THE MORXIXG OREGONLVX, THURSDAY. MAY 24, 1917.
1
TWO-PLATOON BILL
BAD IN MANY WAYS
Adverse Reports Made by En
gineers of National Board
of Fire Underwriters.
SERIOUS DEFECTS SHOWN
Authority of Chief Impaired by
System, Fire Prevention Work
Wiped Out and Increases
Cost, Says Report. ,
WHAT TOO-PLATOOS MEA8-
IRE MEANS TO CITIZENS
OF PORTL.AIVI TOLD IX
FEW WORDS.
Only argument for two-platoon
bill Is that firemen will have
fewer hours on duty without los
ing any of their present privi
leges. Including present salaries,
days off and vacations.
Measure as proposed Is attempt
to legislate without making
proper provision for the proposed
changed conditions.
No definite provision made for
maintaining even the present
strength of fire companies, which
Is much below what is required
for adequate protection.
No provision made for In
creased expenditure necessary
and only means of handling It is
o reduce the number of compa
nies in service or so reduce forces
as seriously to endanger fire pro
tection of the city.
War conditions makes particu
larly hazardous the curtailment
of fire service.
The number of additional men
the firemen estimated will be
necessary to Inaugurate the new
system Is far too low.
To establish properly the serv
ice under the two-platoon would
require 173 additional men at a
cost of $171,264 a year, plus the
cost of fire prevention work.
No provision 'made for continu
ance of fire protection work or
for firemen's drills.
Because of municipal tenden
cies to keep down costs, most
cities, where two-platoon system
has been tried, have reduced
greatly their fire-fighting effi
ciency. Limiting of authority of the
Fire Chief over men as provided
in the bill is taking away the
most essential feature of respon
sible management.
While other cities are striving
to Increase flre-f lghting effi
ciency because of the war, Port
land is proposing to experiment
with a system which definitely
decreases the practical value of
every member of the force.
Engineers of the National Board of
Tire Underwriters of America, brought
here by civic organisation to make an
impartial Investigation and report on
the firemen's two-platoon bill to be
voted on June 4, denounce the bill as
a step decidedly In the wrong direc
tion, in a report made publlo yesterday.
The committee made the report after
nn investigation covering several days.
The report Is signed by W. E. Malla
lieu, general manager, and George W.
Booth, chief engineer of the Board.
Less Honrs the Only Benefit.
A careful perusal of the proposed act
and the reasons therefor will show
that the only Increased benefit to be
derived is that the members of the de
partment will have less hours on duty
and lose none of their present privi
leges, including present salaries, days
off and vacations.
"The proposed amendment Is an at
tempt to legislate without making
proper provision for the proposed
changed conditions.
"The more important points which
Have been Ignored or not given suffi
cient thought are as follows:
"No definite provision has been made
for maintaining even the present
strength of companies which Is much
below that required for adequate pro
tection. The act simply says that after
Its adoption the City Council must
make an appropriation for two shifts
of men In each company. It does not
specify the strength of each shift. A
-hart has been prepared by the two
platoon committee which endeavors to
show that In order to maintain the
present strength of companies It will
be necessary to add only 72 men to the
department on regular detail and 20
additional men to take care of vaca
tion periods, making a total of 92 men
to be added to the department. It will
be shown further on that this estimate
Is too low, but even supposing it Is
correct, where will the necessary funds
be obtained to pay the additional 92
men? The act specifically states that
present salaries shall not be reduced.
1-Tnder the prevailing rate of pay of
S80 monthly for the first six months
and $85 monthly for the second six
months. It will require an additional
burden on the taxpayers of $B1,0S0 for
the first year and each additional year
this will be increased.
The bill as submitted is condemned
because It goes farther than to provide
a two-platoon system. The report
shows that the bill wipes out fire pre
ventlon work, which already has saved
Portland several millions of dollars In
fire losses, deprives the fire chief of
authority over his men, makes no pro
vision for .Increased number of men
necessary, and Is defective In many
ways.
The engineers say the system would
require ITS additional men at an in
creased annual cost to the city of $171,
264, and that the money required could
not be raised because of the recently
enacted 6 per cent tax limitation law.
Inasmuch as the firemen campaign
ing for the two-platoon bill have been
heralding to the public that the Na
tional Board of Engineers, authority on
fire matters, favors the two-platoon
plan, the report has come as a severe
blow to the two-platoon campaigners.
Following are the comments of the
engineers on the subject:
"Under a 6 per cent tax limitation
amendment to the state constitution a
TODAY OJTB DAT OXLY
Jackie Saunders in
"SXJXNY JAKE"
A Five-Part Mutual Masterplcture;
Also Mutual Weekly.
CIRCLE THEATER
The Blr Home Movie.
FOURTH AT WASHDfCTOX.
Continuous Performance.
