The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-29
VOSHELL LAYS
DOWN Law TO
CITY'S FIREMEN
Live in City, Stay Out of
Politics. is Warning of
Department Chief.
ny DICK MILLER

BY DICK MILLER
Tive In the city and keep out OF
politics-'or else" was the warn
ing advice Fire Chief Harry Voshell
sounded for city firemen today as
printers bent to new firenghters'
rule book dsplacing the horse
drawn" edition Of 1919.
"Or else" means: "Or explain TO
the board of safety" declared
voshel who says he Is determined
to terminate the suburban resi-
dence Of city flremen, halt their
political activities, check Sick-leave
for the well and tighten up disci-
pine all around.
vosheI's secretary, Harry Gould,
has been collaborating with the
chief for several weeks in prepara-
ton of the new edition Of What
Every Fireman Should Know"
Population 10 Jump
It's appearance is expected 10
cause q sudden jump In the city's
population for it reminds f1remen
that when they applied for appoint
ment they swore they had been
residents Of the city for some time
and were qualified voters.
InsiStent that every fireman re-
side inside the city, Chief Voshell
learned this week that the directory
In his Office Is unreliable. It con-
tain& q city address for every fire.
man.
But this week while investigating
the report that . fireman, of duty
on sick leave, was visiting his cot
tage at a northern Indiana lake,
Chief Voshell made the diSeoncert-
ing discovery that the fireman does
not reside where listed. A relative
lives there, but the fireman resides
outside the city on the Rockville
road.
The same fireman furnished
Voshell Sidelight on the abuse Of
sick leave. Questioned, the fireman
said he was of duty this week with
permission Of DR.. Frederick Crum,
police surgeon. From Dr.. Crum and
the fireman, VoSheu learned the
doctor had told the firehghteF he
Ought to get a little air." thinking
he would take a walk near his home.
Whereupon, the "ailing' fireman
drove TO an upstate lake and made
payment on his cottage.
on Only Three Times
TITS another case OF a few ,Inprtn-
cipled f1remen spelling a privilege
of the deserving" voshell said, add
ing, however, that the fireman un-
der investigation has been OF sick
but three times IN twenty-fouI
years.
HE probably felt he could get
away with something he saw others
doing, and left the city," VoShell
said.
It has been learned that police
surgeons frequently excuse f1rernen
and policemen from duty by tel
ephone. Under the present system.
firemen and policemen are treated
by their family physicians and their
reporting back for duty Is more OF
less a matter Of honor. Voshell
would have police surgeons make
daily examination Of sick flremer
and police. Five per cent Of firemen
off for sickness are Ill chronicallyi
he said. The outcome Of Veshell's
investigation may be that firenaen
viii not be allowed an indefinite
period OF duty with pay.
The out-of-town residence evil
dates back. VoShell believes, 10 an
instance in which permission was
given q fireman to live outside the
city limits upon doctors affidavits
it would be beneficial to the fire.
mans wife, who was Ill.
Relaxed Discipline Cited
In q recent series OF articles, The
Times drew attention to relaxed
discipline which was impairtng ef-
ficiency of the department.
A check of fire houses has re-
vealed improved conditions. Com
panies are showing more speed in
answering alarms, station houses
and apparatus are In better condi-
ton and apparatus Is getting away
at the gun" with full crews.
Asserting he has full support Of
the safety board, VoShell believes
he will accomplish even better
discipline and efficiency.
There will be no wholesale po-
litical changes, he asserts, but
gradual changes TO eradicate cliques
that have embarrassed smooth op-
Grafton Of the department.
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan re-
Gently told firemen at general roll
call they must refrain from taking
part in politics. The report that
a fire captain, elevated just before
the close of the Slack adIninistra-
ton, Is engaged actively in the pri-
mary campaign of a Republican
county once seeker, is being In
vestigated, the FIRE chief declared.