Evening star., 1943-03-10
Alexandra Council
Votes Pay Raises for
Police and Firemen
All Grades to Benefit;
$l3,500 Is Appropriated
To Buy Fire Engine

Alexandria police and fire depart
ment personnel were voted salary
raises, effective as of March l, by the
| City Council last night
Police department. salaries will be
$1,000 per year for recruits, increas-
ing to s2,260 for patrolmen with five
years or more of service. First class
privates are to receive s2,320: traffic
corporals, s2,380; line corporals,
s2,440, sergeants, $4,000; lieutenants,
$2,970, and the chief of police will
now get salary of $1,000.
In the fire department, recruits
will also start at $1,000. ranging to
s2,260 for operators with five years of
service. Assistant chief operators
will receive s2,600 chief operators,
s2,660; inspectors. $3.50, and the
chief, $1,000.
Order New Fire Engine.
Following the approval of the War
Production Board for the purchase
of 1000 triple combination pump
ing fire engine, the council passed
on first reading the appropriation of
S13,500 for the purchase of the en-
glne to serve a proposed new fire.
house on Cameron Mills road. The
WPB had previously denied the ap-
plication.
City Manager Carl Budwesky was
authorized by the council to make
an application to the Federal Works
Agency for a grant to cover the cost
of the new station house.
Mr.. Budwesky indicated the ap-
plication will be based on the pre-
mise that the new station will serve
not only the LOO dwelling units in
Parkfairfax, the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co.'S housing develop
ment on Glebe road, but that the
city will also agree to give fire pro-
lection to the 3,200-unit Defense
Homes project in Arlington County,
since the proposed fire station will
be closer to the development than
any of the existing fire stations in
Arlington.
Renew Playground Offer.
Following a petition from the
North Alexandria Citizens Associa-
ton, the council voted to renew its
offer of $4,000 to buy tract Of
land on the north side of Washing
ton street, between Slater's land
and Bashford lane for a playground.
The Council had refused request
to rezone the property for an apart
ment development several months
ago. and had subsequently offered to
purchase the tract at price which
was rejected by the owner. In event
the offer is again refused, the Coun-
Gil voted to instruct the city attor-
ney to institute condemnation pro-
ceedings to acquire the land.
The first step toward action in
abating the smoke nuisance now
voting to advertise a public hearing
on the matter to be set for the
March % meeting.
Chamber Offers Proposals.
Martin Greene, executive secretary
Of the Chamber of Commerce, re-
Quested reconsideration of the ordi-
nance requiring a license fee of $5
for any householder renting room.
Mr.. Greene pointed out that the
housing situation in the city is crit
ical, and with the possibility of an
increase in the Naval Torpedo Sta
tion personnel will become more SO.
He stated that most home owners
who were willing to rent room, in
order to help in the war effort by
relieving the housing situation, OBJ
ject to being designated as ROOM
ing houses and that many would
withdraw their rooms rather than
come under that classification.
He also asked the Council to give
prompt consideration to the matter
of authorizing a survey of land
suitable for annexation, pointing
out that in his opinion, annexation
of land by Virginia cities is likely
to be banned at the next session Of
the State Legislature, and postwar
planning for the city hinges on the
acquisition of more territory.
Mr.. Greene also asked considera-
tion of the parks and Fairgrounds
program advocated by the Chamber
of Commerce for several years.
The Council agreed to consider
his recommendations at a future
meeting