Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
LACK OF FUNDS IN WAY
STATE OF DISTRICT FINANCES
FoRBIDs FAVORABLE REPORT.
The Commissioners Unable to Indorse
Bill for Grading and Increase
of Police Salaries.

Once again the present condition of the
Districts finances" interposes as an OBJ
stacle to the Commissioners recommending
favorable action on legislation for the Dis
trict which they deem necessary and
proper. In the case in point the condition
of the finances of the District will prevent
the Commissioners from recommending IA
vorable action on the bill for the grading
and increasing OF the annual salaries to be
paid to privates of the metropolitan police
force
The effect of the bin, if enacted, it is esti-
mated will raise the annual pay roll of the
police department to- s7e6. ESQ, an increase
over the amount now paid annually to the.
police force of SOS, $50.
Several weeks ago Major Sylvester for
warded to the Commissioners the draft of
a bill providing tina 1.-THE privates of the
District police force be divided into three
classes-class 1. class 2 and class 3-who
should receive compensation as follows
Privates of class 1, $500 a year; class 2,
81 $50 a year, and class 8, 81 200 a year
Privates from class 1 were to be promoted
to class after two years service, and
promotions from class to class 3 should
be made after five years service.
Mr.. Vests Recommendation.
A bill embodying the legislation proposed
was introduced in the House by Repre-
sentative Morrell, and transmitted to the
Commissioners for report Commissioner
west, who has charge of the police depart
ment todd recommended that the Com
missioners report to the Senate and House
District committees follows on the bill
THAT the Commissioners are naturally
gratified at any effort which is made to in
crease the compensation of the police force
of the District which deservedly stands
very high among similar organizations in
the United States. An investigation as to
the cost of enacting this bill into law
shows that there are l2s policemen who
have served less than two years, and who
would therefore be entitled to 800 year;
that there are al who have served more
than two years and less than five years.
and who therefore would be entitled to
81 ESQ per annum, and 1856 who have served
more than five years, and who would there
fore draw a proposed maximum salary of
81 900 a year.
Consequently, if the proposed bill should
become law, 1t would require the payment
of $7O6 $50 a year for police salaries The.
increase proposed by this bill over the pres
ent. salaries paid to privates of the police
force would be $9S2S0.
Not Wise at This Time.
while the Commissioners believe that
the proposed reorganization of the force
would afford deserved promotion to the
men who have served it so long and so
faithfully, they do lot deem it wise at this
time, in view of the state of the District
finances, to recommend favorable action;
but hope that some opportunity will pre-
sent itself in the future when the proposed
increase will commend Itself to the favor
able consideration of Congress-
Under existing conditions it seems there
will be no action during the present session
of Congress increasing the salaries of the
privates in the metropolitan police force