Evening star., 1953-06-25
Senators Told
Of Fund Need
In DC. Services
Police, Civil Defense
And Fire Budget ..
Appeals Heard
By Don S. Worren

~" Ss NObUSu
Urgent pleas for more liberal
funds for the Districts protec.
tive forces-police, fire and civil
defense-today were laid before
the Senate subcommittee in
charge of the city's supply bill
for the year beginning next
Wednesday.
A sympathetic hearing was
accorded the department officials
by Senator Dirksen, Republican,
OF Illinois, subcommittee chair
man. as he ran rapidly through
many items where the House had
made heavy cuts.
United States Policy Involved.
On the civil defense question.
Chairman Dirksen said it boiled
down to a matter of policy on
the Federal as we'll as the local
level.
With this. Commissioner Sam
uel Spencer agreed. Senator
DlrkSen went on to say that he
had not been convinced three
years ago of the program then
advocated by Federal civil de-
tense officials.
Prospects were that the hear
ing for officials would be con-
cluded by the end of the day.
leaving only one more session,
next Monday. when citizen
witnesses will be heard.
Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray said 146 additional patrol
men were needed by the Police
Department in order to make a
more effective attack on in
creased crime. The House
slashed the departments request
for $11.2 million to $10.6 mil
lion. Chief Murray and the
Commissioners are seeking the
restoration of $497. 300, or most
Of the cut.
Chief Murray said this would
permit the recruitment of 146
more men, bringing the force to
full strength of 1890 for the
first time.
No Recruiting Problem.
He said he thought there
would now be no problem in Sc
curing the needed men. since
Congress has enacted a IL per
cent pay raise for police and
flremen. OF the increased sum
requested. $4,000 would be
needed for in-grade promotions.
The extra funds also would per-
NIT the employment of police on
the sixth day of the week until
the new rockies were enlisted.
Chief Murray said drastic cuts
the House insisted on last year.
preventing the department from
paying men for extra work on
their day off, had been followed
almost Immediately by a rise in
District crime. He said he
thought the department had
done very we'll under the cir
cumStances in rounding up gangs
of criminals, but stressed that
the best deterrent to crime was
a full force of police on beats.
AS an example of the extra
demands for service on his force,
Chief Murray said the invasion
Of thousands of Rosenberg SYM
pathizers last week had required
581 man days of extra work by
his force. He estimated the cost
at $10,778.59.
Acting Fire Chief Fred Literal
urged the Senate subcommittee
to restore $68,200 of a cut of
$102, 900 made by the House in
the Fire Department budget re-
quest for $5.5 million He said
this amount of restoration would
permit the hire of a needed 20
additional f1remen. But even
with this addition, he said, the
department still would be 27 men
short and added that the size
of the force is dangerously
low"
Civil Defense Tagging.
Police Inspector John Fondahl.
the District civil defense director.
told Senator Dirksen House cuts
had kept the District tagging far
behind other cities in protection
against possible enemy airborne
atomic attack. He cited ap-
preparations made in California,
Pennsylvania and New York.
New York City alone has an
appropriation of So million. If
Washington = would have rela-
lively the same amount it would
call for an appropriation Of
1898, 900, he said.
He protested that the Districts
request for an outlay in the
next fiscal year of $315,000 had
been slaShed by the House to a
mere $685. It would be i'm
possible to do anything with
such a small sum. he declared.
asking the Senate to restore the
figure to the full request.
Inspector Fondahl Indignantly
challenged the criticism made by
(See BUDGET, Page A-24.)