Evening star., 1945-06-01
BY DON S. WARREN.

"A UdSlC "dSt IIlCltdSt III " doll-
ington police and fremen that fol-
lows the formula in the Senate
approved plan for classified Federal
and District employees, was recon-
mended unanimously today by the
Mcmillan Subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
The bill, granting an overall wage
increase of about "a per cent to
members of the District Police and
Fire Departments, the White House
and United States Park Police, was
estimated to cost 81 $4,000 addi-
tional annually.
| Strong ldorSement of the bill
came from the Commissioners and
! Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
but they recommended an amend
ment to exclude officers of the de-
partmentS heretofore retired, from
receiving an increase in their
/ pensions.
Proposal Is Rejected.
! This was rejected by the Police
and Fire Subcommittee headed by
Representative Mcmillan, Democrat,
of South Carolina after pleas for
consideration of the pensioned men
were presented by retired officers.
Mr.. Mcmillan said the bill would
be reported without the suggested
amendment, but that it would be
laid before the full District Com
mittee for its consideration.
Mr.. Fowler had brought out that
the increase in basic pay of present
members of the forces would cost
more than ST ,587 900 and that this
would be S261,186 greater if the
amendment were not adopted to
exclude retired officers from in
creased pensions.
Increases Are Graduated.
| The bill provides for 20 per cent
increase in pay for the first $1,000
of salary, plus 10 per cent for that
part of any pay between 200 and
$4,000, plus 5 per cent for above
$4,000. 1t also grants 8 per cent
additional in ]ieu of overtime and
night work differentials.
Mr.. Fowler argued it would be
more equitable to consider an in
crease in pensions for retired police
and firemen later in separate bill
since other former District employees
are not given retirement raises in
pending bills. All should be treated
equally, he declared.
A bill to increase the pay Of school
teachers now is on the way" he
said, and later consideration will be
given by the Commissioners to a pro-
posed increase in the pensions of
teachers. He also brought out that
pending bills to raise the pay of
classified Government workers do
not include increases in pensions
Retired Officers Voice Opposition.
Opposition to excluding retired
police and fremen from this meas
ure, however, came from former
Police Capt. c. M. Lord, M. F. Finan,
president of the City Fire Fighters
Association, and j. M Jameson,
pl VI IllC I0CUll GU L IL D
Association, who contended that the
increased costs of living had hit re-
tired men as hard, if not more SO,
than younger men who are enjoying
full pay. Retired men may be pen
stoned up to so per cent of their
last regular pay.
Mr.. Lord said members of the de-
partments always had been told
their anticipated pensions were to
be considered a part of the COM
pensation and that he feared pen
sions would not be increased if the
retired men had to depend on a
separate bill.
Aside from this question, there
was strong support for the pay bill
Commissioner John Russell Young
said the city heads we're heartily
in favor" and similar statements
came from Col. Edward J. Kelly,
superintendent of police; Stephen T.
Porter, chief of the Fire Depart
ment: 1t. Paul w. Proctor of the
White House Police, who spoke for
the Policeman's Association, and
Lewis G. Hines, legislative repre-