The sun., 1918-07-07
INCREASE IN POLICE
AND FIRE PAY SOON
Action Expected at Next Fri
days Meeting of Board
of Estimate.
MEANS TO PAY ARE FOUND
Firemen Anxious to Get Back
Day OFF in Five-Making
Volunteers at Home.

The decision for which the patrolmer
and fremen are hopefully waiting or
their appeal for a living wage may b
made this week. The request OF the
Board OF Estimate for a statement from
the Police and Fire Commissioners 1,
now officially In their hands, 1t took g
long time to reach them. as the matter
was referred to them eight days ago. bu,
there is still plenty of time for the Com.
missioners to prepare their applications
for the Increase and get It on the cal
endar for next Fridays meeting Both
men have said that they would do this
While the members of the Board OF
Estimate are keeping their own counsel
the impression gains ground at City Hall
that the wage adva noes will be granted
either on Friday or on July 10, when the
board probably will adjourn until au-
tumn. The advances may not date from
July ], as the petitioners would like. but
the chances for the increases beginning
on August 1 are believed to be good.
The idea that the money could not
possibly be found having been dissi-
pated. the urgent need of Immediate re-
lief for both groups Of uniformed city
being impressed emphatically on the
minds Of those who control the city's
finances.
Providing the Needed Funds.
THE SUN Is informed that influential
members OF the Board OF Aldermen be-
lieve that II necessary about 5000, 900 Of
the 100000 worth Of special revenue
bonds which that board can authorize in
single year could be made available
for the fremen and patrclmen. More
than 100000 worth has been author
lied already. and 1t has been said here
tofore that the rest would be needed for
emergencies other than those in the Po-
lice and Fire departments.
Salary accruals in the two depart
ments could provide more than 5000, 900
From accruals OF other departments. re-
sulting from the administrators policy
of not filling vacancies and of pairing
appropriations wherever possible. the
balance OF $3.50, 900 that would be needed
from August l to give the patrolmen
and fremen a 10 per cent. raise could
be obtained easily.
Some OF the city officers are anxious
TO hang on to the accruals SO as to an
nounce a big saving at the end OF the
year. But as all the money in the city
accrual fund when the year expires must
for the redemption Of the city's debt,
and as even 81 900, 600 in accruals would
reduce the interest on the city's debt by
only $4,000 year. the benefit to the
taxpayer would be negligible. 1t would
take reduction of $l.O0O.0Oo a year to
lower the tax rate a single point.
Inspiration Fast Growing Less.
Meantime the life Of a fireman be-
comes less and less inspiring, and the
probability of more designations II more
pay Is not given is growing more Sc
rious, although Mayor Hylan said a
fortnight ago that he was not afraid.
In the campaign last autumn Judge
Hylan promised the firemen a fair trial
OF the two platoon system. In January
Alderman Haubert, from the Mayors
district. introduced in the Board OF AL
dermen a resolution intended to make
good this promise. At the same time
bills for the same purpose were intro
duced at Albany.
Then the Mayor found out that be-
cause Of the draft and low pay not
enough firemen could be obtained for a
double shift and besides, the city was
in no condition to stand the extra ex-
pense. So the Mayor asked the fremen
not to press their request this year
They cheerfully acquiesced in the belief
that the Mayor would see that Justice
was done them soon as possible. The
pending legislation was withdrawn.
In the circumstances the hremen be-
level that when they proved they could
not live on their present salaries they
would receive greater considerat ton tina,
has been accorded them at City Hal!
thus far. Irritation on this score has
been pretty well suppressed by leaders
OF the fremen's association who have
argued that everything would come out
AL right il patience was exercised
on June l the fireman time Off was
cut In half-from one day in FIVE to one |
day In ten. With the exception Of these |,
three days with his family in each |
month he contir ued to be on duty
twenty hours a day. Again the fremen |
acted like good sports. They realized |
that the department was frightfully |
shorthanded and that for a time they
must try TO do not only their own work |
but the work OF their comrades who had |
gone to war or resigned.
Volunteers Oner Remedy.
But 1t was understood that the really
impossible burden Of confinement to the
IRE house would be lightened as soon
as possible. A way OF doing this was
offered in the formation of an auxiliary
force OF volunteers-patriotic citizens
who would agree TO spend n night each
week in a fire house and roll" to fires
with the regulars
Largely through the personal solicita-
ton OF the fTemen themselves the
names of about 5000 volunteers were OBJ
tained. The volunteer system was
started on July I. The fremen had
rather expected that at the same time
their lost time Off would be restored. but
II was not. Commissioner brennan was
apparently waiting to see how the vol
unteer scheme worked.
The volunteers are without CONTINENT
They are sleeping in the regular fire.
mems beds. the linen of which and the
care of which the regular fireman paws
for out OF his slim salary. If an alarm
Is rung in the volunteer Jumps out of
the freman's bed and into the flreman's
personally paid for turn out'-the
same being trousers and boots He grabs
q coat and helmet belonging to and paid
for by fireman.
He scurries out TO a fire, where be
looks after the horses or apparatus.
helps drag hose line. or otherwise helus
without getting In the way or taking
undue risks. Not having paid for the
rubber boots himself--their cost ia now
almost prohibitive-and not being skilled
in the firemen's tricks OF safety and
economy. the volunteer sometimes gaAhes
tho boots nm brOken olaa. |