Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-24
Commissioners Pleased With
Appropriation Bill.
SOME ITEMS OMITTED
EFFORT TO BE MADE TO HAVE
THEM RESTORED.
Citizens Oppose the Provision for
Housing Police Court in
Municipal Building.

The District Commissioners are very
much gratifed that the House committee
appropriations needed their recommen-
dations in so many instances, especially in
providing for the continuance of public
works and increasing salaries in the fire
and police departments and in the public
schools. The Commissioners state that the
bill reported yesterday is the most liberal
that has ever emerged from the committee,
and they are pleased with the response
made by the appropriations committee to
their requests on behalf of the District.
The House committee. however, cut out
of the bill number of items which the
District authorities regard as very import
ant, and it is understood that when the
bill goes to the Senate the Commissioners
will appear before the Senate committee
and present all the recommendations and
items which were formerly presented to
the House committee and make an earnest
effort to secure the adoption by the Senate
committee of the recommendations made
before the committee of the House.
Commissioner Mcfarland. who has SUI
pervision of the District fire department,
is especially gratified at the action of the
House committee in making so many OF The
increases in salaries which the Commission
ers recommended in the fire department,
and also by the increase in the salary of
Ine CnlSI engineer, winch tney expected 10
recommend later on. after the salaries of
the Subordinates had been increased.
For the past three years the Commission
ers have been making a special effort to
secure increases in the salaries of the fire
department. Two years ago they secured
a fifteen per cent increase in the pay of
the privates, but the general range of pay
in the department is lower than in any
department of similar Importance elsewhere
and lower than the pay for similar grades
In the police department here.
The Recommendation.
The Commissioners recommended this
year. as before that there should be
assistant chief engineer at 81 800, and three
assistant chief engineers at 81, 400. instead
of three assistant chief engineers at 81 200.
and one acting chief engineer a foreman, at
$1,000 These would correspond with the
captain and assistant superintendent paid
N,Oo and four captains paid 81, 800 in the
police department.. The committee has rec
commended. changing names somewhat, a
deputy chief engineer at S1,5O0, and three
battalion chief engineers at 81 eco.
The Commissioners asked that the fore
men should be increased from $1,000 to
81 go each corresponding with the lieuten-
ants of the police department, who are paid
S1,32O. The committee has given them the
very good title of captains, without increas-
Ing their pay. The Commissioners recon-
mended that the privates detailed as assist
ant foremen, receiving $40, should be given
the status of assistant foremen and the
salaries of $50 EACH corresponding with
the sergeants of the police department at
$l,l40 The committee gave these men the
very good title of lieutenants and increased
their pay from $40 to $500.
The Commissioners recommended an in
crease In the pay of engineers from $1,000
to N.1O, which the committee did not
grant and the Commissioners recommend
ed an increase in the pay. of the firemen or
assistant engineers from 500 to $1,000, and
the committee gave them the title of assist
ant engineers, but did not increase their
pay. The committee did not increase the
pay OF the drivers from 500 to 81 600 but
they did increase the pay of the privates
from SSfO to 500; the Commissioners had
recommended $3.50 The privates in the DO
ice department, class one, receive $500:
class two, 81 ,OSO
The committee granted the Commission
pay of watchmen from 5000 to 500 statinn
k Zee in the police department receiving
Committee Was Generous.
The committee granted all the recon-
mendatlons of the Commissioners for in
crease or the force SO as to man the new
engine house in Southwest Washington
the steam fire engine which the Commits
sioners asked for BrookIand, and the
hook and ladder truck which thew asked
Tor Congress Heights, which apparatus the
committee granted. together with the
steam nre engine and the combination
chemical engine and hose wagon for
southwest Washington The COMMITTEES
also granted the recommendation of the
commissioners for house and furniture
t TOT new engine company on a lot owned
by the government near the navy yard In.
addition, the committee granted increases
asked Tor by the Commissioners in the
general appropriations for the mainten-
ance of the fire department
The recommendation of the Commits
sloners Tor a business superintendent of
the IRE department was not made this
year in the estimates but in a senarate
bill which is still before the approDriations
committee, and upon which the Commits
sloners VIII ask hearing later although
.ney look occasion, when they were dis
cusslng the estimates to present the arpu-
ment Tor the provision of a superintendent
mere TO correspond with the fire Commits
sloner at the head of every other import
ant nre department in the country who
olrects It's business affairs and general adj
ministration. "O
Commissioners Pleased.
Commissioner West. who has CHARGE -,
the police department. expressed his graft
ncation that the House committee had ra
sponded to the Commissioners reoue.ts
Tor increased salaries in the police depart-
ment The committee gave the department
an additional lieutenant for the new pre-
clnct IN Anacostia. The Commissioners
asked for one new lieutenant and three
sergeants for that precinct. The commit
Tee did not authorize the appointment of
the three sergeants. the number usually al
lowed TO each precinct. This matter will he
brought TO the attention of the Senate COM
nlttee on appropriations and an effort will
De made to secure the authority for the an
polntment of three sergeants for Anaeostia
The committee also granted the Commits
sloners request for the increases in saIa-
rles or the forty policemen whose appoint.
ments. at St20 each, were authorized last
year: Twenty of the privates will be placed
on the rolls at $500 year and twenty at
S1,0S0 each.
Col. John Biddle. Engineer Commissioner
stated that he is pleased over the appro,
priations granted for continuing the public
works. and especially for the appropriation
OF $4,000 for the rebuilding Of the Ana
costa bridge across the Potomac This
structure has been considered as in an al
most unsafe condition and for several years
efforts have been made to secure an appro-
priation for its reconstruction.
Hope to Secure These Items.
Among other things the Commissioners
hope to secure from the Senate committee
is the high pressure water mains through
the heart OF the city for protection from
fire. Three years ago the Commissioners
included an item for this Improvement in
a eat9 r~R~. g.