Evening star., 1951-07-05
DC. 10 Ask Law
Assuring Police
Their Day Off
Commissioners Act
To Replace Time
Lost in Emergencies

The Commissioners decided to-
day to seek legislation to grant
compensatory leave to policemen
deprived of their days off in an
emergency such as the transit
strike.
Police Supt. Robert J. Barrett
estimated that some 800 of his
men lost their days off during the
strike, working IL to Is hours. He
said there is no provision for max
ing up the time to the men.
The city heads will ask Corpor-
alton Council Vernon E. West to
prepare proposed legislation. Maj.
Barrett asked that it be made
retroactive to June !. This would
cover the men who lost their days
off in the transit strike.
The police chief said that prob
ably no other unit of the Federal
or District government, except the
Fire Department, is SO initiated
against" in this respect.
C0mmendati0n Voted.
On motion of Engineer Com
missioner Bernard L. Robinson,
the Commissioners voted to COM
mend the police force for its
splendid" work during the strike.
Commissioner F. Joseph Donohue
asked that the commendation also
be extended to Traffic Director
George E. Keneipp and his staff.
At the same time, the Commits
sioners disapproved a proposed
bill to provide lump sum for
payment of policemen who worked
q sixth day between January 2
and March 81, before the flve-day
week actually went in effect.
The matter was presented by
Inspector Clarence H. Lutz, presi-
dent of the Policemen's AsSocia-
ton of the District, who said that
$200,00 remaining in the salary
appropriations at the close of the
last fiscal year could be used for
the purpose. He said 1000 men
could be paid $1O0 each from the
funds.
Barrett Opposes Move.
Inspector Lutz pointed out that
the policemen thus could be COM
pensated for a sixth day worked
in the interim between the time
the five-day week was authorized
and the time it actually went into
effect.
Mai. Barrett opposed the move.
He said that. 1--WE bent over back
ward % put it (the five-day week.
in effect on April l." and added
that, II think we are running
things to the ground when we are
asking a few days pay"
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
declared that in January, when
it was apparent that if the police
department were to wait for re-
quired recruitments, the fve-day
week would be delayed indefi-
nitely. The association requested
that the city heads approve new
legislation to pay for sixth day
when worked.
235 Vacancies on Force.
He said the association agreed
at a Commissioners meeting in
requesting approval for this legis-
lation. not to request a retroactive
clause. The Commissioners dis
approved any retroactive feature
at that time. he recalled.
During the discussion, Maj.
Barrett reported there were 235
vacancies on the police force. In
spector Lutz declared the salary
was one thing that made it hard
to draw men from this area.
Mr.. Fowler commented that at
a Senate hearing the fire depart
ment expressed satisfaction with
the salary scale, the same as for
policemen. and reported only 13
vacancies.
why isn't the cost of living
just as high for fireman as for
policeman" he asked.
Maj. Barrett replied that con-
ditions were different for police
men. He mentioned the dan
ger" long hours in court and the
three shifts of duty,