officers and 1 members of the uniformed fire fighting force, with the exception of the chief engineer, in every city town and borough of this commonwealth shall be divided by l the fire commissioner, board of fire com missioners, chief engineer, board of en- gineers or other officer or officers having charge of such 6re-fighting force, into two bodies or platoons, which shall be desig- mated as a day force and a night force, and said day force and night force shall alternate on tour of duty. CThe working conditions of the two platoons shall be 1 left entirely to the said officials having charge of the fire-fghtjng force).
 Sec. 2-In case of a serious fire, or lany other emergencies for the welfare of said city town or borough the officer officers or board having charge of such lfre=fghting force shall have fulf author ity to summon and kept on duty any or all of the members of such fre-fghtins
 force while such fire continues.
 Sec. 3-The provisions of this act shall not act as repeal of any act or acts
 or part of any act or acts, and shall not annul modify or affect any city
 town or borough ordinance, or part ol
 parts thereof, relative to the salaries, an
 nual vacations, sick or disability, leave of absence of the fire-fghting force in tht city, town or borough in which this ac
 takes effect
 II Sec. An acts and parts of acts ant all ordinance and parts of ordinances af l fecting the number that may be appoint ed as members of the fire-fighting fore and the meal hours and days off of sucl , members are hereby rendered imperative Sec. 5-Be 1t further enacted that tn board of fire commissioners or other au
 thoriti A of said fire department be an' are hereDy vested with authority to mak
 and adopt rules and regulations not il
 conflift with the provisions of this ac , | for the government Of sad fire depart , ment.
 2 This bill to take effect Dec 31, 1921. ! Section 1 of the bill. which contain , the real substance of the measure, pro vides that in each city, town or borougl
 In the state where permanent firemen ar employed, including all officers excep
 the chief engineer of the department, sue
 officers and men shall be divided int
 two patrols or forces, one to perforr
 night duty and the other day duty.
 The altering of the two patrols fror day to night duty, the 1ersonnel of tn t department, provisions for illness or dis