Evening star., 1942-06-02
Bigger Payment
Demanded for
D. {. From U. 5.
Commissioners Fight
Fire-PoIice Increase
Without Larger Fund
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

New demands that the Federal
Government meet a fairer share
of the expenses of the National
Capital arose in the Senate Dis
trict Committee today, when the
plea of policemen and firemen
for a $500 pay increase was op-
posed by the Commissioners on
the ground the District may face
financial difficulties before the
war is over.
After going into closed session, the
committee again postponed action
on the measure for a week. A ma
jority Of the committee is believed
ready to vote for the bill, but Chair
man McCarran decided to put off a
decision when Senators Burton, Re-
publican, Of Ohio and Overton,
Democrat, of Louisiana argued
against it, in view of the financial
arguments advanced by the Com
missioners.
The inadequacy of the present
100000 lump sum the Federal
Government pays as its share Of
maintaining the Nations Capital
was brought into the discussion
by Chairman McCarran after Dis
trict Budget Officer Walter Fowler
had pictured the financial difficulty
that may confront the local gov
eminent by 1914 as the result of war
problems.
Favors Bigger Contribution.
1T has always been my position,
and it is today, that the Federal
Government does not contribute
a proper proportion to the upkeep
of this city," said Senator Nc
Carran. That is especially true
Of these two departments, because
the United States relies on these
District policemen and firemen for
the protection of its property here"
Commissioner Young joined in to
observe that the Federal Govern
ment also requires the District to
pay the salaries of the United States
Park Police.
The District also furnishes the
Federal Government all of its water
free" added Senator Overton, Dem
ocrat, of Louisiana, who two years
ago led q determined fight to have
Congress return to a definite per-
centage formula for fixing the Fed
eral obligation.
The House refused to accept the
Overton formula, which would have
raised the arbitrary $4,000, 900 lump
sum then being paid to approx
mately 5000 900, but Senator Over
ton succeeded in obtaining a COM
promise agreement that raised the
lump sum to $4,000, 900.
Fixed Scientific Formula.
The inequity of the lump sum pay
ment, however, grows out of the
fact that it bears no scientific, fixed
relationship to the total required to
run the city, and means that all in
creases fall on the local community
even though the added expenses now
confronting Washington are largely
the result of the Governments
wartime activity here.
The Overton formula would have
based the Federal share on the per-
centage of the land area of the city
used for national purposes. which
meant that the payment would vary
upward or downward as the United
States increased or decreased its
activities in Washington.
In opposing the police-fire pay
raise, District officials argued that
the two uniformed forces are only
part Of municipal organization
of 1900 employees, and If all city
workers were given a $500 raise it
would require 100000. The cost
of the police-fire bill is only $500 900.
Senator Overton suggested one
solution might be to seek a $3,000,-
600 increase in the Federal payment.
Mr.. Fowler admitted the District
could meet the 100000 cost of the
police and fire raise for the year
ending June 80. 1943, but drew a
gloomy picture of the local revenue
situation thereafter.
Warning the committee that the
city now has a debt of $4,000, 900 it
must repay to the United States in
regular installments, Mr. Fowler said
the Commissioners may soon have to
borrow another 10000 for air.
raid and other war precautions. The
war, he said, may entail other new
obligations next year, and added.
I'VE are going to run into financial
difficulties in 1914 and 1945 unless
new taxes are levied"
Commissioner Young said the
board is not lacking in appreciation
of the services of the policemen and
flremen, but contended that If their
pay increase is justified it could not
be denied all other city employees.
Commissioner Mason and Mr. Fowler
cited the guards at the District Jail,
getting from 81 200 to 81 500, as an
example of other groups equally en-
titled to an increase.
Questioned by Chairman McCar-
Idu dS W lIlC diuOullI VI cAlI uuty
required by policemen and firemen,
Mr.. Young admitted it has been
rather steady since December. Fol-
lowing the attack on Pearl Harbor,
he said, all leaves were Cancelled, but
he said that leave Is cumulative and
is being granted gradually as con-
ditions permit.
ACCESSIBILITY of making civilian
defense q regular item Of municipal
expense instead of collecting VOL
untary neighborhood contributions
has been suggested to the subcom-
mittee, but Senator O,Mahoney,
Democrat, of wyoming indicated it
would first have to be authorized by
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