Evening star., 1942-03-23
po|ice-Firenlen
Pay Boost Goes
Before House
Immediate Action
Sought; Other D. c.
Bills to BeCuIIed

11OuSC DASOl ASO SoAAhAAAooSS W
cided today to seek immediate House
action on legislation to raise the pay
of police and flremen despite a
warming by Representative Dirksen,
Republican, of illinois, that Con-
gress is striving to adopt thrift
program.
The committee voted to call up on
the House floor later in the day
bill that would increase the pay of
police and f1remen. up to and in
cluding the rank of captain, $500 a
year. Several months ago the House
fatty rejected legislation that would
have given a $600-a-year raise.
Declaring that he couldn't go
along with this BILL" Representa-
tive Dirksen warned the committee
that If we are going to throw a
monkey wrench into this thrift
program, we are going to get into
trouble"
Two Other Bills to Be Called.
The committee also decided to
call up for House consideration to-
day two other District bills on the
calendar One is designed to shorten
allowing them to decide by referen-
dun when barber shops shall open
and close. The other would allow
the Commissioners to promote an
officer below the rank Of captain to
head the Police Department Detec-
tive Bureau.
Largely at the suggestion of Mr..
Dirksen, the committee agreed to-
day to delay seeking House con-
alteration of legislation authorizing
the District Alley Dwelling Author
ity to borrow funds from private
sources to continue its low cost
housing program. The Illinois Rep
resentative said the whole picture"
of the housing situation in the Dis
trict had been changed by the war,
and that no action should be taken
on the A. D. A. bill at least until
the House Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee passes on the
Senate-revised Lanham bill au-
thorizing a s70000,000 approprla-
ton for housing and related public
works for Government war workers
in the Washington Metropolitan
Area.
The committee also delayed action
on a request for repeal of provision
in the local income tax law requir-
ing out of town manufacturers TO
nav a 5 per cent tax on net profits
they earn here.
It also deferred action on legiSla-
ton designed to settle the century
old District Virginia boundary dis
pute, which incidentally would def
nitely fix the location OF the wash
ington National Airport.
Both matters we're discussed at an
executive session which followed the
regular weekly meeting of the COM
mittee
Realty Tax Increase Urged.
During discussion of the pay
increase legislation, Representative
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana, urged
the committee to sponsor legislation
increasing the present s1.75 real
estate tax to provide funds for
salary raises. He recommended that
higher levy be not applied to prop
erty assessed less than $500 II
occupied by the owner.
The Indiana r eprese n a tive
argued that pay of police and fire.
men had been increased in more
than 200 cities, and that living costs
In Washington had gone "clear out
of sight," placing an additional
burden on the fire and police forces.
Further he declared. real estate
taxes here are lower than in most
cities, and he believed the levies
should be raised to produce SUFFICIENT
revenue for the pay increases.
In the midst of the meeting Po-
lice Supt. Edward J. Kelly and In
spector Milton D. Smith arrived, the
latter carrying a brief case filled
with gold-plated badges labeled as
sistant superintendent Of auxiliary
police, which were presented to the
members. The oath of office as aux
fliary policemen was taken by the
members several months ago.
Chairman Randolph told the po-
lice officials the committee members
realized their opportunity for serv-
ice and the responsibility placed on
them as assistant superintendent
Of auxiliary police.