Evening star., 1958-07-07
Budget Bureau
Charges Tops
Are Too High
BY GRACE BAsSETT
Star Stan Writer

pay legislation against Federal
Budget Bureau charges that
top salary proposals we're need
lesSly high.
The Budget Bureaus objec-
tions we're revealed by Commits
sioner Robert E. Mclaughlin in
his testimony supporting police
fire pay raises before a House
District Subcommittee.
From data available to us,
1t would appear that police
and flremen. in their maximum
rates, would be the highest paid
in the United States, under the
pending BILL" wrote Roger w.
Jones. assistant bureau director.
mo evidence is presented to
show the need for, nor the de-
STABILITY of, such pre-eminence
in pay" Mr.. Jones added.
Sees Right Direction
He said. however. that the
Commissioners proposal for
pay increases moved "in the
right direction" The scale
would be in accord with the
program of President EiSen-
hover, Mr.. Jones said, If rates
were more consistent with those
paid in other large cities.
Pending before the subcom-
mittee and backed by city off,
cials, as well as Police and Fire
Chiefs Robert v. Murray and
Millard M. Sutton. is a bill in
troduced by Subcommittee
Chairman Davis, Democrat Of
Georgia.
1t would authorize annual
maximum salaries of $6.840 in
stead of $5.635 for privates;
$1,000 instead of $6,581 for ser.
geants: $9,100 instead of $7,l05
for lieutenants: $4,000 instead
of 81 ,730 for captains, and ST..
100 instead of $14,298 for chiefs.
Minimums would be boosted
from $4,193 to $4,000 for pri-
Yates; from $5,936 to $6,40O for
sergeants; from $6.460 to $1,000
for lieutenants; from $7.085 to
$4,000 for captains; and from
$lS,438 to $4,000 for chiefs.
Resembles Senate Bill
The measure is identical with
a bill already reported by the
Senate District Committee, ex-
cept for 5000 raises in the first
three service steps for the first
class of off1cers-privates to
detective sergeants. Mr.. Nc
Laughlin said he preferred the
Senate bill. but stressed the
Davis measure would aid re-
cruitment.
He never clearly answered
this question posed by Repre-
sentative Broyhill, Republican
of Virginia:
why do you oppose higher
starting salaries when you
want salary increases mainly
to help recruitment"
Mr.. Mclaughlin said only
that minimums in the Senate
bill would rank the District po-
lice fire minimum salaries sew
enth among cities of more than
500, 900 population.
Police and firemen need as
surance of more take home pay
to accept lifelong careers,
Chiefs Murray and Sutton
stressed. They said they liked
the Davis bill, but that they
would be pleased with the Sem
ate version.
Applications Increase
Chief Murray testified that
talk about pending pay legisla-
ton had Speeded UP applica-
tions for the force in recent
weeks. His force now numbers
i2,346. leaving 154 vacancies, the
smallest recorded since Mr..
Murray became chief nearly
seven years ago.
Chief Sutton said there were
18 vacancies in the authorized
fret fighting complement Of
|1,018.
Major Ralph C. Stover, who
heads the White House police
force, reported 10 vacancies in
his outfit with an appropriate
ed" strength of 1853. Congress
has authorized a 170-man
White House force.
Asked by Mr.. Davis to ex-
plain the failure to recruit full
forces. Chief Murray said thst,
II think it is question OF SAL
ary. and of salary alone. When
men see how much more they
can make in the Federal Cow
ernment or by private employ.
ment, that's where they go" "
He stressed that rigid stand
ards for policemen made bin
discard 80 out of every 81 an
plications. Even stricter scree -
ing for White House policem n
disqualifies two out of every
three Metropolitan officers who
apply for duty there.