Weekdays, 9 A. M. to It P. M.
Sundays, 13:15 to It P. M.
PROGRAMME CHANGED DAU.Y.
Every Klsht at 8 o'clock
(Except Saturday and Sunday).
T. and T. Como and Seo.
ADMISSION, FIVE CENTS.
city cannot increase its tax levy more
than 6 per cent unless specifically au
thorized by a majority of the legal
voters voting on the question. A writ
ten opinion of the City Attorney states
that this law would apply in the pres
ent case, as there Is no authorization
for additional expenditures included in
the proposed ordinance. It is obvious
that to increase the department by 92
men, the number suggested as suffi
cient by the advocates of the two
platoon system, a large part of the
$91,080 needed can be obtained only by
depriving other departments of their
normal Increase In expenditures. Un
less more than a proportional Increase
in the appropriation for fire depart
ment salaries, is allowed, provision can
be made for not more than one-third
the men claimed to be necessary to
maintain even the present inadequate
strength. Where, then. Is the money
to come from to pay the other men re
quired? The obvious answer to this is
that it will be necessary materially to
reduce the number of companies in
service. Or will it result In even worse
conditions, by dividing the already in
adequate force into two shifts, leaving
all companies so inadequately manned
as to seriously endanger the protection
of the city?
"But It must be remembered that
there are, even now, not enough com
panies In service, and that they are
seriously undermanned. The danger
arising from such a condition is so
serious that no thinking man or woman
who realizes the possible appalling loss,
both in property and lives, which might
easily occur from the lack of a suffi
cient fire force, - should sanction any
measure Increasing it. The present
state of war in this country, with its
consequent probability of incendiary
fires, adds another hazard that should
not be ignored.
Increased Cost Will Be S171.264.
"The number of men which It is pro
posed to add to the department, sup
posing the funds were available or
could be made available. Is below that
necessary to maintain the present
strength. In the estimate submitted by
the two-platoon committee no account
was taken of the one day off in six.
which the proposed amendment will
still give the men. They say that the
City Council can, pass an ordinance re
quiring them to work every day in the
year except the 15 days' vacation, but it
is doubtful if the City Council has tne
power to pass such an ordinance or
would pass It If they had the power.
The act to be voted on Includes the or
dinance granting the one day off In
six. and the act can only be changed
by another vote of the people, so that
the one day off in six is quite likely
to be a permanent institution. A writ
ten opinion of the City Attorney states
that under the proposed act the members
of the department are still entitled to
15 days' vacation and one day off in
six. With this In mind it is apparent
that instead of the 466 men which It
is claimed are all that are needed to
keep up the present minimum strength,
it will really require 76 men more, or
a total of 632. an Increase on regular
detail of 148 over the present force, and
25 more to take care of vacations, mak
ing a total Increase of 173. This would
mean an Increased cost to the city of
$171,264, making an expense for sal
aries alone for next year of about
$693,984, or approximately $2.78 for
every man, woman and child in the
city, based on an estimated population
of 250,000. This, however, does not al
low for unusual absences due to sick
ness, for which substitutes must be
employed.
Reserve Force Argument Answered.
"The number of men proposed by the
committee, but not specified in the act.
would seem to be equal to or in some
cases even slightly in excess of the
minimum required by the National
Board standards for day shifts, but no
account has been taken of the one day
off in six. It is argued that the off-
shift would give a reserve force of
trained men at time of serious nres.
but the provision In the act for the re
sponse of members of the off-shift Is
so worded as to require the members
to be notified In person that their serv
ices are needed, or they shall have ac
tual knowledge that great or unusual
danger exists. In a written opinion of
the City Attorney on this point he
says: . . . 'Before a fireman could
be held to answer for failure to re
spond to a call it would have to be
shown that he had actual knowledge,
or that actual notice had been given
to him in person, that a great and un
usual danger existed. It is obvious
how unsatisfactory such an arrange
ment would be and how impossible It
would be to serve personal notice to
the firemen, especially In the time of
serious conflagrations, when every
man is most urgently needed.
"The night strength under the pres
ent system is much greater than the
day, and this condition will always be
found in single-platoon systems, and
there Is good reason why this should
be so, as, for Instance, the greater dif
ficulty in combating night fires and
the likelihood of night fires acquiring
greater headway before discovery.
. "This is of great importance at all
times and of particular moment at the
present time, as during the night hours
will occur most of the malicious fires
resulting from the present critical con
ditions. "This need of a stronger night force
is Indorsed by a majority of fire chiefs,
as indicated by recent strongly ex
pressed opinions from chiefs in many
of the larger cities.
Important Matters Forgotten.
"Other features which have been
overlooked In the proposed two-platoon
system are: Provision for officers and
company members to make frequent
and periodic inspections of all im
portant buildings in the company dis
trict; provisions for regular drills of
all company members and provisions
for substitutes to take the places of all
members on sick, special leave and
days off.
