The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-02-05
INJUSTICE TO THE POLICE.
IndIgnntion Over Proposed nII

Indignation over II Proposed Bill.
The entire police force, with very few
exceptions, are indignant at tho attempt to
have a bill passed by Congress which, they
say, would work great injustice 10 more
than ninety per cent. Of the force.
The bill referred to is the one embodied
in the District Appropriation bill providing
for relief fund for disabled policemen by
the retention Of 81 per month from tho pay
Of each officer. A CRITIC reporter last
night attended meeting of policemen, who
denounced the bill In the most bitter terms
They decided to organize a committee to
wait on Major Dye and request him to call
the attention of the Commissioners to the
Inconsistencies and injustice of tho bill.
The full text of the bill is as follows:
That hereafter tho Commissioners shall de.
duct one dollar each month from the pay OF
each policeman, which sum 30 deducted snail
be added to and form part OF tho present
police fund, to be Kept under tho control OF
The Commissioners and be Invested in United
States or District bonds; and said police fund
ehall be used for the relief OF any policeman
VINO, by accident while IN actual perform
ance OF duty, or by service not leas than nj
teen yeare, shall become 30 permanently DIS
abled as TO be discharged from service thore-
for; and In case OF his death from euch acct
dent, leaving a widow or children under is
years, for their relief: Provided, further,
That such relief shall not exceed for any one
policeman or his family the sum OF atty dol
lars per month; and a sum not exceeding sew
enty.hve dollars may be allowed from said
fund TO defray tho funeral expenses OF any
policeman dying In the service OF the District.
In the first place they stated that the
Commissioners cannot legally deduct 81 per
month from their pay, as they have signed
no such agreement, and that it is an unjust
and incquitable bill. and would be greatly
to their prejudice and against their sense of
Justice. BY the wording Of the bill n man
is compelled, against his will, to pay $l2
per year for fifteen years, before he be-
comes eligible to receive benefits for be-
coming permanently disabled and dis
charged. They state that all statutes on
the subject show the average life of q po-
liceman to be eight years, and few live TO
be members of force for fifteen years. All
the men on the force who have been in tho
service for fifteen years are now eligible,
and the rest Of tho members arc taxed to
pension these men, when they can hardly
hope to enjoy the benefit of the money they
are compelled to pay into the fund.
Another objection to the bill was that the
maximum sum to be paid on tho death of an
officer was fixed-at $50 per month, and no
minimum was named. To prevent favorit-
ism or any petty jealousies they think there
ought to be a scale of rates allowed under
certain circumstances There was a uui-
versal feeling in favor of relief assoca.
ton, but they said the term of service and
the benefits allowed should be graduated so
as to give a man who has only been on five
years or more, and who is broken down in
health by the exposure attending the bust
ness, proportional relief.