The Washington times., 1931-05-13
TRADE CHIEFS
SOCALLED
TOHEAR|NG
Problem of Cutting Estimates
or Increasing Tax Rate Is
Hard One for Commission

or Increasing Tax Rate Is
Hard One for Commission
Struggling with one of the
most difficult Governmental eco
nomic problems of recent years
in preparing fiscal year
expenditure outlay, the District
Commissioners today resumed
hearings for drafting the 1888
budget by calling Major Henry
G. Pratt, superintendent of police,
before them.
Forced to slash $11,OOO,O0O
from the estimates recommended
by departmental heads or in
crease the District tax rate 80
cents per $1OO, the city heads
also have called upon the
Capitals trade and civic Organiza-
ton leaders to aid them with the
problem.
To Consult Trade Heads
A conference with executives
of the Washington Board Of
Trade, the Chamber of Com.
merce, the Merchants and Manu-.
facturerS Association and the
Citizens Advisory Council has
been arranged by the Commits
sioners for tomorrow morning at
$50 o'clock in the District Build
ing board room.
Estimates of the Police Depart
ment call for $3,676,181 for the
1888 fiscal year. This is an in
crease of $187,231 over the $3s-
488, 900 in the 1882 appropriation.
The major portion of the esti-
mate. $3,194,656, is for salaries,
and this represents an increase OF
$84, ,436 for the salary outlay in
the 1882 appropriations.
Police Changes Proposed
Abolition of the grade of pre-
cinct detective and substitution
of the rank of probationary de-
tective is planned in the police
estimates. The rank of proba-
tionary detective, according to
the plans, will include all present
precinct detectives, who now re-
ceive extra compensation of $240
annually, and also the % detec-
tives, familiarly known as liquor
men," who now receive no extra
compensation.
Each of the probationary de-
tectives, according to the plan,
will receive $500 additional COM
pensation yearly, an increase Of
$50 annually for the present pre-
cinct detectives and $500 for the
Liquor men,"
The estimates also call for the
abolition of the Capitals bicycle
policemen and would cause
saving of $1,6OO a year, which
is paid in extra compensation to
men assigned to this work. With
this saving, ii is planned TO pur.
chase three additional autOmO-
biles for patrol work.
$500 Sought For Kelly
A request for $500 extra COM
pensation for the departments
radio supervisor, Policeman James
Kelly. is sought by the police
officials.
An increase of $4,000 in the
fund for securing evidence in
prohibition cases, boosting the
sum Of $1,000 to $4,000, is also
asked. Eight new one-man radio
cars, in order that each precinct
will be equipped with two such
cars, is requested.
With the reorganization of the
department by establishment of
three inspection divisions to be
made on July the outset of
the 1882 fiscal year-the depart
ment expects to consolidate six
precincts into three, leaving three
captains unassigned.
Two New Inspectors
OF these three captains, one
will be assigned to the work Of
supervision of police equipment
now performed by Inspector Viii
liam H. Harrison, who will retire
July /. The other two will be
promoted to the rank Of inspec-
tors in line with the inspection
district reorganization and their
vacancies will not be filled.
An estimate of $165'970 Is
sought for the civilian personnel
of the department, representing
an increase of $45,800 over the
sum of $12O,170 in the 1882 ap-
preparation.
Under the new plans, the de-
partment proposes to set up a
statistical bureau under command
of Capt. L. I. H. Edwards with
civilian employees to compile quar-.
ter-annual and annual statistical
reports. This, the department
contends, will save the assigning
to 18 policemen for a period Of
IS days each year to this work.
Telephone Change Planned
The department also seeks to
replace the present two position
telephone switchboard with a
three position board because OF