The evening world., 1894-03-31
PENSIONS FOR VOTES.
Plat Said to Be Seeking a Deal
With Our Firemen.
Republican Machine Against Vets
Who Ran with the Machine.
Juggling with the 2 Per. Cent Tax
on Foreign Insurance Companies.

4 deal through which ex-senator
Thomas c. Plat is trying to get a hold
on the Ne~ York city Fire Department.
the same as on the Police Department
through the BIPARTISAN Commission. is
said to be ]penlirg in the Legislature at
Albany. The negotiations have been con
Quoted IN the between you and me"
plan. but now that the secret is out. Mr..
Plat denies all knowledge of and connec-
ton with the scheme. Despite all efforts
however, to cover up tracks. the politi-
IL Is a Plat trail.
The deal Is over the bill introduced
In the interest of the Exempt Firemen's
benevolent Fund, OF this city, giving
that organization the right TO collect
from foreign insurance companies a 2
per cent. tax on their receipts from pre-
NUNS on policies. by foreign corpora
lions are meant insurance companies or
ganized In other States or nations and
doing business In the State Of New York.
For this privilege they pay a license, and,
since 1873, they have in addition, paid A
percentage to the flremen. The money
thus received was turned into the fund for
me relief Of hremen retired on, pensions
When the paid Fire Department was
created the Legislature authorized the
continuance of the payment of percent
ages for the benefit Of the forme vol
unteer iiremen and their heirs. This
law was ~re-enacted from time to time.
and the bill now before the Legislature
provides that the Law shall remain in
torce FOR ten years more. Thereby hangs
the deal.
The paid Fire Department has been
trying for years to establish a pension
fund for It's members like that of the
Police Department. The Police Pension
Fund Ia summarized fFinrinnnv hv 70
ceipts from certain permits and licenses
and from fines imposed on member OF
the force: The 2 per cent. tax on pre-
miums Of foreign corporations mounts
to a great deal more annually than the
Income Of the Police Pension Fund, and
they have come to the conclusion that
they are justly entitled to 1t. and not
the veterans. The story goes that they
have enlisted the aid of ex-senator
Plat. and that a promise has been ex-
acted from he firemen. or rather their
leaders. to support the Platt candidates
next Fail II the 2 per cent. tax is turned
over to the paid fremen for a pension
fund. 1t has been represented to the
Plat leaders that as most of the ex-
many Hall the Republicans would be
the gamers by winning the aid and
friendship of such powerful political
factors as the paid fremen. .
The argument Is a weighty one, as II
Is well known that a candidate FOR n
local Office who has the police and fire.
men opposed to him stands a poor
chance of being elected.
The amount at stake is worth fight
Ing for. The payments on the 2 per cent.
tax have Increased from $4,000 In 1850 to
!9i, 1000 in 1893. The vets" are putting
forth their best efforts and using all
the influence they can command to re-
tain the income. On the other hand.
the insurance companies have tried TO
tested the legality OF the tax, and in
1883 the Court Of Appeals rendered a de-
cisIon sustaining the ,firemen. An ex;
tract of this decision has been printed
member of the Legislature as an appeal
for his vote for the men who ran with
the old machine. The decision, writ
ten by Justice Finch, is a strong ribute
to the old nremen. He Jays in part:
The question was not one merely OF sen,imen,
or charity. Here was a body Of men intrusted
with important public duties, upon whose en-
cheney and faithfulness the public safety largely
depended. but who were to be obtained without
the aid OF salary or pay, and must be drawn int
service, not only by motives OF duty or love o.
danger. bat by judicious and even grateful
treatment and recognition by the State.
out Of this existing relation, and from a con
sid+ration OF the public welfare, sprang the aC
OF 1919, passed as a public act and dictated by
clear and definite policy. SO the State, In contin
honorable obligation. founded upon their past ser
had orcasioned. Just this policy has been adopted
as to exemptions.
They were continued after the services ended
and when the volunteers were disbandei. withou
their fault, and TO make room for a paid service
Justice and good faith required that the Stat
should recognize It's honorable obligations 70 kee,
up the fund. as It had done for so many years
The state did 70, and We are concerned only wit
the true character OF Its act. The character o
the obligation must not be mistaken or misunder
stood.
concurred by the whole Court. except Andrews
j.. who was absent.
The exempt flremen say that thei
treasury would be depleted IL they ar,
deprived OF their income, and. as a re
suit. untold suffering and HARDSHIP
would be entailed on many poor widow
and sick and disabled veterans who de
pend for their existence on the dona
tons and pensions they receive. T,
show that the disbursements for eigh
years exceeded the receipts from tn
tax, Clerk George b. Patterson ha
prepared the following financial state
ment for the information Of the Legis
lature.
Disbursements
| No. OF names for p.nsinns 10.