"No arrangements have been made
for any of these Important features.
"The statement is made that the
chief can detail men from the day
force or temporarily from the night
force for inspection work, but the al
ready inadequate force would be still
further weakened to such an extent
that this course would be entirely in
advisable. The result of discontinuing
inspections undoubtedly would be an
increase in the number of fires and a
corresponding increase in fire losses.
Even with a full complement of men,
the two-platoon system will require
some modification to provide for neces
sary building inspection work. This
work cannot be adequately covered by
a separate force of inspectors, as one
of its prime advantages is the Intimate
knowledge It gives the firemen of local
building conditions a knowledge
necessary for good fire-fighting and
safety to the firemen. This inspection
work, unless the firemen under the
two-platoon system spend some of
their time off in Inspection work, will
necessitate adding one or more men
to the day shift of each of the high
value companies to relieve the man
making Inspections. The remarkable
work that is being done by the Port
land Fire Department and which under
the proposed two-platoon system will
of necessity be discontinued, is well
illustrated by the fact that in the two
years the Fire Prevention Bureau has
been In operation the number of fires
has been reduced from 1960 to 734,
the losses have been reduced from 11,
800,000 to $275,000, and the per capita
loss reduced from $6.78 to less than $1.
System Reduce Efficiency.
"While the two-platoon system in
itself may not be objectionable from
an efficiency standpoint if properly
organized, it cannot give equal service
without materially increasing the
number of men and the tendency to
keep the expenses as low as possible
has resulted in such meager provisions
for this increase that most fir depart-
he
Daily 11 A. M.
to 11 P. M.
TAR
Washington at Park
"V'
I. . ): Av'--
The House of
Hits.
A WORLD P I
Dfi.AOV MA
CARDfLE DLACKWELL
JJUNE ELVIDGE.
"The Social Leper
Cil Ixdudind A RT HUO. AiMLEV ,;
EVELYN GREELEY sVMOftlEl OJTftlCHE
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Bushing along; to a startling climax, this sensational story grips
with the first flash of the first reel and holds it without letting go
until the last reel ends. The acting in this attraction is superb.
All the way through the feature is marked by exceptional class.
See it and be supremely entertained.
Beginning
Next Sunday:
REGINA BADET
The Vampire of France
in
"ATONEMENT"
Also
LONESOME LUKE
in
"TIN CAN ALLEY."
A Scream.
D
On the Same Programme:
Mollie King in the Mysterious
"Mystery of the Double Cross."
Today, Friday and Saturday.
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ments where it has been introduced
have been materially reduced in
efficiency. A notable example of this
is the case of Pittsburg. Pa., where the
reduced efficiency of the fire depart
ment under the two-platoon system un
doubtedly contributed to an increased
loss at the most serious fire in the city
In several years.
"The elfect of outside Influence on
the discipline of the department is
already showing Itself in a pernicious
way. The -proposed law limits the au
thority of the fire chief in such essen
tial details as the number of men on
watch, hours of service, changes of
shift, etc., thus taking away some of
the most essential features of respon
sible management.
"In New York City the added hazard,
due to war conditions, has been rec
ognized by unusual precautions. The
days off for firemen have been re
duced to one day in seven and regular
members on days eff are not permitted
to leave the city without special per
mission. -An auxiliary force of volun
teers has been organized in certain
parts of the city, and all retired mem
bers who are able to perform duty
have been assigned to a reserve force
subject to call.
Portland Should TSot Experiment.
"Several of the Pacific Coast citie.
notably Los Angeles and San- B-iego,
are taking extraordinary precautions
to combat the expected increase in in
cendiary fires or other troubles which
are likely to arise during the present
unsettled state of the country.
"Thus, while other cities are endeav
oring to increase the efficiency of their
fire protection because of the abnormal
conditions, Portland Is proposing to ex
periment with a system which def
initely decreases the practical value of
each member of the force.
"With finances taxed to meet other
war-time emergencies, it is unlikely
that the city can provide a two-platoon
force adeauate to the protection of its
enormous values. Furthermore, a large
increase in untrained men would in
evitably prove a handicap to the de
partment. At a time wnen xne impor
tance of conserving both men and re
sources is plain to all. a plan necess
sitatlng a large increase of the force
rsniiireii to maintain previous stand
ards of protection is certainly inop
portune, and if poruana commns wn
to the two-platoon syptem it must
make prompt and adequate provision
for a large addition, to its f Is force
unless the city is to remain without
the proper protection."
Blind Regret Death of Clioate.
PARIS. May 23. Soldiers blinded in
the war held memorial services yester
day for the late Joseph 11. Choate, of
New York, at the Lighthouse for the
Blind, which was founded by New
York men and women under the leader
ship of Mr. Choate. A resolution of
sympathy was adopted and forwarded
to Mrs. Choate.
