Evening star., 1924-01-13
SUPPORT OF POLICE
IN PAY FIGHT URGED
Bonus Loss Threatened.
Members of Force Hard
Worked and Poorly Paid.

On Christmas day, when all other
government employees gather around
Christmas trees with their families,
the policemen and firemen work.
On Independence day, when the
average father bundles his children
into the family car. forgets the Of
fce, and drives out into the coun-
Try for a picnic. the policeman and
the fireman work.
The government clerk is home with
his loved ones every night. The
fireman and policeman are away at
night half OF the year, in mild
weather and in storms.
When summer rolls around the Of
Ace worker takes d month off to
fix UP his home or go OFF on vacation.
The uniformed guardians of life and
property get only twenty days.
Must BUY Uniforms.
The clerk buys a suit of clothes
that serves as we'll at work as 1t
does at home. The fireman or police
man must buy uniforms for duty and
civilian garb to wear on other oc-
CaSionS.
In addition to these contrasts in
working conditions, the bluecoat and
the fire fighter carry with them the
constant knowledge that they may
have to give their lives in the per
formance of their duties. When they
leave the house in the morning they
have no assurance they will return
that night.
These are but a few of the argu-
ments being advanced by friends of
dhe uniformed men in support of the
bill to increase their salaries.
Members of the police and fire de-
partments are not included in the re-
classification of salaries of other gov
ernment employees, and for that rea-
son the Commissioners sent special
legislation 70 the Capitol to provide
for these men.
Will Lose Bonus.
1t is the intention of Congress to
abolish the present S240 bonus II re-
classification is adopted. If the bonus
IS taken away and the policemen and
fremens salary bill is not enacted at
this session it will mean that these
faithful servants of the public will
suffer a reduction of s240 in pay on
July l, while other federal workers
are getting increases under reclassiti-
cation.
The withdrawal of the bonus would
leave policemen and f1remen recelv-
ing the following salaries: Glass l,
s1.6so; class ., $3.50, and class 3,
s1.46O
The proposed bill would give pri
Yates OF both departments. Sl,S0O,
81 900 and 81 600 a year. with COM
nensurate increases for the higher
officers.
In preparing to defend the bill be
fore the committees of Congress, Of
ficials of both branches Of the serV-
ice have gathered data on the pay
scales of other cities
This material shows that only few
cities of any size now pay privates
of class | less than S2,OOu a year. IN
New York city. the pay of prlvates OF
class was increased January TO
$500 year. III Detroit class men
get s2l6O. In Hoboken. y. d. tlly
of 1882 inhabitants prlvates OIL lass class
| get s2250. Washington mas popu-
lation Of $4,000.
Hard to Recruit.
Ar present salaries the District
commissioners find ii difficult to re-
rruit and keep competent pohceHieie
and firemen. There is no uearth ol
applicants, but the physical ana men
tai requirements laid down tor the
positions are stringent and. While
many respond to the call, few are
chosen. .
During the world war and lmme-
diately thereafter men were SO scaLcs
that the Commissioners were forced
to lower the bars and take on ponce
men and firemen below the ordinary
standards.
The city heads now teel however
that only the most capable and quail
fed men should be accepted ana that
the salaries should be raised to
level in keeping with the character
of service required.
Eleven Killed on Duty.
In the past six years eleven police
men were killed in line of duty, Tor.
1y-four were seriously injured and 33S
sustained minor injuries while per-
forming their duties.
The records of the fire department.
for any year will show a long list of
mon Injured by falling debris or made
i'll by the fumes through which they
fight their way to get at the source OF
fires. ... ..
TO have the united support of the
community when their salary bill is
taken up by Congress.
There is another argument that
should have a strong appeal with the
members of Congress. namely. that
the police and firemen of washington
devote much of their time to the pro-
tection of government property.
Some of the most stubborn nres the
Washington department has been
called upon to handle in the past rev
years have been in government struc-
lures.