Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-08
HOUSE RAISES RATES
Increases Pay OF the Cross
ing Policemen.
MANN OPPOSES THE BILL
csiticises Course Of the District
Committee.
ANIMATED DEBATE FOLLOWS
Policy Of Increasing Salaries Of EN-
ployes Of Corporations
Attacked.
MANN OPPOSES THE BILL
ANIMATED DEBATE FOLLOWS

Tho District Of Columbia appropriation
blu. 10 be reported this week, contains
not single increase Of salary indig-
nantly remarked Representative James r.
Mann OF Illinois. the minority leader, on
the floor OF the House today during con-
sideration Of the bill called up by Chair
man johnson of the District committee,
proposing to increase the pay OF crossing
policemen TO the rate now received by
members OF the regular force. cit is to
be the policy Of the majority party In the
House." Mr.. Mann continued. ITO give no
increases Of salary, no matter how we'll
deserved they may be-"
This was but one OF the exchanges in
the lively debate that preceded the
passage OF the crossing policemen's
RELIEF measure by viva voce vote. Just
previously Mr.. Mann had made an un-
successful attempt to Kill the bill by
moving to strike out its enacting
clause. The vote was twenty-six In
the affirmative and forty in the mega
tive. Then the measure went through
without division.
The crossing policemen's bill was intro
duced by Representative Patten Of New
able Endorsement Of the District commit
tee. 1t amends the act relating to the
posting of special policemen at street
railway crossings and at intersections in
the city by providing that the special
policemen shall receive as compensation
Tor their services q sum equal to the sal
airy received by regular members Of the
metropolitan police force Of the District
OF Columbia (who have served the same
length Of ttme), payable I'm equal monthly
in Tha. nt.u as heretofore provided
sick leave and twenty days annual
leave, and in fixing said salaries credit
shall be given said special policemen
for the time they have served in such
in the same manner as is now
or may hereafter be given to regular
members OF the Metropolitan police
force.
Chairman johnson, in urging the pas
sage of the bill, declared that the
crossing policeman performed more
arduous duties than the regular police
man and yet received less money.
Paid by Car Companies.
Representative Mann OF Illinois inquired.
1.-The street railroads." Mr.. Johnson re-
piled.
Then they are not the servants of
the government"
They have been given all the author
ity Of regular policeman" said Mr.. John
son.
10 you Think Mr.. Madden asked,
that Congress should regulate the pay
Of employees of a private corporation?"
. Congress has done SO heretofore" Mr..
Johnson responded. The question Is
this: The regular policemen are either
n n n 70 mai
little fIr-s ;.
Mr.. johnson directed attention to the
fact that no attempt was made In the
bill under discussion to place the crossing
fund. Representative Cullop OF Indiana
expressed the opinion that Congress
should not prescribe the rates of pay Of
employees Of private corporations.
Mr.. Johnson responded with the sug-
gestion that 1t would be a good thing for
Congress to limit the salaries paid the
officers Of some of these corporations.
Representative Crumpacker OF Indiana
asked Mr.. Johnson IL the crossing police
man shared the hazards and dangers in
the duties Of q regular policeman.
my contention is" the District chair
man responded, that these special police
men do three times as much as the regu-
lar men,
HAS any objection to this bill been
made by the street car companies?" Mr..
Of the District committee. inquired.
II have heard of none" Mr.. Johnson re-
piled.
Criticises District Committee.
Then Minority Leader Mann took the
hoor. He began by criticising the Dis
trtct committee for not putting any in
into, its report on the bill.
'Of course" he remarked, sarcastically,
no one would expect the House to be
guided by the opinions Of the District
and vet their views on
Dill submitted to them for opinion should
De included in the report Of the District
committee on that measure. I cannot
lgree that these policemen work under |
he same hazardous condition thai the |
policeman does.
have lived here in Washington
fifteen years, and II 1t had not been
or the annual appearance Of this bill, |
would not know that there was a |
policeman in the District Of |
Columbia. This proposition is simply |
me to give the crossing policeman an |
Increase because of the fact that they
re not paid out of the general treas |
lry. I would prefer to give the postal |
living IT to somebody paid by some- |
ody else.
why should we be more generous to the
mployes Of q private corporation than
the employees Of the United States gov
rnmept? We want to raise the pay Of /
he crossing policeman whose money doesI
OF come out of the federal Treasury and
eep down the pay Of the charwoman,
hose compensation does"
No Salaries Increased.
1t was at this point that Mr. Mann
lade his reference to the District appro-
Ration bill. to be reported to the House
nd taken up for consideration this week.
18th the comment that member of the
nbcommittee which prepared 1t had in
ormed him the bill did not allow Q single
lcrease Of salary to any employee Of the
district government.
Representative Madden resumed his at
sck on the measure, claiming Congress
ad no right to fix the compensation OF
nployes OF private corporations. *
IF the District committee of this House Is
eally wishes to do something justifi-
ble." he said. '1et 1t report a bill fixing
lie amount to be paid into the Treasury
anually by the public service corpora
ons of this city"
After Mr. Mann's motion to strike out
le enacting clause OF the bill had been
,feated the measure was put through.
'.Loan-Shark" Bill Called Up.