Evening star., 1937-08-11
HOUSE UNIT VOTES.
F0RFNE-DAYW WEEK
FOR D. c. F|REMEN
Sixty-Hour Work Limit Is
Set by Measure Opposed
by Commissioners.
PLAN is SEEN COSTING
CITY ABOUT $5OO,OOO
Bill Also Approved for Retire.
ment of Firefghters, Police
After rs Years.
BY JAMES E. CHM.

D1 JAhLS L. S1lNN.
The House District Committee to-
day favorably reported bill to estab-
lish a 5-day, 60-hour week in the Fire
Department, despite the opposition of
the Commissioners, who said the plan
would add about S500,000 year to
the cost of operating the municipal
government.
Another bill, providing for optional
retirement of police and firemen. was
favorably reported with an amend
nent which would require members of
the two departments to be at least SIS
and have served 20 years before being
eligible to 60 on the retired list. The
original measure would have per-
mitted voluntary retirement after 25
years of service, regardless of age
Representatives Bates, Republican,
OF Massachusetts, made vigorous fight
against both bills on the ground the
District is not in financial condition
to bear the additional expense
In view of the financial difficulty
the District has had this year sit is
not time for legislation of this kind"
Bates declared. 1T seems to me you're
going bit too far. 1t is morally and
ethically wrong"
Could Retire at As.
Bates directed his attack chiefly at
the retirement bill He said the orig
inal measure allowing retirement after
rs years of service would permit men
to leave the service at As years of age
In "the full vigor of health
Representative Jenckes, Democrat, of
Indiana, who sponsored the retirement
as we'll as the five-day week bill for
f1remen, clashed with Bates.
You're presupposing, she declared.
that every man on the force is going
to take advantage of the 25-year re-
tirement. I think a member OF the
metropolitan police force will stay
on the job just as long as he can. But
give the man not physically fit after
rs years Of service an opportunity to
retire"
Bates, however. made motions to
have both bills laid on the table. The
committee, however, voted the mo-
tions down and adopted an amend
ment to the retirement bill, offered
by Representative Sacks. Democrat, of
Pennsylvania, raising the retirement
age to SIS and providing that both
police and firemen would have to serve
20 years before being eligible to be
retired
Two Other Bills Reported.
The committee also favorably re-
ported two Senate-approved bills and
one changing the name of the Police
Court to City Court. The bills which
the Senate already had passed pro-
vide for compulsory semi-annual in
spection of the mechanical condition
of all motor vehicles, and removing the
present $l00 limitation on judgments
against motorists before the director
OF vehicles and traffic has authority
TO revoke a permit.
The committee had met in special
session to take action on a varied as
sortment of bills it hopes to jam
through Congress in the final days of
the current session.
Although the House is not expected
to grant the District another day
before adjournment for the exclusive
consideration of its legislation, Chair
man Palmisano believes it may be
possible to get consideration of i'm
: portant bills by unanimous consent.