Evening star., 1940-01-07
D. T.. Commissioners
Request Five Items
OF Legislation
Retirement Of Judges
With Pension at Age
Of 81 Is Asked

The District Commissioners yes
terday sent to the Budget Bureau
five pieces of District legislation,
one Of which would provide for re-
tirement and pensions for municipal
judges after they have reached 81.
The other measures would:
Permit the District Commission
ers to accept and maintain a. me-
mortal fountain in the Municipal
Center development for policemen
killed in line Of duty.
Amend the District Unemploy-
ment COMPENSATION Act to exempt
unemployment payments for minors
distributing. newspapers.
Establish regulations governing
the professional engineers.
Provide for organization and regu-
lation of co-operatives such as the
Group Health Association and 9TH
er non-profit cooperative organiza-
tionS.
Two Bills Introduced.
Two bills already have been in
troduced providing for retirement Of
municipal judges at half-pay at the
age of 64, but the measures also
provide that a judge must have
served at least II consecutive years
before he can retire with pen
sion.
The Commissioners suggested that
the retirement age remain at ga,
but that the retirement pay be on
basis of 21a per cent of each years
salary. The maximum, under the
Commissioners plan, would be IS
per cent of the annual salary. In
other words, if magistrate re-
ceived $1,000 per year. his maximum
pension would be $4,000 per an
mum. If he served 20 years. he
would receive. 50 per cent, Of $4,000.
The District now has five Munich
pal Court judges, four in Police
Court and one in Juvenile Court.
Fire Defense Study Asked.
A comprehensive study of the Dis
trict fire defense system was re-
quested of the National Board of
Fire Underwriters yesterday By the
Commissioners.
Capt. Patrick H. Tansey, assist
ant engineer commissioner, who
headed a special Fire Survey Board
which recently recommended con-
solidation of nine District fire sta
tions, said the underwriters had
aided him in the study of the Fire
Department.
He added, however, that the COM
prehensive study would include not
only the Fire Department, but
would consider such matters as
water supply, building codes fire
alarm system, police cooperation,
climatic conditions and fire hazards.
The underwriters surveyed the
District fire defense system some 10
years ago and gave the city a
second-class rating. Capt. Tansey
explained this rating was very
good" Few, if any, cities have a
first-class rating. He said the
underwriters have a system of de
ficiency points" which are totaled
up on the factors involved in the
defense system. Altogether the total
possible deficiency points any city
may receive is 5000, and the lower
the amount of points, the better
the rating.
ssl Deficiency Points.
When the survey was conducted
10 years ago, Washington was given
a rating of 89l deficiency points.
Capt. Tansey explained. He said
that cities having deficiency points
between 500 and 1000 rated the
second class. He is of the opinion
that the city has much better rat
ing now, due to Improvements In
the water system, highways and
structures.
The new survey by the under
writer's organization was recon-
mended in the recent Fire Survey
Board report.
The Commissioners also said they
will request a deficiency item of
s25,O00 to consolidate the nine fire
stations which was recommended In
Capt. Tansey's report.
In following another recommen-
dation in the report, the Commis-
sioners will suggest the name OF
Calvin G. Lauber. fire marshal, as
member of the Co-ordinating Com
mittee which studies future city
planning.