Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-27
Local Fire Department Needs
Three Quarters of a Million.
ESTIMATES SUBMITTED
CHIEF BELT ASKS FOR INCREASE
OF $780, 4o OVER LAST YEAR.
Seven New Engine Houses Requested
General Increase in Salaries-More
Privates and Watchmen.

An increase Of 500. 40 over the current
appropriation for the District fire depart
ment is requested by Chief Engineer Will
lam T. Belt In his estimate of funds neces-
sary to run the department. during the
fiscal year 1906. which was submitted to
Commissioner mcfarland today. or this
increase S6O.5+o is requested for increases
in salaries of members of the department.
S26.Op for miscellaneous expenses ana
Sl6l91O for additional equipment, engine
companies and fire engine houses.
Prominent among the items which call
for an increased appropriation is an addi-
ticnal 500 per annum recommended In the
salaries of each of the three battalion
chief engineers. They now get $1,000 and
81 800 is asked.
These officers says the report, are
not only the poorest paid officers in the
District of Columbia fire department but
of any Other fire department in the United
States in proportion to the amount OF re-
spoHsibities devolved upon them. To
each battalion is assigned not less than
one hundred men, and this officer Is respon-
sble for them, as we'll as the quarters and
the manner in which fires are extinguished
by them.
They are men who have devoted their
lives to the eNtinguishment of fire and
have served the District of Columbia faith
fully. herce their promotions and the de-
paitment believes they should be recoS-
nized by an increase in salary.
Am increase is asked in the salary of the
clerk from 81 900 to S1.2a0. and one new
clerk is requested at Sl.Op. 1t is recon-
mCnded to increase the salary of the fire
marshal from 81 600 to 81 800.
The responsibilities of this Office says
the report, have increased to such an ex-
tent that it is cons dered not only one of
he imnprtapt offices in the fire de-
partment. but in the District government
The present officer. since his appoin tment.
has worked faithfully. endeavoring. 1t is
believed in every instance to see that the
resula lions providing for the protection of
life and property against fire were being
observed 1t il the opinion of the depart
ment that the recommended increase is in
accordance with the duties performed.
Chief Belt asks for deputy fire marshal.
to be paid 81 W.. Relative to this item. the
report says
1t has been necessary for the fire depart
ment to detail one of its captains at fire
department headquarters to assist the fire
marshal in the discharge OF his duties. the
work having increased TO such an extent in
that office that it was found To be more than
one man could possibly accomplish. The
inspection of merchantile houses. hotels.
theaters. apartment houses together with
ire investigation of complaints against fire
hazard. issuing permits. both for the stor-
age and sale of infammable oils and fire
works, and numerous other duties have to
he attended to at once. Should this office
be allowed, the captain now detailed to
perform such duty will be returned to again
assume command of his company"
An increase in the salary of a machinist
estimates.
Captains Taken Care OF.
The captains are we'll taken care of. and
two additional officers OF this class are re-
Quested. one for the new fire boat and the
q her
u the report, these captains. or rather the
position of captain has not been increased
In remuneration for thirty four years Chief
Belt asks that they be given 81 200 instead
vi 81 pp. TWO pilots, at 81. 100 are request
Ell Three new lieutenants are needed and
P,"NiSioh Is made to increase the salaries of
an .nls Grass or officers to 1850 per annum
'tner mel dSed salary items follow.
Nineteen engineers at 81 2OO each an in
CltdSe or three; one for the engine COM
pthy To be located in Southeast Washing
soi'' one tor the engine to be installed at
40. L chemical engine company and one
Tor the proposed Ell CINE at Tenleytown. and
an increase in salaries for sixteen of $50
each per year
The department recently converted the
'Itiiiical engine company located on ID
street near 18th into an engine company
anu II respectfully requests that it be al
l""ed an engineer for that company Should
Jhr engine be allowed for TenleytoWn il
VIII OF course require an engineer The in
crease In salary is asked for the reason
mat the department. believes it is in ac-
CDrdance with the duties performed
Nineteen assistant engineers at $1,000
each. an Increase of three: one for the pro-
posed engine at Trnleytown: one for the
engine company recently installed at No l
chemical engine house and the other for
the engine company to be located at South
east Washington and an increase in sal
arieS of 500 each for sixteen
The assistant engineer Is charged with
a ha pnfsin IN, ha
absence OF the engineer, and it is respect
fully submitted that he should receive more
pay than that of a private.
One marine engineer, Sl2OO The fire
beat VIII. of coulse, require such an officer
one assistant marine engineer. $1,000.
The officer is recommended for the reason
that the marine engineer cannot. of course.
be on duty at all times, and he will have
To have some one to relieve him.
Thirty drivers at 81. 900 each. an increase
of two. for the engine company to be
located at Southeast Washington and one
for the pro-truck provided for Congress
Heights. and an increase In salaries for
twenty of 500 each per year.
The drivers OF the department only re-
ceive the pay of "A private. Notwithstanding
the act that their duties IA great deal
more. they being charged with the care of
the horses and also the responsibility of
seeing that every care Is taken of them
and their petty diseases treated. In fact,
the driver OF company has the most ardu-
Gus position in the department. yet he only
receives the pay of private.
More Privates Needed.
"One hundred and ninety mine privates at
500 each. an increase of 20: for the en-
glne company to be located in Southeast
Washington. IL for the fireboat and for
the house In Tcnleytown where the pro-
posed engine is to be located. l respectful
ly recommend that these prvates be rated
as 'priVates class one
Thirty watchmen at $T2O each an in
crease of 3; for the engine company to be
located in Southeast Washington, 1 for the
hrehoat and the other for the house In
Terlcytown where the proposed engine is to
be located. | respectfully recommend that
the title of the watchmen be changed 20
that AZ 'privates. class two
Two laborers at $3.50 each. increase
of l. The additional laborer Is needed at
departments stable. where the reserve
horses and those that are sick are being
kept
"One superintendent of stable. 800 There
should be a man in charge of the depart
ments stable who has thorough knowledge
or horses their habits and petty diseases.
He should also be able to instruct the
laborers in breaking In the horses to run
out or their stalls the striking of tie
to their places al IA rat rms