Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-01
FIRE DEP AR 7 N { Mt
Large Increase Asked by Chief
Belt
FOR ANOTHER YEAR
ESTIMATES FURNISHED THE DIS
TRICT COMMISSIONERS.
Report of the Work for Twelve
Months Recently Closed-The
Details.

A largely Increased fire department Will De
provided for the District If the measures
advocated in the annual estimate of Chie1
Engineer Belt, submitted to the Commits
sioners today, meet the favor of the Com
missioners and of Congress. More than
1884, O00 increase in salaries, in equipment
and in miscellaneous improvements to the
service is asked for by the chief engineer
to conduct his department during the fiscal
year ending June 80 1907, this amount rep
resenting only little less than double the
appropriation under which the fire service
is being maintained this year.
In his recapitulation Chief Belt thus sum-
marizes the financial part of the fire depart
ment situation
Salaries. 1896. 1850; 1907. s426O7O; in
crease. 500 2lO. Miscellaneous. 1896, 1890;
1867, $lGJ,36O increase, So, 900. Increase
fire department, 1896, $40 100; 1907. 1906 900;
increase, s276CO0. Totals, 1906. SAT $50;
1907, $S42 O3O; increase 1854 TO.
AS explanatory note he catches the
following:
I'm these estimates there is recommended
an increase in salary for all of the MEM
bers of the department. The increases are
recommended because of the fact that this
department, in comparison with other fire
departments of the United States, is
salaries now paid to the members of the
department are SO small that the men find
1t difficult problem to make both ends
meet and each year the city has grown
and the work of the department has in
creased. but the salaries have not increased
with the work. The cost of living IS very
high, and the money earned by the men,
berS of the department is not sufficient to
meet the demands upon 1t when 1t is con-
sidered that the members have to buy sum-
mer, winter and dress uniforms, caps hats,
belts. boots, running pants and running
coats
In comparison with New York Chicago,
Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit,
Milwaukee and other cities. the salaries
paid to Washington fremen are very
small
Salary Of the Chief.
In the line of salaries Chief Belt asks an
additional s1,CC0 per year for himself, max
ing his remuneration So, 500. For his deputy
/ he seeks a like increase, making the latter's
salary $500. The three battalion chief
engineers are now drawing 81 200 Chief
Belt asks an additional $500 for each of
them explaining, as he does So that each
of these men is responsible for the correct
conduct of the companies under their re-
spective care and also for the prompt ex-
tinguishing of fires. The office work has
materially increased Chief Belt also de-
clares, and he estimates 81. 400, instead of
$1,000, for his clerk for next year, and fur
ther, he soIclts provision for an additional
| clerk at salary of $1,000. A private is
now detailed to perform the duties to which
II is intended to assign this new clerk
and If the clerk is allowed the private will
DE returned to his company
Inc hre marshal is now paid 81 600 After
emphasizing the Importance of the mar
stal S duties, Chief Belt asks that the Office
be made worth $1,000 and further recon-
mends that the office of deputy fire mar
| shall be established and 81 400 provided to
pay Its incumbent, the duties of this new
olncer pe1ng to keep a record of all fires
The department has instituted a system
OF inspecting all merchantile houses hotels
theaters etc.. the chief continues this
work being conducted entirely by the fire
marshal and the officer detailed to assist
MIN After explaining that with four new
inspectors to take up such work far more
pereht could be accomplished. Chief Belt
| asks that S.Oso be appropriated as an
annual salary for each of such a quartet
For the department machinist an in
| crease in salary of 500 is deemed common
! surate with the duties he performs This
| official now draws 81 900. The chief would
| also have one assistant machinist created
| and pay him 81 200
-Four hundred dollars more per wear for
| eacn OF the Twenty-Five captains of the de-
| partment would make the annual OUTLAY
| for them alone $4,000 instead of o9.Oc0. as
| at present.
Other Salary Chanuac