Evening star., 1936-08-21
FIRE FORCE ASKS
$1,143,76O BOOST
IN '38 ESTIMATES
46 Pct. Rise Is Held Needed
for 44-Hour Week, 26-
Day Leave.
TOTAL OF $3,639,980
is SOUGHT BY SCHR0M
Police Request $4,112,S35, Com
pared With So, o,5so-131
Larger Personnel Desired.
nv DON s. WARREN.


Costs of the District Fire Depart
ment will have to be increased by
Sl.143,760, or As per cent, if f1remen
are to be given the suggested 44-hour
standard work week and the annual
26-day leave, it was revealed today
when the Commissioners released the
1898 estimates of the Fire and Police
Departments.
Altogether, the requests OF Fire
Chief Charles E. Schrom for the next
fiscal year amount to $3,639,9SO,
which would be boost of as per cent
over the current years appropriation
Of $2474,120.
In addition to SCI extra men and
officers needed for the shorter work
week and the annual leave, the de-
partment seeks an increase in its
funds of only $4,000, or some 3.5
per cent.
For the Police Department, pro-
vision of 131 additional officers and
men, to strengthen the force gener-
ally; the re-opening of the old second
precinct station and the purchase of
police cars and motorcycles costing
Sj6,450. are sought in the estimates
submitted by Maj. Ernest w. Brown,
superintendent of police
Police Estimates S4,112,835.
The police estimates total 4,1l2,-
s35, as against s3,690,580 for this
year, an increase of about II per cent.
Policemen now work in three shifts
q day, whereas firemen are on a two
shift basis, so that a large additional
number of policemen for the 44-hour
week and annual leave was not neces-
sary. The extra men sought are
asked for better police protection.
Fire Chief Schrom seeks $2.294 900
for salaries for the Fire Department,
an increase of $4,000. This would
permit the appointment of 80 privates
needed to carry out the 26-day annual
leave.
To effect the 44-hour standard work
week, however, Chief Schrom told the
Commissioners 528 additional men
would be needed, at q salary cost Of
$1y038 ,060. With the addition of sums
for uniforms for the two groups, the
total increase for extra men would be
Sl,143, ,760. OF the 528 men needed
for the shorter week % would be Off
GERS. There are now 888 men in the
department. The total proposed in
crease in force would amount to So
per cent
Chief Schrom asks the appropria-
ton of $88,100 for additional fire.
fighting apparatus, as against S92,00
provided for this year. He asks the
purchase of one hook-and-ladder
truck. as against three for which sums
were provided for this year; five hose
wagons. as against four to be bought
this year; and three pumping engines,
as against two provided in the 1897
budget He also asks three chiefs
automobiles to replace cars now more
than IL years old.
In support of his requests for new
Are-fghting apparatus, Chief Schrom
shows that in 1888 there still will be
Is pieces of equipment which will be
IS years old, or older. Six of these are
bumpers and eight of them hose
wagons
The Fire Department also asks
$4,000. in increase of $l4,000 for the
purchase of fire hose, which Chief
Schrom states is needed to maintain
the standard requirement of 186,500
feet Of hose for a city of this size.
S3,622.120 for Police Salaries.
For police salaries, Chief Brown
asks s3,622,120, an increase of $780,
ITO over this year, so as to provide 125
additional privates and six officers,
for the proposed reopening of the old
second precinct. The increase also
would provide for assignment of 25
additional men to motorcycle duty,
who are paid $120 additional each per
year. 1t also would permit the re-
institution of horse mounted service,
for traffic duty. Maj. Brown proposes
to place six men on such assignments.
The old second precinct station now
Is used as house of detention, the
headquarters of the Woman's Bureau
While not stated in the estimates,
Maj. Brown is considering placing the
bureau in building adjoining police
headquarters, on Indiana avenue.
Urging the need of reopening the
old precinct, which was combined
with No. several years ago, Mai.
Brown said the combined precinct is
too large.
Work Increases 800 Per Cent.
The Police Department ask pro-
vision of SO additional civilian en-
ployes at a cost of $45.840. The
argument is presented that the volume
Of work of the departments chief
clerk has increased some 800 per
cent in recent years, whereas the
staff Of the clerk has been reduced.
Maj. Brown reports the towing
service in connection with the i'm
pounding of automobiles, which are
dangerously parked, has been placed
on q 24-hour basis. He asked the
employment of four civilian drivers
which, he said, can be employed at
much less cost than that of a police
men. now forced into the service.
MAI. Brown requested $81, 800 for
the purchase Of firearms and gas
equipment and other munitions and
apparatus. For this year he was pro-
vided $68,375. Seeking $4,000 for
tear gas and equipment, he says: Gas
Is effective in handling mobs, crazy
people, riots, etc. It is felt the
raaro n y,neut should have an adeolIate