The sun., 1918-08-30
CITY'S PROTECTORS
APPRECIATE RAISE
Police and Firemen Thank
"The Sum-" Mr.. Munsey and
the Mayor for Increase.
TO BE EFFECTIVE SEPT. 1
Estimate Board Planning to
Advance Other Low Paid
Municipal Workers.

THE Sun received this letter yes
terday:
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The
Patrolmens Benevolent Association and
the Uniformed F1remen's Association
wish to express thanks to THE SUN for
its powerful support of the petition for an
increase in the salary of the first grade
patrolmen and firemen, the granting OF
which, to take effect September l. 1918,
has Just been announced by his Honor
the Mayor
We wish to convey to Mr.. Frank A.
Munsey our deep appreciation of his
good will toward us and Of his success
full efforts to obtain justice for patrolmen
and fremen and to convince the people
Of our city that the cheapest thing they
buy Is their police and fire protection.
We also wish to convey our thanks.
through THE SUN, TO the Mayor, to the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment,
TO the Police and Fire Commissioners
and to those citizens who so materially
aided us in advancing the cause we
represent.
THE PATRoLMEN's BENEVOLENT AssocTA-
TON,
JOSEPH p. MORAN, President.
THE UNIFORMED FIREMEN's AssocIA-
TIoN,
ALFRED e. GUINNESS, President.
In his announcement on Wednesday
Mayor Hylan said that the agreement Of
the Board Of Estimate to grant to the
first grade fremen and patrolmen an
increase OF $3.50 beginning September 1
was tentative. This Ia understood to
mean that the decision was reached by
a majority. but could not be called final
because the board was not in formal
session. At the last open meeting. held
| on July 10. the board adjourned sub
ject to the Mayors call The next meet
| ing will be held in September. and at
that time the salary advance undoubt-
! eddy will be voted. effective as of Sep
| TENDER I.
Represents 10 Per Cent. Raise.
The advance from $500 to $3.50 a
year represents 10 per cent. increase.
The patrolmen and fremen are grateful
| for 1t, but at time when Government
! fgures prove the cost OF living has risen
| So per cent In two years the two or
ganizations have not abandoned their
| fight for a $500 boost for the first grade
| men. They will try to persuade the
Board of Estimate to tack the other $3.50
on the budget appropriation for 1919.
| The flremen will point out that the
| first grade men have been reslgning at
the rate OF about one a day. In both
/ departments the increases given 10
patrolmen and nremen in recent years
have not been commensurate with those
allotted TO their superior officers. Seven
years ago only $500 separated the first
| y to
the fireman will get 1850 and the lieu
tenant S2,35O. Formerly the police
sergeant got only 800 more than the
| first grade patrolman. Now the SER
geants get 1880 and the patrolmer
1850.
However. the Board OF Estimates &C.
ton IN adding $3.50 to each patroman's
and fireman's salary without waiting for
next years budget has raised immeasur-
ably the spirits of the men in blue, and
will work for the good of both depart.
ments and the city.
The enthusiasm with which the police
have worked for the success OF the two
field days-last Saturdays and mex
Saturday's--at Sheepshead Bay. where
by money Is being raised to equip tn,
police reserves is one sign OF this.
To Help Other Low Paid Workers
The Board OF Estimate is now work
Ing out huge programme of salary
increases for all low paid city worker,
who are deemed deserving. II is SLOW
work because OF the difficulty of draw
ing the lines that must be drawn II tn,
total outlay Is not to be more than tn,
city can stand. In the case OF tn,
police and tiremen il was easy TO ascer
tain the facts, for here the Board o
al 70 Of me
definitely graded and the members o
each grade having about the same livinI
problems to meet with the same salary
Under the Mitchell administration tn,
Board OF Estimate had a bureau OF per
sonal service which attempted to ella ssif,
the great mass OF other city worker.
and estimate their value to the city
AS this bureau has been abolished tn
Board Of Estimate. with all its othe
affairs to attend to. finds the Job o
salary classification a tremendous one.
Virtually all the fremen have joinet
the New York fremen's branch of thu
,, International Association of Fire Fight
ers, a branch Of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor. which they decided L
form early in July. when the Board o
Estimate was not responsive to thel
appeals for more pay. The local ha
opened an Office in Room 400 OF IN
World Building. overlooking City Hal
and put Mrs. Margaret McNally II
charge as clerk. II will have bil
prepared asking the Legislature TO Civ
, the Fire Department the two platoon
system.
, ! For the first time the firemens ban
, will appear on Monday in a Labor Da
parade, marching with and playing 70
the ranks OF organized labor.