Evening star., 1916-05-02
House D. C.. Committee Rec
ommends Wage Increase for
Metropolitan Force.
PENSIONS MEASURE TO BE
CONSIDERED NEXT FRIDAY
House Body, at Meeting Today, Also
Decides to Discuss Loan Shark
Law Then.

Firemen's and police pensions will he
considered at a special meeting of the
House District committee Friday night,
and the Page loan shark bill will be
taken up at the same meeting, accord
ing to action taken by the committee
at its regular meeting today. Senator
Smiths bill to increase the salary basis
of the police force was given a favor
able report, also the two bills for the
relief of S. S. Yoder and James T. Petty
The action in regard to the pensions
for policemen and firemen was con-
sidered to be the most important by
members of the committee. Recent in
quiries by members of both the police
and fire departments led many of them
to believe no report on either bill would
be forthcoming at this session of Con-
gress.
Indeed, the mere calling of a special
meeting to consider the matter does
not definitely foreshadow a favorable
report even now. Strong opposition will
he expressed in the committee to any
favorable action. Meantime the news
of the meeting for Friday night spread
rapidly, and efforts by firemen and po-
| licemen to influence their friends In
Congress to stand by the pension bills
were started.
Loan Shark Bill Included.
Representative Vinson Of Georgia
made the motion for the special meet
ing to cover the pension legislation
only. Representative Mapes immediate
ly coupled with it the Page loan shark
bill This measure has the backing of
many influential social workers in the
District. and is framed to allow RENE
dial loan companies to do business here
at per cent a month, instead of ] per
cent month as at present. 1t Is
claimed that the present rigid act has
put loan companies out OF business en-
tirely, and that there are many persons
who suffer through the inconvenience
of not being able to borrow small sums.
The rate of per cent month is pro-
posed in the bill by Representative
Page of North Carolina as a compro-
mise between the l per cent of the
present law and the per cent of the
act which has been superseded by pres
ent conditions.
The Smith bill makes the police
mans lot a much happier one in the
District of Columbia by raising salaries
and by reducing the limit of service
through which private must pass be-
fore he is eligible for the higher
grades.
1t proposes an increase in the sal
aries of captains from $1,000 to $4,000;
inspectors, $1,000 to $4,000; lieutenants
s1,320 to $1,000; sergeants, s1,250 to
81. 400. An increase of $50 is allowed
to mounted men. making the total
extra compensation for this class 5000
Promotions in the private ranks would
be more frequent under the Smith bill
Probable Course of Opposition.
1t is possible that the members of
the committee opposed to the idea of
pensions for policemen will claim that
the passage of the Smith bill is enough
for the police force at this time.
The bill for the relief of S. S. Yoder.
reported favorably, arises out of the
claim of DR.. Yoder that he put up 81 900
as a guarantee in connection with Ger
tain work along the right of way of
the Washington, Spa Springs and Gret-
ia railroad which should have been re-
paid to him.
The bill for the relief of James T
Petty provides for the repayment to
Mr.. Petty money expended by him and
others in connection with the Watson
defalcation at the District building sew
eral years ago. The bill passed the
House in the last Congress-