New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
FIREMEN'S PENSIONS ~ DANGER.
UNDER DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION
THE RELIEF FUND MIGHT BE
EXTINGTISUED


THE RELIEF FUND MIGHT BE
EXTINGUISHED.
"a the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The Relief Fund OF the New-York Fire De-
,sr,ment IS the fund from which are paid first the
nens,ons Of all retired and disabled nremen: second
The insurance payment OF $1,000 to each fireman's
ui,e AT her husbands death: third the pensions TO
the widows and children Of firemen
II IS the existence of this fund and the certainty
a. safe provision for himself If crippled or dis
sned and for his wife and children II he dies that
moves the New-york fireman to take the desperat g
,sks and TO perform the gallant acts OF bravery in
NE saving for which this Department is famous
Throughout; the country above all others.
This fund has been formed from many sources
che accumulations % the old Volunteer Fire De-
psrtmen; the tax paid b. foreign insurance COM
panies the license paid by dealers in explosives
md the gifts OF citizens and others. IT has been
guarded by all Commissioners, OF both parties, as
a sacred trust. 1t IS invested in the bonds OF the
city Of New-York.
In 1896 Il amounted to ABOUT $4,000 The annual
income from il about $4,000. With the in
creasing number OF retired and disabled hremen
and Of dependent families the annual payments
rad risen In the same year to about $4,000 per
annum. The income from the trust fund and from
the sources above mentioned aggregated only about
$4,000 per year so that $4,000 additional had TO be
provided annually for the future. This could come
only from a sale OF a part OF the bonds which
formed The principal. or from source.
Tie Republican majority in the Legislature met
this ISSUE and at the time of the passage Of the
Raines .aw provided that 10 per cent Of the taxes
collected Hereunder should go TO the Firemen's
Relief Fund. In 1897 this percentage amounted TO
over $4,000. From this the deficiency Of annual
pensions made good, and bout $4,000 invested
in city bonds and added to the permanent fund
which thus raised to 5000,
Il was the hope OF all the friends Of the Fire De-
par;ment that this most happy and 10 the hremsn
blessed sources OF revenue would continue until the
trust fund would reach sum the annual interest
Of which would meet the legal and necessary re-
oulrements OF disabled ire-fgnters and their
families but II not be. In the autumn Of 1897
tina Cherter Commission for the formation Of the
new city met. A. the meeting held to consider the
Fire Department. eX-Mayor Thomas i. Glroy
made determined persistent ana virulent ATTACK
upon this fund. In the face Of the fullest eXpana-
ton from tire officials OF the Fire Department as
70 the necessity for and the use made Of the money
received under the Rsines law Mayor Gilroy be
Itued the needs OF the tremen, denounced the
provisions for them excessive. ard moved that
The charter should limit 20 $500 the amonnt to he
received by them in any one year rom the HaineS
Law tax. this being but one-quaTter OF the amount
10 which they We're entitled 10y The existing law.
BY strenuous efforts this extreme measure was de-
ieaied nut MAYOR FllroN continued ms eloi'S 10
iniure the Fire Department, and succeeded in get
soyr 10 he tbus rn,eiyed 10 sl5 S0o or onehaT
Of what the fremcn were by law entitled to receive
Greater injury now threatens. The Democracy Is
abolish altogether the Rsiues law II It obtains
control Of the Legislature. With that would 20 the
remaining half % the revenue left by Mayor Gill
roy's charity to the Firemens Relief Fund. The
income viii then be much below the necessary
unavoidable and egazcd calls upon It. To meet
these the bonds must he gradually sold and the
principal OF the fund reduced year by year. A few
years will absorb Il. and the Relief Fund Will have
ceased to exist With 1t will go the support Of the
fireman in his old age he dependence OF his widow
and children when he dies
DO the fremen Of New York like the prospect
Nor is the Fire Department the only one that
would be thus crippled. The Police Department IS
also beneficiary 10 a similar extent. and in the
same manner under the Raines law The repeal
q that would enormously decrease ther pension
their old re and dependent families.
There are. roughly estimated two thousand ire
and eight thousand policemen In the old city
OF New-York who would be directly affected a
total of ten thousand men. Can they their families
End friends afford 70 stand by and this huma no
law whose proceeds 70 the extent above stated he
long exclusively TO them swept awav2
A FRIEND or THE Blue SHIRTS
New ork. Nov. T. 1895