Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-31
POLICE PAY RAISE
BILL IS FAVORED
House Sub Group Delays Ac-
ton to Hear Donovan
and Simmons.

Members of the subcommittee Of the
! House District committee made it plain
during the hearing this morning on the
bill to increase the salaries of police
and f1remen that they were in favor of
the measure.
However, motion by Representative
| Beers was withheld at the request OF
Chairman Lambert, who had promised
hearing at 3 pm. today to District
Auditor Daniel j. Donovan and Char
man Simmons of the subcommittee OH
District appropriations.
All of the witnesses at the hearing
this morning, including Chairman Proc
tor L. Dougherty of the Board of Dis
trict Commissioners and the presidents
Of all of the business and civic orgauiLa-
tons, supported this measure.
Commissioner Dougnerty suggested
changes in the rate of pay for the three
| highest officers in the Police and Fire
Departments amounting to a reduction
of $500 each below the rates carried in
the bill-for major and superintendent,
So 900, instead of $500; assistant su-
perintendent, $4,000, instead of SIS, 500,
and inspectors, $4,000, instead of $500,
with corresponding reductions in the
schedule for the Fire Department. It
was explained that the suggested re-
auctions were to make the salary roll
| more nearly correspond with the sala-
rieS of officials in other departments in
the District government.
/ Among those who urged that the bill
be passed without change were Charles
w. Darr, president of the Washington
Chamber of Commerce; DR.. George c.
Havenner, president of the Federation
of Citizens Associations; w. c. Roberts,
| representing the American Federation
of Labor; Edward j. Murphy, president
of the Washington Board of Trade;
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, president of
the Merchants & Manufacturers Asso-
citation: John D. Colpoys, president of
the Washington Central Labor Union
Frank A. Barney, president of the Po-
licemen's Association; E. o. Conner,
president Of the Firemen's Association,
and Fred w. Baer, representing the In
| ternational Association of Fire Fighters.
Mr.. Darr paid high tribute TO the
Washington police.
Civic Bodies Support.
DR.. Havenner, who is also chairman
of the citizens advisory council, pointed
out to the subcommittee that this
is the first time that all of the major
civic organizations in the District of
Columbia have been a unit in support
ing any piece Of legislation.
DR.. Havenner Is an expert inVeSti-
gator with the United States Bureau
of Efficiency. He told the subcommittee
that an analysis he made of the pay
of police and flremen in 20 other large
cities showed that Washington was
fourteenth on the list as regards pay
of police and fifteenth as regards pay
Of firemen.
Mr. Roberts, as an of1cial Of the
American Federation of Labor, said that
the federation heartily supports this
measure, but would like to see higher
rate of pay In the lower positions run
ming from $2,100 as a minimum to
$4,000.
President Murphy Of the Washington
Board of Trade said the executive
board of that organization, the board
of directors and full meeting Of the
organization have voted emphatically
in favor of the proposed salary increases
and hoped that 1t would pass without
any changes.
Gen. Stephan said that, the Msr-
chants and Manufacturers Association
represents the largest group of taxpay-
ers and those who are most interested
in having adequate and efficient police
ever the increase in taxes might be as a
result of this legislation, the members
of his association are ready to bear
their share. He called attention that
the employment of police and firemen
Is hazardous and that. therefore, rates
of pay in other branches of the munic-
ipal government should not be taken as
basis for fixing the salary schedules
in the Police and Fire Departments.
Mr.. Colpoys said that he spoke for
$1,000 citizens in organized labor who
are doing the work and paying the
bills and that they are earnestly sup
porting this measure because they be-
lieve that proper protection of life and
property requires a well paid, efficient
force.
Mr.. Baer, questioned by members Of
the subcommittee. compared the SAL
aries of police and f1remen in Washing
ton with those In cities throughout the
country and more than so cities pay
higher salaries to their police and
firemen. He said that the average pay
Of firemen today is about $3.50 per
year. He reported that the Interna-
tional Association of Fire Fighters is
earnestly in favor of this bill, but would
like to see increases especially in the
lower rates, If possible.
AnuOTseO Dy DOugnerty.
Commissioner Dougherty, the first
witness, Endorsed the bill in substance,
declaring there was a marked need for
its passage.
Representative Reid Of Illinois de-
clared in his formal discussion which
followed that the stipulation in the bill
that the superintendent Of police on re-
tirement should receive an annual sal
airy of $4,000 should be amended He
said this sum was entirely too small.
Charles w. Darr, president Of the
Chamber of Commerce, was the next
witness. He made a vigorous appeal for
favorable action on the bill. He pointed
out that the measure had been approved
by the Chamber of Commerce, the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Association,
the Federation of Citizens Associations,
the Civic Council and organized labor.
Darr cited figures which showed that
policemen and flremen in many other
large cities make more money than do
those of Washington.
Representative Palmer of Missouri
told Darr he thought some Of the salary
rates in the bill were too low. IT think
you have very fine Police Department
here and lot of this recent agitation
has been very unjust" he added.
DkMTuED nO1NEN