Hearing on Two Platoon for New York

Hearing on Two Platoon for New York

The hearing on the ordinance providing for the adoption of the two-platoon system in the New York fire department, before the committee on laws and legislation of the board of aldermen at the city hall last Friday afternoon, was something approximating a riot. The aldermanic chamber was crowded, with advocates of this system and some 150 uniformed firemen. Many women were in the gallery. On the balcony railing were hung many pennants with the words “Two Platoons” in red letters. When the hearing was called to order Fire Commissioner Johnson, noting the firemen present, said in loud tones: ."This is a demonstration against the constituted authority. The law forbids a uniformed city employe to take part at an aldermanic hearing on a measure concerning the discipline of his department. I order every man in uniform to leave the chamber and report to Chief Kenlon in the corridor. Every man who does not do so will have charges preferred against him.” There was a stampede of bluecoats, and every man reported to Chief Kenlon, who ordered them to return at once to their stations. They immediately did so.

The commissioner’s order was greeted with hisses and jeers, principally from the gallery, which caused him to say: “This shows what the discipline of the department is coming to under the leadership of a dismissed fireman.”