The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-30
10000 TO ASK CITY
FOR INCREASED PAY


policemen, which, Il In commended, will
prove that in proportion to its popuia-
ton and wealth of property to be safe
guarded. New York not only has the
smallest police and FIRE forces, but pays
them the least.
The Civil Service Forum IL a body
IN which arc afiiiiated all the New York
organizations Of Federal, state and city
civil service employees with the excep-
ton OF the uniformed hremen. The nre-
men Joined the American Federation OF
Labor last summer, but have agreed that
the patrolmen OF the Police Department
shall represent them In the forums
salary drive and make q demand for the
members Of both departments
The president of the Civil Service
Forum and the, man to whom the EN-.
ployes1 are sending their data OF dis
tress Il Frank J. Prial; Deputy City
Comptroller and a McCooey Democrat
OF Brooklyn. The vice-presideut IL
Charles w. Hunt, secretary TO William
J. Lahey. Second Deputy Commissioned
OF Police. The secretary Of the forum
George L. Conneii, is In the Federal
Customs Service, and the treasurer
william Donovan, IL n letter carrier.
The decision to assemble all the
groups that were agitating for more pay
and combine thousands of small voices
In one big roar was made at a recent
meeting of the forum which named q
salary committee whose chairman IL
Police Sergeant Joseph Courtney, presi.
dent of the Sergeants Benevolent Asso-
citation. These are the requests for In.
creases the committee have received
from the organizations in the Police
Department. which will be passed on q
the Board OF Estimate
Onicers-Inspectors. from $500 to
$500; Captains. from $500 to s3,75o
Lieutenants. from $2,4to to $2,750; ser
Eeants. from $3.50 to $2,150.
Patrolmen-Ffrst grade, from $3.50
to $500: second grade, from $500 &c
$3.50; third grade. from $1.450 te
$500; fourth grade, from 1850 &c
1880; NTH. sixth and seventh grades
from $i.2eo to $3.50.
Firemen Make New Scale.
The matrons want to be raised from
$3.50 to $500 First grade detec.
tives ask the same increase as the lieu.
tenants. There are about 1000 men In
the Police Department. and their re-
quests aggregate about s1.7oo.ooo q
year.
The inspectors OF the Fire Depart.
rnent have not yet made known theii
wishes. The increases solicited by the
other men Of the department are:
Captains. from 50, 500 to 1870; lieu.
tenants. from s2.350 to $4,000; engi.
neers. from $500 to s2.19o.
Firemen-First grade, from $3.50 to
$500: second grade. from $1,000 &c
$3.50: third grade. from $1,000 te
81, $50.
The total increase for the 5000 mem.
beers Of the Fire Department would BIZ
more than $3.50. 900.
A patrolman now starts at $1,000
His uniforms and equipment cost hin
more than 5000 the first year and al
least half that sum each year there.
after. 1t takes him five years to reach
| the top salary. 1850. where he stays
unless he n promoted to officer rank
A fireman starts at $1,000, and alsc
has TO lay out $500 for uniform anc
equipment He reaches the top salary
In three years. and stays there unless
he is promoted. The city administration
recently improved the lot of the firemer
by starting the two platoon system
which enables the men TO sleep at home
Thus far. however. two-thirds of then
are working under the old system
twenty hours day.
The fremen contend that In proportion
to the amount OF property and the num-
Der OF lives they have to protect they
are carrying a greater burden than the
hremen OF other cities. They say that
other cities of New York State have q
fre force proportionately two or two
and a half times larger than this city's
They win tell the Board of Estimate
that Boston. with 100000 population
has 1,1oo hremen and officers, and
against this they win set an assertion
that the assessed real estate valuation
| Of New York city Is twice that of al
the New England States
President Prial OF the Civil Service
Forum gives this advice TO the members
Of all associations uniting for higher
pay:
The employees would do well to dror
the smaller things, such as vacations
| and go In for an increase in salary
Citizens appreciate what the high cost
| Of everything the employees buy mean tc
all Of them. and there should be nc
side issue while the salary drive ls on
no matter how important such issues
may be to this or that body or group"