Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-08-24

IraedpoIicepfdn
Pay Boost Plea
In Montgomery
Tired of Stew Meat
And Grade B Eggs,
Association Says

Tired of a scale of living which
they say Is characterized by stew
meat and grade B eggs" Montgom-
cry County policemen are going to
present a strongly worded request to
the County Commissioners for sub
staatial salary increases.
Through their police association,
spo,sesmen revealed last night, the
county police force of 1oo officers
and men will seek a wage scale at
least comparable to that paid Dis
trict policemen.
Although there has been general
dissatisfaction on the part of the
county police for many years over
wages, several factors during the
past few weeks have brought the
issue to a stage where many police
men claim conditions are 'intoler-
able"
A fiat 10 per cent raise was given
the police in the budget, approved
in June.
With the increase, the same as
was given other county employees,
privates receive $4,000 year and
captains $4,000. In the District, a
private starts at $2,7O0, while a
captains salary is $1,000.
City Salary Cited.
A police captain in the county is
paid no more than a sergeant on the
Metropolitan or Park Police.
A wave of summer housebreakings
and safe crackings has made 1t nee
essary to inaugurate special all
night patrols. With no additional
men available. police have been
forced to work as much as is or 18
hours a day. The detective bureau
has been exceptionally overworked
during August.
An unusually heavy influex of
motorists on the highways this sum-
mer has put burden on scout car
men.
Our force of 108 men," one officer
asserted, "has to do all the types of
police work Metropolitan Police per-
form, and they have personnel OF
about TOO.
The population of Montgomery
has grown so that we have only
about one policeman for every 1900
persons. In the District it is one to
about $780,"
Many Leaving Force.
Many officers and men are leaving
the county force for better-paying
jobs. Some have gone to the Met
ropolitan, Park or White House
forces, while others have left police
work.
Yesterday the county Civil Serv-
ice Commission gave patrolmen ex-
am.nations to about so applicants.
But officers on the force do not be-
lie;c the recruits will lessen their
burden.
What kind of men will be at
tracted by the wages we offer?"
asked one officer. And the GOOD
ores that are taken on will quickly
be attracted by better offers else
where"
With food prices soaring, several
members of the force declared that
they simply don't know what its
like to have the kind of food on
their family tables they once en-
joyed
stew meat, grade B eggs, cold
storage chicken, fish, beans, and
bread constitute the standard menu
at our place" said one policeman.
Compares Police Lot.
Comparing the lot of policemen
with other county employees. police
say Sther employees work a five-day
week, while police put in full six
days each week.
A spokesman for the police asso-
citation said that most members OF
the force feel that the public, in
urging teachers salary increases,
has completely forgotten the men
whose Job is to keep order in one
of the Nations wealthiest and most
beautiful counties"
1--WE don't bebrude the teachers
their raises" he said, "but what is
the good of education If people can't
make living wage?"
At the same time he denied there
was any possibility of the county
police going out on strike, as was
once done in Boston. but warned
that more and more of our best
men will be leaving us if something
isn't done quickly"
Police Commissioner Wesley I.
Sauter was not available last night
for comment on the possibilities OF
the raises being granted.