The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 4

The Boston Globe Saturday, June 7, 19(59 ymwUM'if i ii mi in I mi ll mi k'i i 'i r'r "'nil Poor Repair Work Charged Folk Mass Honors RFK By MATT STORRIN Glob TViihlncton Bureau REPORT Continued from Page 1 Quoting the report, Thompson said: "Overall, the protection being provided is considered as only fair, with some specific aspects being poor." The study was pointedly critical of the maintenance division, saying that "much of the apparatus presently in service in Boston would be considered unfit for even spare apparatus by most fire departments." It cited pumps that don't pump, broken aerial and ground ladders, worn vehicle chassis, leaking radiators, broken windows, and axes with rusted edges. C. J. Winquist, vice pesid-ent of Gage-Babcock, said the maintenance division "needs shaking up. A lot of men there are not doing their jobs.

"Whenever we visited the repair shop, it was a rarity to find any one working. Many were walking around drinking coffee." The firm found that comparable cities such as Milwaukee and St. Louis have repair shops staffed with about 32 men each. Boston's has 88. New York has 80.

The report noted that conditions in the department are worse now than they were when the last in-depth study was made in 1954 by the Fin Com and the Boston Municipal Research Bureau. Almost none of the earlier recommendations have been adopted. Thompson told newsmen that conditions are so deteriorated that the department "could find itself unable to control a major fire." "The maintenance is poor or non-existent and the fire companies are woefully undermanned in a sea of employees. Why, there's four firemen who do nothing but chauffeur the commissioner around! recommendations would drop 381 uniformed men which are nonproductive and the city would get better protection and save about $4.5 million." City and fire officials priased the report, although some had an edge in their voices that belied conciliatory press releases- Mayor White, terming the t's recommendations excellent, said: "Immediate emphasis will be placed on insuring that each departmental vehicle is fully operative." The mayor said purchases of new equipment during 1968 and 1969 will surpass the total purchased during the past decade. His aides said that outdated equipment and administration is an inherited evil.

The report concedes the problems started about 15 years ago. The survey cited the extremely poor condition of firefighting equipment and vehicles despite good maintenance facilities and an overstaffed repair shop. As an example, Thompson cited tests run on nine pumping trucks selected at random. Five did not perform adequately and three failed completely, he said. One of the report's principal recommendations calls for a sweeping reorganization of the maintenance division which would reduce the staff from 88 to 43.

It also proposed a regular maintenance and replace- ment program "so that apparatus will no longer remain in active service for more than 20 years." The report also was sharp- ly critical of the excessive number of men off duty because of injury leave the average weekly rate is 10.4 percent of the work force, it said. Gage-Babcock's Winquist, in response to a question, said: "We're not saying the men are fakers. We are saying the procedure" is being Thompson said the Fin-Com will continue to watch the department's outside repair practices, which cost $277,000 in 1968 and is budgeted, for $351,000 in 1969. "Many of these repairs," he said, "are routine things like adjustments of ignitions and carbeurators. They should be done in the department shop." Give Officials Time, He Asks White Promises a Full Overhaul the spiritual "Amen" during the canon of the mass.

Robert F. Kennedy second oldest son of the late senator read the Entrance Antiphon: "Lord, grant that he may have eternal rest forever in the radiance of your light." The senator's eldest son, Joseph Kennedy, read the epistle from Romans 14; The life and death of each of us has its influences on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord." Altar boys for the ceremony were two more of the senator's sons, David and Michael two of the daughters, Marry Kerry and participated in the offertory procession. Mrs. Kennedy joined in most of the singing. Sen.

Edward Kennedy sang some of the early hymms but by the middle of the ceremony he had rolled up his song sheet in his hands and stood, trance like with his eyes on the ground. Members of the family received Communion from Archbishop Cooke. Most of the people who gathered in the cemetery stood on a steep slope which overlooks the grave and the full panorama of the nation's capital across the Potomac. There was no eulogy. But Archbishop Cooke read a brief prayer in which he noted that Robert Kennedy "had a great visio nof a great world in which poverty, injustice and ungrounded fears would have no place." Within the congragation were many of the people who worked in last year's campaign.

Some of them aslo helped organize the memorial ceremony. Dignitaries Vice President Spero Agnew Dignitaries included: Vice President Spero Agnew; former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara; former Ambassador-at-Large Aver-ill Harriman and former astronaut John Glenn. As the Mass ended, the slope above the grave was bathed in light from the candles of hundreds of people who sang: "Glory, glory, hallelujah. Glory, glory, hallelujah.