LAD WANTS EDUCATION
PLACE SOl'GHT WHERE BOY MAY
"WORK FOR BOARD.
Tom Duane Appeals to Home-Placing
Department f Juvenile Court
j for Assistance.
vFIfteen-j-ear-old Tom Duane, a
bright-eyed young chap in need of bet
ter clothes and of better borne sur
roundings, wants a chance to secure
an education. It has been a hard fight
for iom during the past few years
and there have been times when it
looked as though his school days were
over.
He appealed yesterday afternoon to
Will F. Spencer,' chief officer of the
home-placing department of the Juve
nile Court, for assistance in finding a
job In order that he might remain In
school. He wants to work in the
mornings, after school hours and in
the evenings. No work is too hard
for him; he is willing to tackle any
thing, for all he wants is enough to
make his way through life while se
curing an education which will lead to
better things.
Tom lost his mother when he was 7
years old. His father, according to
investigation by the Juvenile Court of
ficials, thought that the boy should
be at work instead of being in school.
His treatment of the boy was such as
to force the. lad to leave home, and he
is now facing the world alone.
Tom is in the eighth grade, and
neighbors In Holladay Addition sponsor
the boy with reference to his good
character and desire to better his con
dition. If there is any person who can assist
the boy in his longing to continue his
school work by giving him a Job be
fore and after school hours he is re
quested to communicate with Mr. Spen
cer at the Juvenile Court.
A. M. The active pallbearers will be
Irving Stearns. Dr. Splro Rargentich.
T. Morris Dunne. Robert Bain, John
crane ana James Twohy.
Mary Jane Roy and Mary Cain, the.
two young nurses who were in the of
flee of Dr. Fisher when Mrs. Fisher
committed suicide, have been released.
Nebraska Considers AVar Problems.
OMAHA. Neb.. May 23. The Nebraska
conservation congress for the purpose
of mobilizing the state's resources for
the war, opened a 3-day session here
last night. Two thousand delegates.
representing all organized civil, com.
merclal, farming and financial bodies
In the -tat were pre Rent
Will
Continue
All Week
by
Popular
Demand
'.4
William
Far-mum
in
"American Methods"
-New Pathe Weekly-
6000 Jackies in training at Chicago; Uncle Sam's first
naval dirigible; Boston Navy-Yard in action; New York
welcomes Balfour; Joffre inspects West Point Cadets.
New Process Combitone Colored Scenic
"THE APACHE TPvAIL"
Comedy
MRS. FISHER BURIED TODAY
Services for Woman Who Took Own
J A to to Be at Cathedral.
The funeral of Mrs. Hazel Fisher,
wife of Dr. Ralph Fisher, who com
mitted suicide in her husband's office
in -the Etlers building early Tuesday
morning, will be held this morning at
the Catholic Cathedral, corner of Fif
teenth and Davis streets. Father
Cronin will have charge of the serv
ices. The funeral cortege will leave the
chapel of J. P. Flnley & Son at 8:45
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3
Features
"JVJ" EMBER of the
Federal Reserve
since the beginning.
Resources
Eleven Million Dollars
War Bond Terms
Denominations, $50, $100 and
Upward
Interest, Zo
Payments Monthly
Bonds Negotiable
TTfnta
Northwestern
Bank
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Portland
Oregon
v Are you to blame ? Is the other woman to blame ?
Is the wife to blame ?
The erring husband you know him. He is everywhere. He
is your neighbour he is mine. He wooed and won a wife
and then forgot her. Is he wholly to blame ? Or was it that
his wife forgot to make his home happy, permitted the other
woman to come between ? In
The Neglected Wife
Fathe has put the problem of the day into the motion picture
serial of the year. Ruth RoIanfJ
the charming, the talented, makes the other woman live for you.
Roland Bottomley plays the erring husband. Mabel Herbert
Urner wrote this great life drama. That's an assurance that it will
interest you. The Pathe trademark is a guarantee of its merit.
Presented by Pathe at Pantages.
Produced by Balboa
. f Produced by Balboa t" T - V 1
Life's greatest problem is that of the neglected
wife, the erring husband, tho other woman.
What is the solution of this problem ?
$1000 will be yours if you give the best solution.
$ 500 will be paid for tbe next best solution.
$1ftfl be paid to each of tbe five pcr-
XUU sons who give tbo next best solutions.
Write us what you think is the best solution to
the problem, using one side of the paper only and
confining yourself to not more than 300 words.
Your answer will not have to correspond to the
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Your idea may win one of these prizes t
Address your solution t Contest Department,
Fathe Exchange.
S92 Burnside St.. Portland, Oregon.
No replies considered after Angust 13th, 1917.
Vice President & General Manager,
PATHE EXCHANGE,Incorporated