Evening star., 1936-07-12
STANDARD HOURS
ADOPTION IS SEEN
COSTING MILLION
Unofficial Estimates Place
Additional Funds at $685.
400 for Fire Department.
FIGURE is BASED ON
3-PLATO0N SET-UP
Balance of Sum Would Be Needed
for Extra Guards at Penal
Institutions.
Nearlv 81 600 600 additional revenue

Nearly 81 100000 additional revenue
will be required by the District to
adopt the standard hours OF labor"
approved by the Civil Service Com
mission and recommended to depart
ment heads for consideration IN pre-
pairing the 1888 budget.
This estimate was made unofn-
cially, since the heads of the two de-
partments most directly and immedl-
ately affected are at present on leave
Of absence.
The largest single increase would
be in the Fire Department, where a
minimum of 1928, 400 would be re-
uuired to hire additional privates to
change from its present two platoonS
to three platoons.
This figure was arrived at by Jesse
Jameson, president OF the District
Fire Fighters Association, who made
the estimate on the basis of the num-
Der of men required and the starting
salary at present fixed by law.
Balance for Guards.
The balance of the 81 900 900 would
be needed to hire additional guards at
the District Jail, Lorton Reformatory
and the work house at Occoquan. Def1-
mite figures on the needs at the three
institutions were described as "im-
possible" but at hearings before the
last session of Congress, six more
guards at $500 each per year, were
asked for the District Jail and 10
guards at an unstated salary at the
other two penal institutions.
In addition to these, DR.. Edgar A.
Bocock, superintendent of Gallinger
Hospital, asked for 20 additional
nurses.
Chief Engineer Charles Schrom of
the Fire Department and ElWood
Street, director of the Board of Public
Welfare, both are on leave at present.
Their two substitutes. Battalion Chief
j. j. Darlington of the Fire Depart
ment and Paul l.. Kirby, acting direc-
tor Of welfare, indicated they would
take no action on making the request
ed new budget estimates until the
regular department heads return.
Donovan Asked Estimates.
Maj. Daniel j. Donovan, District
auditor and budget officer. instructed
the department heads Friday to begin
immediate preparation of their 1888
estimates so they can be in the hands
Of the Commissioners by August l..
His instructions also included direc-
tions to make separate estimates on
new jobs and salaries required to
adopt the standard" hours.
The Fire Department now is op-
Grated with 872 men. They work
on two shifts that alternate day and
night duty. Men on day duty work
l0-hour shifts and. those at night
work IA hours, giving them totals
Of 70 to SO hours per week. However,
each unit commander for some time
has arranged to permit the men to
take a day off each week, although
the schedule is changed from week
to week to suit the departments con-
venience.
Under the approved standard"
hours, the maximum would be 40 to
A hours, with the men working a
limit of eight hours per day.
433 Men Would be Added.
In order to make this effective,
Jameson said, from 433 to 436 men
will have to be added to the depart
ment. In estimating the cost, how
g., he based his figures of the start
ing salary Of privates-$l, 900 per
year-and did not take into consid-
%,n fo thof hot p
talon chiefs at $4,000 per year, sew
eral new captains at $4,000, addition
al lieutenants at $4,000 and more
sergeants at $3.50 would have to be
appointed to organize the new third
shift.
These. salary bases, however. do not
mean new men will step in and re-
ceive them, for veterans of the depart
merit now making s2,4o0 or better
probably will be promoted to new
officers positions.
Hours Would Be Cut.
The situation at the penal institu-
tions Is that guards now are required
to work seven days each week, and
under the approved civil service 'sched-
ule they would be limited to 572 hours
per quarter, or an average of A hours
per week. No limit Is fixed for the
daily share of work.
This same rule applies to nurses
employed at Gallinger Hospital, the
tuberculosis Sanatorium, and at Chill
dren's Hospital, to which the District
contributes funds each year.
Maj. Donovan, in presenting the
request for additional estimates to
care for the adoption of the new
rules, made it plain that department
heads are not to expect adoption oi
the shorter hours unless the District
can meet its anticipated deficit oi
nearly 100000. Also, the question
must be settled as to what share the
Federal Government shall contribute
in 1898, and whether the District will
have to increase its $l.50 tax rate.