Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-06
Mr.. Macfarland's Argument.

The members of the fire department are
the poorest paid of the municipal servants"
said Mr.. Macfarland. They are not only
paid less than the members of fire depart
ments In large cities elsewhere, but they
are paid less proportionately than other
municipal servants here, and grade for
grade, less than the members of the police
department under present law. The serv-
ice of the fireman is continuous, eXacting
and extra hazardous. He must live at the
fire station, except for his meals and his
one day off out of five. and even then is
subject to call. Practically he has almost
no home life. He is on duty night and day.
Every time he answers an alarm he takes
his life In his hand, and any hour may
face death. He is not only affected, like
all municipal servants, by the rise in the
cost of living, but must provide summer,
winter and dress uniforms, including fire
hats and all other accessories to meet tNe
requirements of neatness and protection
from water smoke and fire. Required to
keep their families within a reasonable dis
tance of the houses to which they are as
they must often pay higher rents than
would otherwise be necessary They must
pay dollar a month into the pension fund.
The Proposed Increases.
Regarding the proposed increases the
Commissioner said:
This bill increases captains from $1,000
to 81 400 lieutenants from $500 to $1,000,
engineers from $1,000 to $1.150, assistant
engineers from $500 to 81 100, drivers from
$500 to 81, 100, privates, senior, or class two,
/ from $500 to $1,0S0; privates, class one,
from $72O to $3.50. The chief engineer Is IN
creased from 81, 500 to $500, deputy chief
engineer from 81, 1,5Oo to $500, battalion
chief engineers from 81 200 to $1,000, fire
marshal from 81, 600 to $1,000. For he pro-
posed superintendent salary OF S4,000 Is
suggested although the fire commissioners
f,F yorly patS END the fire commits
sioner of Boston, 5000, and similar salaries
are paid elsewhere. 1t is believed that the
superintendent's salary would be more than
saved by trained business executive III
that place.
Mr. Macfarland pointed out that the ex-
penditures for the District fire department
were below the average of 115 cities re-
ported in table AZ, census bulletin NO. 70
1905 which states their average per capita
expense at 81 33 and the per capita expense
of the District at $1.23
Living Expenses Here.
Chief Engineer Belt indorsed Mr.. Macfar-
| lands remarks. supplementing the facts
presented by the Commissioner with addf-
tional information to the personnel of
the force
Battalion Chief Henry told the committee
how largely living expenses in the District
had increased in the past ten years, and
said it was all member of the fire depart
HenI cOulQ 90 at the present time, even Dy
practicing the most rigid economy, to make
both ends meet Ftremen were compelled,
Mr.. Henry said, to provide themselves with
$75 outfit when they became members OF
the force.
| At all times they were obliged to keep
themselves supplied with dress. fatigue and
freffghting uniforms, boots, 1eggins and
other accessories needed in the performance
of their duties. The cost of these things
aggregated more than s100, year in and year
out, Chief Henry said
He told the committee that six-room
house in a respectable neighborhood could
not be rented for less than $40 or s25 a
month. and in this connection he did not
believe the citizens of the national capital
wanted their firefighters to live In alleys or
In the slums. Ninety per cent of the force
was made up, Chief Henry said. of married
men.
Capt William H. Lanahan told the sub
committee that he paid S21 a month for
house rent and $40 month for groceries,
leaving out of his salary of So a month
just SO to clothe himself, his wife and
three children, pay for gas and fuel and
provide for emergencies.
Capt. j. T. Young said that he had fam
lily of seven, and that even by practicing
the most rigid economy he had difficulty in
making both ends meet out of his salary of
S82 month.