Evening star., 1953-05-21
Police Fight Plan
OF Budget Bureau 10
Cut Raise 10 8%
By Don S. Warren

VVAb hNOuOV ~ WV
BY Don S. Warren
Washington police and flremen
are planning a last-ditch fight
for enactment Of a $3.5 million
pay raise, despite the fiat op-
position registered by the Fed
eral Budget Bureau.
Anything less would be in
adequate" said Royce L. Givens.
chairman Of the Legislative Com
mittee Of the Policemen's Asso-
citation.
The contest is shaping up for
the first week in June, after
Chairman Case of the Senate
District Committee returns from
a Today visit to his home State.
At that time, he said, he will
call a meeting of his committee
to act on the question.
Hopes Of the police and fire.
men were jolted late yesterday,
when Budget Director Joseph M.
Dodge urged the Senate Dis
trict Committee to grant an in
crease Of no more than 8 per
cent.
Calls 1t Is Per cent Raise.
Calling the House-passed $3.5
million bill a Is per cent pay
raise, he said the Budget Bureau
couldn't find "any basis for rec
ommending favorable action on
that measure"
Mr.. Dodge authorized the
Commissioners to submit their
own. earlier plan for a fiat 10
per cent pay raise, but he
brought out the same objections
even to that. That plan has an
estimated cost of about $2.5 mil
lion.
1--WE have indicated our belief" -"
Director Dodge wrote Chairman
Case, that the only basis upon
which a pay increase can be JUS
titled for District police and fire.
men at this time would be a
comparison with salaries paid
for police and fire protection serv-
ices by cities of comparable size
in the United States and the bet
ter protection which should be
afforded by increased salaries.
Median Point.
"This comparison shows that
an increase Of 8 per cent on the
average would place the District
police and firemen's pay ap-
proximately at the median point
in the salary range for the other
big cities.
Accordingly, the Bureau has
strongly recommended that the
District Commissioners revise
their draft bill to set the pay
raises at not more than 8 per
cent for each grade"
Mr.. Dodge said a Is per cent
raise could not be justified on
cost-of- f-living grounds. He said
such a raise would throw police
and f1remen pay scales BADLY
out of focus" with positions Of
comparable responsibility else
where in the District. He con-
tended its cost apparently would
exceed available funds.
$4,000 Starting Pay.
Under the Kearns bill, passed
by the House, the starting pay
of police and f1remen would be
raised from $3.409 to $4,000. A
10 per cent bill would raise it
to $3.50; an 8 per cent measure
to $3,682.
Senator Beall, Republican. OF
Maryland. who has sponsored u
bill identical with the House
measure, is expected to join in
the fight.
Senator Mansfield, Democrat,
Of Montana said he still is for
the House bill.
rIn this competitive period"
he said. 'If the people expect
the protection to which they are
entitled, the police and firemen
should be given a living wage"
Senator Gore, Democrat, of
Tennessee said he was inclined
to give the strongest considera-
ton to the Budget Bureau
recommendations.
Case Delays Decision.
Chairman Case was withhold
ing any final conclusion. He
stood by his Tuesday statement
for 2 raise that would meet the
inCroa sed cost of living, plus
extra hazard pay. and in an
amount that would make the
pay competitive with other jobs,
Mr.. GivenS contended that
anything less than the House
bill would be inadequate because
the pay would be insufficient to
stop the wave Of designations or
to recruit needed extra men.
The Budget Bureau is dealing
in figures only, not in human
beings, said Deputy Chief Clar-
ence H. Lutz, president of the
policemen's association.
1.-The Budget Bureau just took
the Commissioners figures and
in the interest of economy
Topped of 2 per cent" he said.
Calling the present turnover
in the force terrific" Inspector
Lutz said that If it doesn't stop,
Gin 10 years I wouldn't want to
live in this city"
eff you want honest, expert
enced policemen" the inspector
said, you've got to give them
enough to pay their bills"