Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-05
SUBSTITUTE MEASURE
COMMISSIONERS AMEND RELIEF FUND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Expense to Be Borne Equally by Ma.
Provision for Retirements.

The District Commissioners today trans
| mitted to Senator Allison, chairman of the
Senate committee on appropriations, sub
stitute for the amendment forwarded by
them to the committee several days ago
relative to deficiencies in the relief funds
of the police and fire departments. AS here
tofore explained in The Star, the first
amendment transmitted to the committee
by the Commissioners provided that suf-
ficient amount to meet these deficiencies
should be taken wholly from the District
revenues. and attention was directed by
The Star to the fact that should the pro-
posed legislation be enacted that provision
of the organic act of the District requiring
borne by the general government and the
municipality would be violated
In their communication to Senator AL
lisou today the Commissioners explain this
difference between the two amendments
submitted by them several days ago, and
that the one forwarded today proposes to
meet such deficiencies out of the revenues
of the District and out of any funds in
the United States treasury, not otherwise
appropriated, in equal parts.
THE latter, state the Commissioners,
seems to the Commissioners to be equita-
BILE. view of the fact that the police and
fire departments afford protection to the
persons and property of the general gov
eminent as well as to the private individ-
uetIS anu property
The Proposed Legislation.
This legislation was proposed by Major
Sylvester. the chief of police. who informed
the Commissioners that, if enacted, it would
not change existing Law, deficiencies in the
two relief funds now being payable wholly
out of fines collected in the Police Court.
The provision contained in the District APP
preparation act of June II. 1896. is said to
rave originated not with the then Commits
sicners. but in Congress. Fines collected in
the Police Court are deposited with the
treasurer of the United States as District
revenues. and credited to the District.
Commissioner Ross, whose attention to the
matter was attracted by The Stars notice
OF the Commissioners action several days
ago. promptly invited the attention of his
associates to the fact that the United
States should. in all fairness and In har-
mony with the half-and-half principle of
the organic act of the District, bear its
share of the expense and they as promptly
agreed with him that their first recommen-
dation should be so amended.
The legislation proposed by Major Syl-
Vester provided that the captain of the
police force. the lieutenant inspectors and
the lieutenants shall, after fifteen years
service. or when disabled in the line of
duty, be retired on half pay. This provis-
ion further amended by the Commits
slorers today by the insertion therein of
the chief engineer of the fire department
and of the chief of police. so as to make
them. upon the enactment into law of the
proposed legislation. entitled to be retired
on half pay. Existing law provides that
members of both the police and fire depart
ments shall be entitled to retire after fifteen
years service, or when disabled in the line
o. duty. on an allowance not exceeding $50
per month.
Appeal for Fire Department.
In this connection it is pointed out by the
friends of the firenen that the pay of the
TWO assistant chief engineers and the fore
men of the various companies should be
increased. The former receive 81 900 per
annum and the foremen $1,000. The assist
ant chief engineers, it is commended hold as
important and responsible positions as the
lieutenant inspectors on the police force,
ana the foremen of the fire department
companies fully important and respon-
sibe positions as the police lieuteuants The
annual pay of lieutenant inspector is
S1,J'n. and that of lieutenant 81. 800. ON
behalf of the foremen in the fire depart
ment it is further pointed out that they are
on duty practically twenty-four hour six
days in every seven. and while entitled by
law to twenty days leave of absence every
year, are given but ten days leave it is