Glory, glory hallelujah. His truth is marching on." After three choruses of the Battle Hymn, the Ken-, nedy Family began to file out through the crowd after Vice President Agnew had stepped over to pay his ARLINGTON, Va. The family, friends and admirers of Robert Francis Kennedy stood by his simply marked grave last night and again remembered him with the choruses of the Hymn of the Repubiic." They were gathered in the hundreds holding lighted candles in the twilight on the slopes of Arlington cemetery. (Photo Page 1) New York Archbishop Terrence Cardinal Cooke celebrated Mass to the ac-companiest of 50 guitars and the singing congregation. The Mass on the anniversary of Sen.

Kennedy's death took place on a night only slightly less warm and humid than when Kennedy was laid to rest here late in the evening of June 8, 1968. The widow, Mrs. Ethel Kennedy, brought 10 of her 11 children to the ceremony that took less than one hour. Only her 6-month old baby, Rory Katherine -Elizabeth, remained at Mrs. Kennedy's home in McLean.

Mrs. Kennedy wore a simple white dress and white lace veil. Robert Kennedy's only surviving brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy, stood rigidly by her side. Mrs.

Rose Kennedy, the late senator's mother did not attend the service. His sisters. Mrs. Patricia Lawford and Mrs. Jean Smith were present.

Standing to one side was Mrs. Aristotle Onassis, the wife of the late President John F. Kennedy, who is buried only yards away from his brother. Virtually the entire Mass marked by the singing of folk hymns with a young seminarian, Carey LandTy, leading the assembled crowd. Symbolic of the standing which Robert Kennedy had with the black people of America, there were among the mourners kneeling closest to the simple raised altar some 150 black children from Jurnior Village, a local institution for children from broken homes.

Shotly before he began his campaign for the Presidency last year, Robert and Ethel Kennedy organized a telethon on a Washington station to raise funds to build recreational facilities at the Village. Also recalling the late senators dedication to the disadvantaged in the nation was a moving rendition of REACTION Continued from Page 1 The tone of Kelly's machine-copied statement, a joint release with Chief Kil-dufT, was conciliatory. It was, actually, an expanded version of a news release issued by Mayor White welcoming the report. It noted the conditions were inherited by Kelly and Kil-duff, and assured that forts are under way to restore the department to top status. And all three whether orally or in print insisted the report contained no surprises, nothing not already known by them.

INHERITED White said many of the re-p t's recommendations were anticipated by Kelly and Kilduff. They have been conducting their own review of departmental operations since assuming their positions several months ago, he said. "It should be obvious that Comr. Kelly, who assumed his position just seven months ago, and Chief Kilduff, who assumed his position just four months ago, have inherited, a department which has suffered from years of neglect. "Rehabilitating the operational and administrative practices of the department will take time, but the task will be done," White said.

As for the poor condition of fire apparatus and equipment the report termed it "deplorable" White said purchases of new fire fighting equipment by his administration in 1968 and 1969 "will surpass the total of new vehicles purchased during the previous the overwhelming majority of Boston firefighters are dedicated, conscientious professionals who take pride in their roles of safeguarding the lives of the public. "They, too, wish to perform at the highest level of efficiency." Both men admitted they have not read the report. "It's full of inconsistencies," Kelly of the 'suggestions' are direct quotes either from the chief or myself to the people who prepared the report." He cited as a major inconsistency the report's recommendation to do away with one of the city's two fireboats. "They quoted from a National Fire Protection manual dealing with marine fire protection in a small city. The very same manual says a city the size of Boston should have three fireboats," the commissioner said.

The Kelly-Kilduff release said: "Recognizing that 41 percent of the department's equipment is more than 20 years old, we are planning to replace 45 percent of (the) apparatus during the next 18 months." The release also listed six steps taken in recent months to tighten administrative and personnel-deployment practices, plan and locate eight new fire stations and return defective new equipment for correction. "I feel that all of these steps, and many others that will be forthcoming reflect the administration's awareness of the need for modernizing the department's administrative practices," Kelly said. Mindful of his political protocol, the former Democratic state representative added: "I also feel, however, that 1 i MJ "MUCH OF APPARATUS UNFIT" Study Asks Cut In Repairmen 4 I Exodus Foots Bills For Boston Busing i 3 BOSTON FIREMAN-IS HE PROPERLY EQUIPPED? (Ollie Noonan Jr. Photo) Dwight Says Medicaid Remedies Begun Highlights of the Fin m's fire department report. Findings: 1 Fire fighting apparatus is in "deplorable" condition because of years of neglect.

2 The department maintenance division was criticized for "poor or nonexistent" work. 3 Poor deployment of manpower resulting in un-dermanning of engine and ladder companies despite the surplus of overall staff. 4 Poor physical condition of fire stations and lax housekeeping. 5 More companies are operating than needed for proper protection. But all of them are understaffed.

6 The department's failure to make full use of adequate training facilities provided. 7 A lack of adequate fire prevention regulations. Major recommendations: EQUIPMENT Reorganize the maintenance division under a competent superintendent, reducing the staff from 88 to 43. Rehabilitate all apparatus, placing it in top mechanical condition. Rehabilitate all equipment carried on vehicles, particularly ladders.

