Evening star., 1937-07-28
F|REMEN APPEAL
TO HOUSE GROUP
FOR FVE-DAY WEEK
District Subcommittee Gets
Plea as Commissioners
Oppose the Plan.
CITY HEADS SAY COST
WOULD BE $500, 900
Scheme to Cut Hours to 60 Dis.
crlmlnates Against Police,
Is Claim.

Confronted by the opposition of tha
commissioners, Washington fremen
appealed today to a special subcomrit.
tee OF the House District COMMITTEES
for legislation granting them a five.
day, 60-hour week. as well as the ,r,vi.
lege OF retiring after Is years of sery-
ice
Inc plea was made on behalf of tho
fremen by c. E. McGhee, president OF
the City Firefghters' Association, dur
ing hearing before the subcommittee
on bills that would put the two plan,
into effect. Policemen also would be
granted the privilege of retiring after
25 years service under the new retire.
ment bill.
The Commissioners submitted an
unfavorable report on the ive-dav-
week bill on two grounds: One. that it
would cost s500,00 to put it into et.
fect at a time when the District il
confronted with s7Oo0.o00 budget
oeIlclt, Two that 1t Disseminated
against the Police Department.
1t was estimated by the Commits
sloners that a five-day week for both
the Police and Fire Departments would
increase the operating expenses of
the municipal government at least
81 100000 a year.
Treated Poorly, Is Claim.
McGhee charged that washington
treats its flremen more poorly" than
any other city in the country and
pointed out the five-day week would
not cost the District as much as the
original proposal of the firemen for a
three-platoon system of eight hours
each. Other District employees. as
well as Federal workers in Washington,
he argued work SO and 40 hours a
week, while fremen are on the lob
70 hours.
The Commissioners, he declared,
are trying TO find some excuse to dis
approve our modest request"
Rufus S. Lusk. president Of the
Washington Taxpayers Association.
opposed both bills. He pointed out
that police and fire pensions are now
costing the District more than $500. 900
year and declared the time is inop-
perfume for fremen to seek q fve-day
week.
Police Supt. Ernest w. Brown sub.
mitted statement opposing the re-
tIrement bill. He said the plan. if
put into effect at this time, would
permit 43 policemen. regardless of
their physical condition. to retire
at At.
Opposition to the five-dav week bill
also was registered by Mrs. Ernest
William Howard, chairman of the
Police and Fire Committee of the Dis
trlct Federation of Women's Clubs,
who said she is the wife of fire.
man
The five-dav week is a good plan
when the time arrives for it." she said.
But now is not the time"
Bernard Backs Plea
McGhee asked why Mrs. Howard
opposed all legislation in the interest
OF the Fire Department.
Il work for the good of the depart
ment," she replied, land not for the
downfall and crucifxion OF Fire Chief
Schrom"
Harry c. Blackman, chairman Of
the Legislative Committee of the
| Metropolitan Police Association, sub
mltted q statement approving the re-
tirement bill and pointed out it would
increase the efficiency OF the Police
Department.
Representative Bernard, Progress
sive. Of Wisconsin testified in support
OF the flve-day week bill. He cited
the hardships of fremen. and de-
clared: What these boys are asking
is very little, indeed They are real
good workers, and when they ask for
| 60-hour week I don't think any
fair-minded person would oppose it."
Representative Jenckes. Democrat,
Of Indiana, chairman of the subcom-
mittee. brought the hearing to a close
by criticizing the Commissioners for
opposing legislation for the benefit Of
fremen and policemen.
She said if the Commissioners will
discover methods of saving more than
81 100000 now wasted or unwisely
spent" the District would be in
position to give firemen humane
treatment"
Corporation Counsel ElWood H. Seal
advised her. however. that the Com
missioners don't spend one cent that
is not anornnriafed by Cnnpress