The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-19
HOPE FOR D. c. PAY
RAISE FROM SENATE
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
ers for Uncle Sam, who maintains the
Federal Capital.
The precarious situation that has long
| existed in the Washington Fire De
partment is a concrete Illustration OF
poor salaries in the District service, al
though 1t may be stated that OF tne
| 5000 employees mentioned more than
] half are paid salaries far below those
1 Of the firemen.
Serious Man shortage.
The department has been seriously
short in its normal quota OF men ever
since the war started. and Chief Wag-
ner and those under him have been in
constant fear that the shortage OF men
would result in disaster. For that
reason the men who have remained
loyal and faithful to the District and
who have stayed in the department
have been under unusual strain.
Several months ago Congress. rec
ognizing that the firemen we're not be-
| ing treated fairly in being kept on
duty inhumanly long hours and de-
prived OF the pleasures Of home life.
passed the two-platoon system, which
would enable the men to work only
twelve hours each day, with an occa-
sional day OF.
The District Commissioners have
never been able to put the system
into effect. 1t called for more men
than the existing system, and these
men have not been procurable. The
experiment of using soldiers not fit
for active duty was tried. These men
helped some, but all except three OF
them left the department upon re-
ceiving their dismissal papers.
More applicants are now offering
their services than at any time In
eighteen months, but they are doing
so under the impression that the sala-
ries of firemen are to be increased
and that the t&o-platoon system will
soon become effective. Unless fair
salaries are granted the department
there is no assurance that the men
will remain.
Need LIS Men.
The Fire Department is today 125
men short of the necessary number to
reach a two-platoon quota. Through
advertising in army environments and
large cities OF the country the num-
Der needed is being slowly decreased.
Chief Wagner today hoped that he
will have the required quota of men
inside of six weeks or two months.
He cannot undertake to say whether
they will remain in the department at
present salaries.
The basic entrance salary in the
department Is $500 a year, to which
is added the S120 war bonus, or 81 .0S0.
Computed on a twelve-hour day basis
this is about % cents an hour. For
this salary a man must pass a rigid
physical test and risk the hazards
that go with the work. The firemen
are asking for an increase Of at least
81 per day.
The police department offers lit
tie better in its pay. and Major Pull
man, chief of the department, is urg-
ing strongly that increased pay be
given his men. That department has
been far short OF the number OF men
necessary to properly police Wash
ington. Limited service soldiers
were called in but many OF them are
leaving. Recruiting is going on but
not to the extent desired.
school Teachers Badly Paid.
There are 1888 employees of the
pubic schools OF the District paid
far under SO per day, and this in
cludes more than 1000 teachers, who
must spend years in fitting them
selves for their work, the Importance
Of which in shaping the mental and
moral lives of children is recognized
even in Congress. For more than a
year the board OF education has been
compelled to accept the services o.
teachers who were not educated or
equipped to the standards set for in
structors in the past.
Throughout the District building
there are capable men serving "a
watchmen, messengers and laborers
for $50 per month, a salary at which
the Government should not permit
any man to work under present con-
ditfons