Start a formal maintenance program, including a daily in-station check by the driver, plus monthly, quarterly and semi-annual inspections and servicing of all vehicles. Begin a regular replacement program so apparatus will not be in service more than 20 years. This will require buying two pumping engines each year and three ladder trucks every two years. Revise specifications used to purchase vehicles to avoid trucks carrying too heavy loads. Stop defective equipment from remaining in service, as was done with pumpers after the 1968 tests were performed.

Keep a strict watch on all personnel in the maintenance division, requiring each man to report how his time is spent each day and setting up a record system of all activities. VEHICLE COMPANIES Eliminate eight fire companies and convert four engine squads into rescue squads. Reduce the department's manpower by 440 men, including 381 uniformed positions and 59 non-uniform civilian clerks or mechanics. Eliminate the position of aides for all except chief officers assigned to fire fighting duties. Keep rigid control over injury leave and require personnel to retire with ay disability pension immedi- ately if it's clear they won't be returning to duty within six months.

"At present, an excessive number are off duty on injured leave" and for excessive periods. MAN POWER ASSIGNMENTS Departmental Organization Place all positions, except that of fire commissioner, under civil service, with appointment only after com- -petitive exams. It would include the fire chief. Create two assistant chiefs, one in charge of ad- ministration and one over, the fire prevention bureau. Fire Stations Set up a priority pro- gram for complete rehabilitation of all fire stations by appropriating annually until the work is finished.

Improve housekeeping in all stations. TRAINING Reorganize the training division by placing a district chief in charge and elirninat- -ing extraneous duties, such as servicing fire extinguish- ers. Start a regular training with each company i. going to a training facility at least four times a year. Also -record each fireman's train- ing background.

By CAROL LISTON Stiff Writer Comr. of administration Donald R. Dwight said yesterday he had requested an immediate remedy for Medicaid "deficiencies" charged in a Federal audit of three state welfare offices. The Globe yesterday reported a Department of Health, Education and Welfare, audit had found the state's welfare department does not have uniform methods or a written procedure for checking the validity and accuracy of drug prices, or medical fees and other items covered by Medicaid. The system, the audit said, has resulted in duplicate payment of bills, charges of excessive fees for drugs and services and overservice to Medicaid recipients.

Dwight yesterday released a May 30 letter he sent to Welfare Comr. Robert F. the governor agreed the state would: Review all past Medicaid payments to spot overpayments and recover the money involved; Assure that improvements in Medicaid management and handling bills would be expedited; Call for band the governor has filed legislation; restructuring the state personnel system in an effort to attract and retain competent management personnel; Have data processing equipment effectively handling payments in order to adequately control the deficiencies disclosed by the said HEW was prepared at any time to cooperate with the state to assure effective administration of Medicaid. Ott. In the letter, Dwight called for immediate development of written procedures for local offices to follow in the processing of vendor (doctor, dentist, pharmacist, hospital) claims.

Dwight said he did not view the audit with "panic" because it is clear the department's problems "will be corrected in the long haul." Dwight, added, however, that although new equipment would solve the problem by Dec. 31, "seven months is too long to live without correction of the conditions described in this report." The finance commissioner said he recognized, as does HEW, that the welfare department has been working to remedy the weaknesses in its processing system. By July major welfare payment centers, such as Boston and Springfield, will have automated systems in full operation for bill processing. Automation should be in effect by Dec. 31 for the entire Medicaid payment system.

Walter W. Mode, New England regional director of HEW, yesterday said: "This audit report confirms there were difficulties in the initial handling of the Medicaid program in Massachusetts. Mode said that the state's personnel system, under former Gov. Volpe, worsened the transition by refusing the welfare department extra employees needed for the reorganization. "This is one reason why I discussed the need for improvement in the state's personnel system with Gov.

Sargent in February," Mode said. He said that in recent discussions with Gov. Sargent 40 percent if it is unbalanced (over 80 percent non whjte). Neil Sullivan, the new state commissioner of education, who has won national fame as a champion of school integration, has made it clear that he does not intend to see the state pay $100 million to build schools that are not balanced. Sullivan and state Department of Education officials held meetings last week with Mayor White's representatives and members of the Boston School Committee.

It is not impossible, said some, that Sullivan's "no balance, no money" approach" had something to do with the Mayor's change in policy. "COMMITTED" Just yesterday, in a State Board of Education meeting, Sullivan said that "unless we provide transportation money for the Trotter, the school will not open successfully." This he said, would "place in jeopardy" the $100 million in state funds scheduled for Boston. When told about the mayor's letter, Sullivan said he was Vextremely pleased." "It is a clear indication that the Mayor of Boston is committed to an integrated city," he said. "I couldn't be happier The timing couldn't have been better for the Trotter School. I predict we'll have thousands of takers now." The new Trotter School "magnet" concept is based on the theory that white children will attend a school in a largely black neighborhood if it offers a superior educational program.

