The Washington times., 1902-08-13

Mr.. R. w. Dutton, Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department, Yesterday forwarded to
the District Commissioners his estimates
for the expenses of the department for
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1904. Mr..
Dutton requests the aggregate sum OF
S439, ,22O for the years expenses-for sal
aries. s275. 800: for miscellaneous eXpen-
ses. $50. 1850: and for the increase of the
department. SS3,5OO. The total is $50, 1870
in excess of the estimates made for the
present fiscal year. The salary estimates
and explanations, as given by Chief Dut-
ton, are:
Titles are Changed
For superintendent. now the Chief En-
gineer, $500; present salary, $4,000.
Since May /, 1901, the Chief Engineer.
the ranking officer of the department,
has been charged merely with its exec
utive work and management. Hence
the recommended chance of title.
For chief engineer, 81 900, the salary
now being $1,000. Since May /, 1901, the
senior assistant chief engineer of the de-
partment has been its chief fire. fighting
officer. and because of his long service,
excellent record and abilities, the in
crease of salary is recommended
For three assistant chief engineers. at
$500 each. an increase of one and ad-
vance in SALARIES of two of $500 each.
The amount appropriated for these sala-
ries is s2.400.
Clerk Has More Work.
For one clerk, $1,000; present salar,
$1,000. Years ago. when the department
was not more than half as large as it is
today, it had. as now, one clerk. While
the department has doubled in size since
then the amount of clerical work now
required to be done has increased four
fold at least.
For the Fire Marshal. $1,000; present
salary $1,000 The work and respoash
bilities of this officer have been added
TO year by year, until he now occupies
enc OF the most important and respon-
sible positions under the District gov
ernment, and the increase of salary rec
commended is not believed to be dispro-
portionate to his increased labors and
responsibilities.
Machinist Kept Busy.
For machinist, sl,2OO. an increase of
5000. The nlachiEist, or master me-
chanic of the department is held re-
sponsible for the proper working con-
dition of its apparatus. He is subject to
duty day and night the year around and
the salary now paid him is less than
that of an ordinary mechanic.
For twenty-six foremen. at $1,000
each. an increase of one Ito command
the truck company to be located in the
southeastern section of the city,, an
increase OF 5000 each; aggregate in
crease cf $500.
The foremen of the department re-
coive the same pay today they have
reCcivcd fer thirty-two years. They
ere mt who have spent, as a rule,
the Bcsi part of their lives in the de-
partment
For fourteen engineers. at s., 600 EACH
$4,000; for fourteen fremen, at $500
each. sl2 500; for twenty-six assistant
foremen new positions created). at $500
each, s23. 400. While there is no such
officer OF the department in law as an
assistant foreman. TO every company is
assigned under the authority Of the
rules and regulations governing the de-
partment, such an officer. He assumes.
in the absence of the foreman, not only
all the responsibilities of that officer.
He receives $50 per annum, except in
the truck companies. In these com
panies he is both assistant foreman and
tillerman. The tillerman is not only
recognized by law, but also receives
$500 per annum. Therefore. there exists
this rather unjust condition: The as
sistant foremen of truck companies re-
ceive 5000 per annum and the assistant
CF eyir md oh,
panies receive but $40. The appro-
priation of s23. 400 for the twenty-six
assistant foremen really means an in
crease of but Sl040 for there should
be deducted from the apparent increase
of $4,000 the sum Of $500 for seven
tiilermen Zone for the truck company
to be located in Southeast Washington
and six now in seryiceI, and $15.9 for
the nineteen privates now serving as
assistant foremen. Should this item
for twenty-six assistant foremen be not
approved. then there should be one in
serted for seven tillermen, at $500
Sc. 900.
For twenty-seven drivers, at $500 each
an increase OF one, for the truck COM
panv in Southeast Washington. S2i. 300.
Fewer Privates Needed.
For 167 privates, at $40 each. re-
duction OF three, OF 81, ,52O SI42 800. The
promotion of nineteen privates to be as
sistant foremen would provide a suffi-
eient number to man the new truck com
pany and strengthen existing companies.
Should the item for twenty-six assistant
foremen be not favorably considered.
there should be provided ls6 privates in
stead OF the 167 now recommended.
For tventy-six watchmen. at $500. an
increase of one, for the truck company
in Southeast Washington, S15.500.
For one laborer, $3.50.
Stableman is Employed.
For one stableman, new, $500. The
stable for the department has been com
pleted and occupied for several months,
and II has been necessary to detail
private to take charge of it in the alb
sence OF provision for a stableman
The aggregate of salaries is 1926. 800.
as against s247 .2s0 carried in the appro-
priatiors bill for the present fiscal
year, showing an increase of $2S,0 $50.
From the above statement" saws
Chief Dutton. 1T will be seen that the
amount estimated for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1904, s439 .220. exceeds
the current appropriation for the main