The Washington times., 1918-06-10
BETTER PAY NOW
ONLY RENEDYEOR
]. D. c. POLICE FORCE
ontinued from FIrst Pare.l

CONTINUED from First Page)
portant service to the Federal Gov
eminent in guarding and protecting
the President Of the United States
protecting distinguished - foreign
quests arriving and residing here
policing the lines Of big parades and
many other duties. About 40 Of the
Oh men are on duty at the White
House, leaving 631 to protect 70
square miles Of territory and $40
miles of open streets.
Deduct from this 631 q large num-
Der Of men assigned to the trafie
squad, because Of the enormous in
crease In automobile and other trat-
nc in this city, and there remains
less than 600 men to handle the rap
loly increasing pOlics problems Of
the town.
The capital Of no other nation Of
me world has such a small forcS-
Why the Decrease.
The force has decreased immensely
m the last year because many men
have been drawn into the army, en-
listing having been forbiddsn;- be-
cause Of necessary retirement Of
Buperannuated officers; because pri-
Vate employment has drawn others,
and the vacancies CAN NOT BE
FILLED on the starvation wages
paid
Pleading and advertising In all di-
rections has failed 70 attract men.
Remuneration IS too high in other
nelds to draw them. A high type
Of men Is wanted and needed; men
physically and mentally Of a splendid
class; men who can mix with con-
gressmen, diplomats and all classes.
The Washington policeman iB no or
otnGry fellow. He is q man among
men, intelligent well hammered, of
good presence and bearing. he must
live better than an alley rat; must
live in keeping with his station and
his status. He cannot support him
self on salaries below those being
paid laborers. Where does his family
come in on the present pittance?
Salaries of Washington POlIeeneA.
A new policeman in Washington
starts out at 5000 per year, with 10
per cent added this year, making
$3.50. In three years he goes to class
2 at $3.50 per ZeaE.- with 10 per cent
war bonus, OF total OF fl}1SS.s Until
he is shot 70 death or Is pensioned
for old age he gets 81 1000, after eight
years service, with 8 per cent bonus
added this year, or 81 ,260.
One summer uniform, one winter
uniform, an overcoat, a raincoat ana
cap now cost him S110 out of these
salaries. His shoes are additional.
In the next fiscal year, IL Congress
makes no changes in its present pur-
poses. the salaries will be slightly
increased by the S12O per year bonus
paid 70 all salaries below $4,000.
Police station janitors get $500 q
year and war bonus; police depart
ment clerks get less than the police
men
Senate MEy Give Helping Hand.
The Senate committee about to re-
port the ULR1iceGBp Aspiration bill
may extend a helping financial hand
TO the police department The Dis
trict commissioners have steadily
urged upon Congressional committees
that the minimum entrance salary
for the police force shall be not less
than 81 ,0SO per year. The bonus would
give class 1 men 81 200 a year Eight
een-year-old typewriters in the Gov
ernment service get that much after
three months service and work seven
hours a day. The Government has
trouble getting them at that price.
They have, as q rule, no families to
support
Jersey City, N. J., starts its police
men at 81 400 per year, with q max
tmum Of $1,000. youngstown, Ohio,
starts at 81, $50; Chicago, 1900;
Seattle, Washington, 1920; Oak