Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-09
HEADS OF DISTRICT
APPROVE INCREASE
IN POLICE SALARIES
Favorable Report Sent House
and Senate Include Bigger
Pay for Firemen.
RECOMMEND REDUCTION
FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS
Additions Asked for Will Lift Cost
to Taxpayers $ss3,926
Annually.

The DISTRICT commissioners yeSter-
day sent to the District committees
of the Senate and House favorable re-
ports on the Zihlman bill for increaS-
ing the salaries of members of the
Police and Fire Departments. The
Commissioners, however, recommended
that salaries proposed for certain of
the higher officers of each department
be reduced below those provided for
in the bill.
The Commissioners approved the fol-
lowing increases as to the Police De-
partment without amendment: Cap
tains. from $4,000 to $500 each; lieu
tenants, from S2700 to S3,050 each,
and sergeants. from S2,400 to S2,750
each Privates at present receive
800 as an entrance salary with a
maximum of $2.100. This would be
changed to an entrance salary of
$1,000, with an annual increase of 500
until maximum of S2,400 is reached.
The increases approved for the Fire
Department are: Deputy fire marshals,
from $4,000 to $4,000; inspectors, from
S2,160 to 50 ,460; captains, from $4,000
to $4,000; lieutenants, from $2,350 to
S2.840; sergeants, from $4,000 to 50 800;
assistant superintendent of machinery,
from $4,000 to $4,000; pilots, from
$2250 to $500: marine engineers, from
$2.250 to $4,000; assistant marine en-
gineers. from s2150 to S2,460; marine
firemen, from 81 800 to So, 100. Privates
in the department are now paid an
entrance salary of 81 800, with maxi
mum of S210o. The bill as approved
by the Commissioners increases this TO
an entrance salary of $1,000, with an
nual increases of 500 up to $4,000.
Reductions Recommended.
The amendments offered by the Com
missioners were reductions in the pro-
posed salaries of the major and super
intendent of police and the chief en-
gineer of the Fire Department from
So. 500 to $4,000 These officers now re-
ceive $500. The following reductions
were also recommended by the Police
Department: Assistant superintendents
from SIS, 800 to $4,000. They now re-
ceive $500. Inspectors from $4,000 to
$4,000. They now receive $3.50.
In the Fire Department the Commits
sioners suggested reduction OF the
proposed pay of deputy chief engineers
from $500 to $4,000 They now re-
ceive $500. Battalion chief engineers
from $4,000 to $4,000. They now re
ceive S3,O5o. Fire marshal from $500
to S4750. He now receives So, $50. Su-
perintendent of machinery from $500
to S4.750 He now receives $3.50.
The Commissioners report on the
bill was based on the recommendations
OIL huOItOl AtoAiACA u ASAAS N~A'
He submitted comparative figures from
% cities in support OF the proposed
amendments These show that IN only
Chicago and Baltimore would the pay
of the head of the police department
exceed So, 900. These cities pay $4,000
The head of the fire department In New
York receives $12,500. In Chicago TINS
position pays SO 1000, and In all cities
listed it pays less than $4,000.
Salaries Are Compared.
Mai. Donovan also compared the pro-
posed salary schedules with those In the
other departments of the Government.
If the proposed bill as amended goes
through the only persons who VIII De
receiving more than the police and nre
chiefs will be the corporation counsel,
who receives $4,000, and the District
auditor, who receives $500. Other sal
aries offered for comparison are munlc-
ipal architect, director of public well
fare. Judges of the Police Court ana
librarian of the Free Public Library,
$4,000 each; members Of the PUBIC
counsel. $500 each; engineer OF high
ways, sanitary engineer, judges OF tne
Municipal and Juvenile Courts, s7,OOO
each.
THE fact should be borne in mind"
Mr., Donovan wrote, in considering the
fixing of a salary of $4,000 for the major
and superintendent of police and the
chief engineer OF the Fire Department
on the basis of like salaries being PAID
10 heads of certain other major de-
partments of the District Government
that there is no assurance that the SAL
aries paid to these certain heads OF de-
partments are permanent. In all those
cases the present salaries rose as the
result of administrative action IN rails
ing the positions two grades unoer
the provisions of the WEIGH act An
effort has been made in the past, and
it is understood this effort will be re-
newed in the present Congress. to reduce
by one grade ali positions that were
raised two grades under the Welcn act
Should this be done it will result IN
those heads now receiving $4,000 or
more being reduced in salary 10
maximum of $500 each"
Approved by Bureau.
The annual increase in cost to the
taxpayers under the bill would be ABOUT
S8S3 .926. based on the present person.
mel of the departments, the Commits
sioners estimated. This increased eH-
penditure has the approval OF the Blu
ieau of the Budget as not in CONNECT
with the Presidents financial program.
The Commissioners submitted amend
ments to the bill providing for deduc-
ton of 80 per cent of the pay OF each
member Of the Police and Fire Depart
ments instead Of ia per cent. as at
present, for upkeep of the retirement
fund. The cost Of pensions paid from
this fund during the last fiscal year
was S613,76749. or this amount Sl28,-
1856 was deducted from the salaries
of members. In other words, they con-
tributed about 81 per cent. The auditor
reported that about 4 per cent was
made up from miscellaneous funds and
rs per cent from general revenues OF
the District.