The sun., 1918-07-20
POLICEMEN WIN
PAY INCREASES
Men and Matrons Under the
1900 Limit, as Well as
Firemen, Get Raises.
BOARD VOTE UNANIMOUS
Higher salaried Bluecoats to
Be Cared For Later-Thanks
Given "The Sun" for Aid.

All Of New York's patrolmen and fire.
men except those now getting the maxi
mum OF $500 year. and the police
matrons as we'll. will be raised In pay
august I. The Board Of Estimate SO
voted unanimously yesterday. The AL
dernen will assent at a special meeting
to-day
The $1,000 men. who are in large
majority in both the departments. and who
are the seniors Of the service, Will have
to wait for their increases until Janu-
airy /. unless the city administration can
find the money sooner. which. 1t was
intinated yesterday. It might do.
The increases ordained yesterday
amount to $3.50 a year for each man
except those in the second grade OF the
Police Department. who are advanced
800. In each case the $3.50 added to
the pay envelopes Is more than the 10
per cent for which the men petitioned.
As far as 1t goes. the act OF the Board
OF Estimate constitutes a splendid In
dorsement of the popular movement
which THE SUN launched June I, when
Mr.. Munsey. In a statement to the men
and women of New York. gave an out
line of intolerable conditions under
which the men of the blue coated mu-
nicipal armies were trying to serve the
city.
Justice OF Claims Admitted.
While protesting inability to grant
more money to the first grade. the
$1,000 men, at this time. the Board or
Estimate has nevertheless admitted the
Justice of their claim. has given them
to understand they will receive attention
in the not distant future and has act
ually raised the wages OF the lowest
paid patrolmen and firemen. who are
least able to get along on the old basis
The only trouble Is that most OF these
are Young men and either have been
drafted into the army or are subject 10
the draft. As soon as they are dratteo
the city must continue to pay them the
difference between their city and Gov
ernmsnt salaries. About 400 patrolmen
and 800 fremen are In the army now.
So the Board of Estimate is raising the
wages Of about 700 men who are In
France or elsewhere In the nations SER
vice and stiil are on the New York pay
roll. as we'll as of other men who will so
soon to training camps. This could not
be helped, for the city cannot raise the
salaries Of pciice and fire grades and
except any of the men In those grades
who are on leave of absence while serv-
Ing Uncle Sam.
In one important particular the Board
of Estimate has taken action that will
benefit both the Police and Fire depart
ments. 1t has lifted the minimum sal
ary. which firemen have been getting for
their first two years and patrolmen for
their first three years. from $1,000 to
$1,000. The s1.o5o figure was impossi-
bile. Recruits could not be obtained.
$1,000 salary 10 he starter.
The undermanned Police and Fire de-
partments have been hunting for men
nv the hundred and getting hardly q
handful. 1t Is believed that they can be
found now that they will get $1,000 a
wear at the start Especially Is It hoped
that men above draft age will be at
,racted by the new entrance salary. and
certainty OF speedy advancement to at