Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-04
MAKING UP DEFICIENCIES
SUGGESTION BY MAJOR SYLVESTER
CONCERNING RELIEF FUNDS.
MiscOnceptiOn of It's Effect - An
Division of Expense.

There was transmitted last week by the
District Commissioners to the Senate COM
| mittee on appropriations a recommended
ton of Maj. Sylvester, the chief of police,
that sufficient amount of the revenues of
the District be made available, by an
| amendment to the pending District appro-
priation bill, for any deficiency that may
occur in the police and firemens relief
funds. This recommendation was forward
ed to the Senate committee with the APP
prevail of the Commissioners. They also
approved Maj. Sylvesters recommendation
that ex-members of the police force not
| totally incapacitated for service by reason
of physical disabilities be made subject to
duty in case of riot or other emergency.
By the legislation recommended by Maj.
Sylvester the Commissioners would be au-
thoriZed and directed to deposit with the
treasurer of the United States, wholly from
the revenues of the District sufficient
sum to meet any deficiency in the relief
fund of the police or fire department. Maj.
Sylvester, in making this recommendation,
explained to the Commissioners, it is stat
ed, that the proposed legislation would not
change existing law. The existing law on
the subject is found in the act OF Congress
approved June II, 1896. providing the APP
preparations to meet the expenses of the
District during the fiscal year ending June
80, 1897, and is as follows:
provided, That hereafter the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia are
hereby authorized and directed to deposit
with the treasurer of the United States, out
of receipts from fines in the Police Court,
a sufficient amount to meet any denclency
in the police fund or the tiremens relief
fund"
Part of the Revenues.
The fines collected in the Police Court are
part of the revenues of the District and
are deposited in the United States treasury
to the credit of the District. Therefore, IN
making his recommendation that future de-
fciencies in the relief funds of the police
and fire departments be taken wholly from
the revenues of the District, Maj sylvester
believes that existing law would not be
changed.
In a notice of the Commissioners action
In the matter in The Star attention was
directed to the fact that that principle of
the organic act of the District providing
that the United States and the District
should equally bear the expenses OF the
District would be violated should the leg
islation recommended by the chief OF pollce
and approved by the Commissioners be
eracted into law. 1t was also pointed out
that the United States derives as mucn
protection from the police force and the
fire department does the District. and
that the people of the District could not
understand why in this instance the nall
and half principle should be violated.
Commissioner Ross explained to a re-
porter of The Star today that in voting to
approve the recommendation OF MAJOR Syl-
vester he did so under the impression that
existing law would not be changed. AT
the time the papers We're brought to MN
he was very busly engaged with other
pressing official duties. and did not nave
time to give careful consideration 10
the question as he would have desired
He now. he added. appreciated the force
and equity of the contention that the
| United States should bear equally with the
District the expense of such deficiency,
explaining that he would invite the atten-
| ton of his associates to the matter, with
| the recommendation that they Immediate
| " suggest to the Senate committee on APP
organizations such amendment OF the
/ law as would require the United States to
! pay its half of such deficiencies.
| Commissioners Approve Organic Act.
| 1T is needless to say" remarked Commits
sioner Ross, that | am in full sympathy
| with that provision of the organic act OF
! the District which requires the United
| States to bear it's half share of the eX-
! penses of the District. 1t seems to me
| that in this mater there is not the slight
| est reason for departing from this prin-
! cple, and shall at once suggest to my as
! SoCidtes that we mediately communicate
| with the Senate committee on appropria-
| tionS and request the committee to so
amend the pending District appropriation
| act that hereafter the deficiencies occur
| ring in the relief funds of the police and
| fire departments be equally borne by the
| United States and the District, and l have
| no doubt that my associates will agree with
| me in the matter"
Commis sioHer Wight stated that he is a
| firm advocate Of the half-and-half principle,
| and, when toli of the intention of Commits
| sioner Ross to recommend an amendment
| providing for an equal distribution Of the
| expo nse of the two relief fund deficiencies
| between the United States and the District,
! said ne favored and would vote for the
| amendment.
| Mai. Sylvester said ne is entirely willing
| that the Legislation proposed by him shall
| be amended proposed by Mr. Ross. He
| agreed that neither the police nor the fire
| department makes any distinction between
| the general government and the munich
| patty in aforting protection, and believes
| that it would only be fair and just for the
| United States to bear its half of the eX-
| penSe.
| II is stated that the action of Congress in
| 1896 in requiring the District to bear the
| whole expense Of any deficiency IN the re-
| lief funds not recommended by the
| then Commissioners of the District, but
| originated in that body.