The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-07
The Police Committee
Will Tackle Them
Tonight.
PENSION QUESTION up AGAIN.
Proposition Of the Welcome
Mission Will Also Be
Considered.

The police committee is to hold an
important meeting in room 30 at the
city hail at 7.30 o'clock this evening
Action is to be taken on the proposition
of the Welcome Mission to care for in
digent wayfarers now lodged at the po-
lice stations; the petition Of officer b.
C. Dustin for the payment of salary
lost during the time he was suspend
ed, and on Councilman j. H. MeaSher
long deferred order for the pensioning
of members of the police department
in accordance with the provisions OF
chapter 1878, acts of 1892 This last or
der has been hanging fire for months
and an effort is to be made tonight to
decide it one way or the other.
1t is understood that there is consid-
cradle hostility to the police pension
order as well as to the proposition OF
the Welcome Mission people. A method
of caring for INDECENT wanderers on a
per capita plan similar to that proposed
by the Welcome Mission was in vogue
when Worcester was in its swaddllng
clothes and many members OF the city
council believe that the city has out
grown the system.
The Spy reporter, in talking the mat
ter Over with number of the city Ia
theirs Yesterday, found them far more
in favor of the plan of Councilman
Meagher, now before the committee on
charities, for a municipal lodging house
on lines akin to those that prevail at
the Hawkins street home in Boston.
They do not believe in letting out this
sort of business any more than they
do the letting out of the work OF car
ing for the poor, now housed at the
Home farm.
The order of Councilman Meagher
for the pensioning of members of the
police department, is sure to awaken
widespread interest, no matter which
way the committee reports, for there
has been a division of opinion on it
ever since it was first preached
Chapter 378 of the acts of 1892, on
which Mr.. Meagher based his order,
follows:
Section one-The board of mayor and
aldermen of any city, except the city
of Boston, containing no less than 75,-
900 inhabitants by the last state or
national census, may retire from act
i've service and place upon a pension
ROLL
First-Any member of the police de-
partment of such city who has arrived
at the age of 65 years and who has
performed faithful service in said de-
paTunlenC LOT d peFlOu NOT leSS L1let1 10
years.
Secondary member of said depart
ment who shall be certified to said
board in writing by the city physician
of such city as being permanently in
capacitated, either mentally or physi-
cally by injuries sustained through no
fault of his in the actual performance
Of duty, from further performing duty,
as such member.
Third-Any member of said depart
ment who has performed faithful SER
vice therein for a period not less than
20 years, if, in the judgment of said
board, said member is incapacitated for
useful service in said department
Section two-The amount of the an
nual pension allowed to any person re-
tired under the provisions of this act
shall not exceed one-half of the annual
compensation received by him at the
time of such retirement, in case such
person is retired on account of inju-
ries received, and shall not exceed one
third of such compensation in case such
person is retired on account of age or
service, the same to be paid by the city.
Section three-Cities within the pro-
vision Of this act are hereby authorized
to appropriate money to provide for the
payment of the pension authorized by
this act.
Section four-This act shall take eff
feet upon it's acceptance by the city
council Of any city coming within its
provisions.