The Wilmingtonian., 1885-07-11
POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN.

Harrisburg for the purpose of pensioning
those public servants of the state, who, as
policemen or fremen are overtaken by mis-.
fortune while in the pursuit of their duty.
The supporters of the bill show the hazard
Gus nature of the duties Of policemen and
firemen, the constant danger to life that
these most worthy public servants are daily
subjected to.
That when unforeseen misfortune attacks
those holding the positions referred to- it is
only just that the state should see that the
families of those who daily hazard their
lives in the interest of the state, should be
protected in some manner by the citi-
zens.
Tho question needs no beating about the
bush. 1t may be fairly stated that it is the
opinion of great many of our citizens that
some arrangement should exist by which
the families of firemen or policemen, who
are suddenly plunged into destitution or
want through the death Or manning of him
upon they lean for support, should receive
an adequate pension.
This is a mod ,rate and just demand, so
much SO that the ordinary sneer and CON-
ment usually heard when any claim trench
ing upon OF having the nature of pension
claim is mentioned, does not apply
here.
Firemen and policemen who are injured
or disabled while in employ of the city and
in discharge of their duty, have claim
upon us for their maintenance. These men
expose themselves to unusual and daily haz.
ard for the benefit and protection of the
city. The policeman's pay is not large-it
is very limited. The sum they receive in
return for their services does rot allow Of
their putting anything by for {, rainy day,
or making any provision whatever Tor the
| future
What kind of policy is it that demands
that public servants, whose duties require
them to take all sorts of risks, to be ready
at any moment to rush to the aid of theil
fellow citizens, at the hazard even of losing
their own lives, "why should their zeal be
dampened by the knowledge that a disa
bling shot, or stab, or blow will make then
paupers and plunge their families into pov
erty."
There is no justice whatever in the con
cepton. Do we, citizens, the employers o
these men, who ask them to risk their live
day and night in the protection of our prop
erty and persons, suppose we discharge al
our duty to them when we have paid then
that very limited monthly salary? No, it is
the greatest injustice to consider SO, WheI
those men, flremen or policemen, risk thei
lives for us they establish contingent in
surance, in favor of their families, whicl
we are bound by all moral laws to pay
we have any spark of humanity abou
us.
1t is true that these men are satisfied t.
take the scheduled pay. But we are thor
oughly aware that the sum is entirely insuf
fcient to enable them to lay by any part Q
it against the accident of death or manning
in order that their families may not be pau
pers upon the hands of the community. I
is plain that we do not receive from the pc
licemen ''receipt in full' for the dutie
they have performed when the City Treas
urer takes the receipts of monthly salar.
from them.
We owe these worthy public servant
more We owe them or their families ali
and help of a substantial nature, contingen
upon an accident hurting, manning, or kill
ing them while in the pursuit of thei
duty.
: There should be permanent pension fun
for disabled policemen and fremen or 70
their families. Our policemen in this cit
have not, to our knowledge, made an
claims of the kind. The assertion of tn
duties in the case should come from us, W
as citizens undoubtedly owe such considera
tion to that class of public officer the mos
worthy of all.