Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-16

.
Deputy fire marshal Observation-Disclosures. 900
FIRE marshal 4OoO
Deputy chief 100
Chief Observation-Disclosures 1000
The committee. in adopting the pro-
posed scale of wages, took into con-
sideration. as a fair assumption. it
was stated. an increase of so per cent
in the cost of living since 1914, and
also was Influenced by the average
compensation paid officers and men,
other municipalities. viz. New York.
Chicago, Boston. Philadelphia, Detroit
and Minneapolis
Bonus Not Included.
The salaries recommended did not
include the bonus of $40 at present
granted to the fire department.. and
were Independent of any bonus which
might be granted by Congress. The
scale of wages was generally higher
than the scale reported upon favor
ably yesterday by the Senate District
committee in consideration of the bill
to increase the pay of District fire.
men.
proved the recommendations OF the
Redistribution commisstpn. as con-
tanned in the class specifications. call
ing for common school education for
firefghters of class /, but expressed
doubt as to the actual operation of
6.I0 > "
.The great majority Of applications
received for appointment in the fire
department have been and are from
persons whose education has been so
limited that difficulty is experienced
by them in filling in the ordinary
manner" Marshal Watson told the re-
classification commission.
Eligibility Discussed.
Applicants possessing an eighth
grade education are rare indeed" Mr.
Watson continued. Two factors were
paramount in the consideration of the
question Of education, the speaker
continued. Mr.. Watson said:
IF applicants for entrance into the
fire department were required to pos
sess at least seventh grade educa-
ton. it was questionable whether or
establish an eligible list. especially
in view of the known fact that per-
sons possessing such education had
failed to apply for appointment in
past years. unless the reason for the
failure of persons possessing such
ment could be determined and action
! taken to overcome their reluctance to
so apply. In order to secure appli-
cants possessing the proposed quail
fications as to education the neces-
sity must be considered of offering
an inducement sufficient to influence
seventh and eighth grade graduates
to adopt as their profession the fight
ing of fire.
.3The committee feels that the view
OF the commission as outlined in the
~ live OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that
~~nbers of the fire department should
Io1bn entrance into the service be pos
2Esed of educational qualifications SUI
Nsported by conditions observed by ad-
illustrative heads in the actual opera
&pn of the fire department of this city,
therefore the committee recommends the
oegtA in the specifications. The COM
mittee further feels that the only two
inducements that could possibly be Of
Jared to obtain the type Of men desired
Dor service in the fire department would
be-first, an entrance salary of sufficient
amount to be attractive, and. second a
comparatively open field for advance
ment after appointment. limited only by
the progress of the individual in fire
flghting theory and practice.
ITO be perfectly frank. the committee
has some doubt as to whether or not
the requirements as to education
proposed by the commission. if adopted,
would be successful in actual practice.
The committee feels, however. that the
Improvement in the service which would
undoubtedly result therefrom warrants
fair trial of the plan. and SO recon-
mends."
The committee asked that the same
provision which the Reconsideration
leave for other federal employees be
| applied to the District firefghters. At
present, Mr.. Watson brought out.
members of the fire department are
granted but twenty days annual
| leave.
| Adoption of a system providing for
| longevity compensation was recom
mended by the committee as a remedy
! for condition now existing among the
| firemen. it was stated. whereby men
serve practically an unlimited num-
Der of years without either an oppor-
tunity for advancement or an increa Sc
! in compensation" Mr.. Watson stated
1T is our understanding" Mr.. Wat
son said. that the commission has
under consideration this subject. and
we desire to take this opportunity TO
recommend that the officers and mem
hers of the fire department be made
eligible to receive the benefits of any
such plan which may be adopted with
a view to relieving the hardship in
this regard now borne by them"
A minimum salary of $4,000 nav
annum. with maximum of $500. was
asked for fire prevention engineers in
a separate brief presented by Mr.
Watson. who also presented a third
brief asking shat the salary Of insti
ton of the warden at the Government
Hospital for the Insane. be placed at
$4,000 1t was recommended that the
salary of the institutional fire war
den at the hospital named be placed
Technical engineers and scientists
will be heard by the Redistribution
commission at $3.50 o'clock tomorrow
morning in room 42o. the Senate once
Sbuilding.