The Washington times., 1919-12-15
SENATECUTS
F|REM|EN$2OO
IN BASIC PAY
D. c. Committee to Report
Measure Carrying Reduction
In House Figures.

Reductions averaging 500 annually
in the basic pay Of Washington IRE
men below the amount allowed In the
Housed bill were authorized today by
the Senate District COMMITTEES, which
ordered the increased pay bill report
ed favorabiy to the Senate.
Senator Calder Of New York. who
will be in charge OF the measure,
hopes to obtain its passage before the
Christmas holidays.
Announcement was made that the
reductions were authorized for the
purpose Of equalixing the increases
throughout the bill. Under the bill
as 1t goes to the Senate, the average
annual increase in pay. taking into ac-
count the bonus of $240. will be $e6O.
Senate A0eaA0enfs.
AS amended by the Senate commit
tee. the pay Of the Washington IRE
men will be as follows:
Chief engineer, $3,75o, as compared
with $4,000 provided by the House:
deputy chief engineer. s2.750. as COM
rared with $1,000; battalion chief en-
gineers, $500, as compared with
so 500; fire rnarshals. S2.3co. as COM
pared with $2,50O; deputy fire mar
hal, 81 800. as compared with $4,000.
the inspector is left at S1,660: cap
tains, $1,000, as compared with $4,000;
lieutenants are left at $1,7eo. and ser
yeants are retained at $1,7o0. both of
which figures are the same as pro-
vided in the House bill.
Privates Of class 3 are reduced from
81. $50 to 1,460; privates in class 2
will receive 81 800. as compared with
81 $50 in the House bill. and privates
Of class / were reduced from 81 400 to
$1,260.
Left To CenmisafsA.
No provision for increased pay to
the so-called civilian members OF the
Fire Department are provided in the
second bill. It is understood the re-
adju justment Of these salaries will wait
the recommendation Of the reclassih-
cation commission, as In the case OF
the policemen.
Following the recommendations of
Senator Calder, the Senate committee
applies to the hremen the same civil
service examination for appoint
ments and promotion as in the case
If the policemen.
The chief engineer and deputy
chief engineers, however, are ex-
empted from these provisions.
Under the amendment the chief en-
gineer of the fire department shall
hereafter be appointed from among
the deputy chief engineers, preference
being given for previous service as
lieutenant and captain in each depart
ment; and the deputy chief engineers
shall be appointed from among the
battalion chief engineers, preference
being given to those, IL any, who
have had at least three years expert
ence next preceding as battalion chief
engineers in command of battalions.
Under other amendments Ii is pro-
vided that hereafter only captains
shall be appointed battalion engineers.
'leutenants shall be appointed cap
tains and only members Of the uni
formed force above the rank of pri-
vate, preference being given to those
n the latter case who have had at
least ten years experience in the FIRE
department, including at least hve
years. experience next preceding in
the actual work of fire fighting.
Original Appointments.
Still another amendment provides
that all original appointments as pri-
Yates shall be made to class i. Pri-
Yates who have served one year in
class shall be transferred to class 2
and privates who have served two
years in class shall be transferred to
class 3.
The f1remen's bill contains also q
clause forbidding members of the
Fire Department to affiliate with any
organization which uses 4 strike to
enforce its demands