Evening star., 1949-09-08
Negro Firenen
To Be Shifted 10
Ease Shortage
Won't Be Integroted
With Other Personnel; -;
Have White Officers

Have White Officers
Fire Chief Joseph A. Mayhem
today told the Commissioners he
will transfer excess colored per-
sonnel from the departments two
overstaffed colored companies TO
two other companies where they
will be under white officers.
He said the move was not a
step toward integration of white
and colored firemen, since the
white firemen in the companies to
which the colored personnel would
be moved would in turn be trans
ferred to other understaffed COM
panies.
A shortage of colored officers.
he said, was responsible for the
change of command of the shifted
Negro firemen to white officers.
The need for the change, Chief
Mayhem explained. grows out Of
the fact that the present two
colored companies. Engine Com
panies 4 and 81, are overstaffed
by approximately 40 men. In
the remainder of the department.
the white companies are severly
understaffed.
Intergration Held Efficient.
Chief Mayhem told the Commis-
sioners there is no question but
that the most efficient solution
to the problem would be top
to-bottom integration of the fire.
fighting organization along racial
lines. In a written report, he put
it in these words:
"A complete study Of the prob
lem indicates from strictly adj
ministrative point of view that
complete integration of Negro and
white firemen would be most eco
nomical."
But, asked directly whether he
planned integration of the de-
partment, except to place colored
privates under white officers, the
chief answered bluntly: Mo. Pc
riod."
While the decision was one
which Chief Mayhem could mako
on his authority, the Commission
ers indicated they approved of his
plan. Commissioner John Russell
Young, who handles Fire Depart-
ment matters, specifically indi-
Gated his assent.
Difficulties Detailed.
In his report to the city heads
the fire chief went into detail as
to the difficulties which result
from the overcrowding of the two
present segregated companies.
He said that in an effort to
make use of the excess personnel
of these companies, more than
half the men had been assigned to
fire prevention, building ihspec-
ton work and other incidental
chores. He said this was an un-
desirable solution. since companies
located in the various neighbour
hoods normally should obtain VAL
liable experience in performing
these duties themselves.
The situation resulted also,
Chief Mayhem said. in adminis- ,
trative difficulties including the
fact that the undermanned white
companies were hard-put to it to
provide the proper time for annual
leave for their men.
In s.,ort, Chief Mayhem re-
ported. the present situation does
not permit full use of the force.
The situation would be aggravated
when the department goes on a
60-hour-week basis. The 60-hour
week for District firemen has been
made a law, and its inaugural ton
awaits the action of the Commits
sioners to provide funds for the
shift.
Competition Suspended.
Talking with reporters, Chief
Mayhem made it plain he does not
intend to try to put colored officers
in the two companies in which
the excess colored personnel are
to be transferred. He said the
colored officers for the present
two colored companies have been
obtained only by dropping tho
competitive standards of normal
civil service promotion, by special
permission of the Civil Service
Commission.
The normal complement of an
engine company is 16 firemen. in
Guiding five officers, while truck
company is manned by 18 officers
and men. The two present colored
companies have a total of "a
officers and men, making surplus
of AZ.
Chief Mayhew said the trans
fer plan would not absorb all the
excess, and that some of the
colored firemen would continue in
the fire prevention and inspection
work in which they are now en-
ployed.
y He said the moving of some "a
Of them to the two other COM
panies, one of which will be an
engine company and the other a
truck company, would materially
relieve the shortage of men in
white companies. The white pri-
Yates, displaced by the transfer Of
colored privates, will fill in as
neeGed in undermined white
companies, Chief Mayhem said.
Only Privates Involved.
The transfer involves only pri-
Yates, the chief emphasized. He
plans to leave the officers Of tie
four companies involved undis-
turbed. Chief Mayhem said it will
be some time before the transfer
is effected since some of the
transferred colored f1remen must
first be trained in ladder work
before they can function in q
truck company.
The chief would not say today
l. - H.