Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-10
Police Pension Fund Deacit.

Is required 20 complete and put in opera
uon Its railroad is extended for the term
oil TWO Years from the 18th of June, 1900
Police Pension Fund Dedcit.
chairman Babcock has received a COM
munication from benefciaries of the police
pension fund requesting Congress to make
an appropriation 10 meet a deficiency in the
fund. The communication reviews the his
tory of the police fund and says:
The deficiency arose during the period
extending from June 30, 1894. to May 81.
1896, and amounts to the sum of $15.6ig ~
sun due the police pensioners. There was
no deficiency before June 80. 1894, because
the usual source of contributions to the
fund, 81 per month taken from the salary
OF each member of the police force. was
supplemented by private gifts and public
entertainments given for the benefit of the
fund. The amounts contributed by mem
bers or the police were never sufficient OF
themselves to pay all the benefciaries and
during the two years above there was such
falling off in the amounts realized from
outside sources that the deficiency above
set forth arose
use OF moneys derived from fines paid in
the Police Court To meet any deficiency in
the pension fund all allowances due have
been paid promptly and in full. A schedule
SHOWS the names of the beneficiaries to this
fund. and states the amounts still due each
one Many on this list are widows, with
minor children, whose only means of sup
port Is the amount derived from this psn-
sion fund. Many of them contracted debts
StlIi unpaid, for the neceSsares of life re-
lying on the receipt of the entire amount
due them from the fund. Some of these
pensioners had as their chief support and
bread-winners policemen who were killed
while in the line of their duty as defenders
of the public safety.
ne relief We ask for has the support of
the Commissioners and of the chief of po-
ice and OF the citizens of WaShinorpn ,yCr
orally. We believe We are asking for only
what is lust and proper. A very large part
OF the amount asked for Will go to needy
persons. and help TO relieve actual distress
We hope you will look with favorapie eyes
upon our appeal and grant us the relief
asked for r"
Opening Alleys.
Senator Mcmillan today introduced "A bill
In the Senate amending the law relating
to the opening of alleys IN the District of
Columbia. Under this bill It would be
easier for the District officials or property
owners in squares without an alley to have
such a thoroughfare opened As amended
the bill provides that the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia be- and they
are hereby. authorized to condemn, open,
extend, widen or straighten alleys in the
District of Columbia upon the presentation
TO them of the plat of the alley TO be con-
demned, opened, wiGened, extended or
Strengthened, accompanied by a petition of
the owners of more than one-half of the
real estate in the square in which such
alley IS sought to be opened, widened eX-
tended or Strengthened, or when the Com
missioners of the District of Columb a shall
certify that the preservation of peace, good
order and public morals require that any
such alley should be opened, extended, wild
ened or Strengthened. or when said Com
missioners shall deem that such opening
extending. widening or Strengthening Of an
alley is necessary in order to provide proper
drainage facilities for The square in which
said alley is sought 10 be opened, extended.
widened or Strengthened, or when said Com
ElSSloners shall certify that such opening,
extending, widening or strengthening of an
alley is necessary in order to properly ac-
ccmmoaate vehicle traffic in such square:
or when the health officer of sad District
snail certify that such opening, extension,
widening or Strengthening of an alley is
necessary for the public health: and to ex-
tend, widen, or straighten minor streets in
said District of width not less than 40
feet nor more than 60 feet. to run through
a square from one street to another when
ever, in the judgment of said Commission
ers, the public interests require it,
Provided, That in the opening, extension
widening or Strengthening of an alley or
minor street, it shall be lawful to close any
original alley, or part of an original alley
the fee of which is in the United States.
which may thereby become useless or un-
necessary: and that it shall also, in like
leys or parts of alleys. the title thereto
to revert to the person or persons who
dedicated the same for alley purposes, or
to their assigns:
And provided further That the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia be,
and they are hereby, authorized, whenever
in their Judgment the same may be neces-
sary or eXpedient, to c,ose an alley or part
of an alley. the width of which is less than
ten feet.
Provided, That the assent thereto in
writing is obtained from the owners of a
majority of the real estate abutting there
on. That if the fee title to the land con-
tanned in the alley, or part of an alley, so
to be closed is in the United States the said
Commissioners are hereby authorized to
dispose of said land by sale to the owners
of the lots or parts of lots contiguous
thereto, at price to be agreed upon be-
tween the said Commissioners and said
owners. which price shall not be less than
the current market price of the ground
In the contiguous lots That if the fee title
to the land in the alley or part of alley
so to be closed is not in the United States
the title to said land shall revert to the
person or persons who dedicated the same
for alley purposes, or to his or their heirs
or assigns
Opposed to Vestibuled Street Cars.
Miss Margaret Huddleson has written to
Senator Mcmillan, protesting against the
movement for providing vestibuIed cars
and an all-night service on the street rail-
roads Of this city. She protested against
the all-night service because it would i'm
pair the efficiency of the day service. The
constant strain of machinery and the in
sufficient electrical current were reasons
against the all-night service.
The vestibuled cars, she said, are cum
bersome, awkward and impede the progress
of passenger traffic. The doors are usually
dusty or muddy and soil ladies' dresses.
Wherever vestibuled cars have been tried
in the United States they have been dis
carded, they cause accidents, favor null
tiplication of disease germs and except dur
ing few days of severe weather would be
useless In this city.
For Removal of Snow and Ice.
Mr.. Mcmillan has introduced in the Sen
ate a bill providing for the removal of
snow and ice from the sidewalks of the
District.
The bill makes it the duty of every ten
ant or occupant of any lot of ground in
The District Of Columbia improved by a
house or building adjacent to any improv-
ed sidewalk, within the first four hours
of daylight after the ceasing of any fall of
snow, to cause said snow to be removed
to make a path of not less than six feet
wide. In case sleet has formed on the