So far there have been almost 400 applications but there is no way to tell from the forms whether the applicants are black or white. Almost 30 percent of the city's school children are non-white and about 70 percent of the non-white children are in imbalanced schools. Boston has 57 racially imbalanced schools 11 more than it had in 1965 when the racial imbalance ki.wns passed, BUSING Continued from Page 1 Up to now the financial (burden of transporting children has been borne by privately funded groups like Operation Exodus. Both the city and the School Committee are supporting a bill now in the liouse ways and means committee that would require the state to pay transportation costs related to racial imbalance. One aide said the mayor had been reluctant to make public his change In policy at this time because it might "take the heat off the legislature" and ease the pressure on the state to pick up the busing tab.

"It's clearly a case where the legislature ought to appropriate money, since the racial imbalance law is a state law," the aide said. "However, we face an emergency and we can't let the kids suffer. So we may have to put up the money our- 8elVei'EW URGENCY" The emergency the aide referred to has two parts. Exodus, which bused as many as 500 children last year, secondly, the city's new "magnet school." the Trotter, is unlikely to attract the 350 white children it needs for racial balance unless transportation money is provided. The school, in Roxbury, opens for the first time in September.

In his letter to the school committee, White noted that he was responding to a committee request made almost a year ago. But he said the situation "takes on new urgency with the opening of the Trotter School. Only, voluntary enrollment of pupils outside the district can make it a racially balanced entire school building program, with heavy state subsidation, depends upon our success -in this venture," the mayor said. The School Committee construction program calls for the state to pay over $100 million over the next four years to build schoo that will -be racially balanced. The state pays 63 per.

ccnt-of lb" cot if the school is on'y Deputy Sheriffs Organize to Fight Salary Plan dollars under the present from Sheriff Thomas S. Eisenstadt. The Middlesex deputies would be paid an amount thought proper by the commissioners of that county. The Boston Finance Commission, which has fought the fee system for two years, suggests the salaries be between $9100 end $10,000. The Fin Com, set up by the Legislature as a watchdog on Boston's city and county administration many years ago, is backed by Mayor White and the city council in its reform attempt.

The first effort to expand the reform to other counties was made by Sheriff Eisenstadt who had a bill filed to that effect this year. His bill would have put on Proposed Staff Changes The following chart shows the proposed staff realignments and reductions of the Boston Fire Department that the Fin Com claims will save up to $4.5 million per year. SHERIFFS Continued from Tage 1 The deputies from the other counties, apparently joined in the final-hour rally against the bill out of fear that the move to take Suffolk and Middlesex deputies off fees would spread to their counties when the bill is debated in the House. While the deputies from Suffolk and Middlesex counties alone collect more than $500,000 each year from yers for serving writs, deputies in the counties with less legal activity collect correspondingly smaller sums. The lower-paid deputies often work part-time.

Suffolk and Middlesex deputies, however, are full-time employees of their cosnties. The deputies in the other counties are said to be more alarmed over the prospects of fyavipg their work over seen by the county commissioners, as well as their high sheriff than they are over turning in the fees. The bill would allow the high sheriff to continue to appoint his deputies- But the number he appoints, now his decision alone, would be subject to the approval of the county commissioners when they seek money to pay the deputies out of their annual county budgets requests. "Some deputies at the meetings said they don't want the commissioners as bosses," the Globe's informant said. Under the bill, the Suffolk deputies would be paid according to county's classification and compensation plan, the amount to be determined by the Boston City Council in its role as county commissioners when i.

reviews the budget requests plan. The House killed that bill and a bill similar to the Fin Com bill in an 11-minute session during a major snowstorm in February. Most members of the House were unable to attend that session. The bills were revived two days later when their backers charged the Democratic leadership of the house with unfair tactics of killing the bills in informal session. But the bills were killed again.

The Senate added Middlesex county to the Fin Com proposal after Sen. Denis L. McKenna (D-Somerville) pleaded that deputies in Middlesex County received even more enormous incomes that those in Suffolk County. The Suffolk dep-Nuties had incomes of $17,707 after expenses last year, the Fin Com found. h'gmbtr Nambtr Increutt Potmen Athorlif4 Betmmtn4t Cett Drrrturl Celt Fire Chief 1 1 Asst.

Chief 3 2 Deputy Chief 10 8 Dist. Chief 57 44 Captain 85 43 Lieutenant 224 253 Firefighters 1510 1157 $35,848 202.618 569,226 $41,765 3,424400 salary every deputy in the state, including some who only earn a hundred 'j.