Evening star., 1901-06-19
POLICE PENSIONS.
Mai. Sylvester's Statement ReSnrdin.
Maintenance of Fund.

maintenance Oh Funu.
In forwarding the application of Captain
Austin Of the police force for retirement to
the District Commissioners, Major Sylves-
ter, the superintendent of police, submit
ted long statement the subject of the
pension fund. AS stated in The Star yes
terday, the Commissioners decided to retire
Captain Austin July l and to grant him a
pension of $50 a month. Major Sylvester
said:
For a number Of years the police and
firemen Of the District Of Columbia were
eligible to removal on retired pay under
the operation Of a clause attached to the
appropriation act approved February 20
1885. Certain provisos made 1t possible
to maintain a pOlcemens fund, made
quate however, in amount or accruement
to meet conditions and, as a result, no
certainty existed that a man injured or
diseased in either service, or the family OF
such. would receive allowance under
such operation.
ITO better secure the employees referred
to- your superintendent recommended GER
tain measures whereby the fund mentioned
would have statutory Endorsement, be
placed on a sound financial basis and
whereby the allowances might be in keep
ing with those in New York, Milwaukee,
Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore and other
leading cities, where the maximum pay
ment is 80 per cent of the pay received
by such persons at the time Of retire
ment, which is at the end Of a certain
period of labor or where injury or disease
has deprived an officer or fireman of fur
ther usefulness. AS result of my efforts
the fund will be on a substantial basis
this year, and had not such action been
taken the fund would have been exhausted.
1T was found impossible to secure the
enactment of a law with 30 per cent
clause for members Of the two depart
ments, but by changing the law as pro-
posed, a slight advance over 30 per cent
was secured for all interested. who
now better provided for in proportion to
salaries paid than are those Of other cities,
| excepting the superintendent Of police,
whose status is far below that of the same
| official, in this respect. in other jurisdic-
| tions.
1.-The maintenance and continuance Of the
fund will depend upon careful. judicious,
| equitable guardianship and in it's applica-
| tion without discrimination No officer or
| member of either department would want
| to be retired and feel that the fund would
| be insecure, which would result from
general maximum payment. Such was not
| the intention of those who made the law
In order that officers may be placed on
| a footing equal to that of subordinates.
and no dissensions be caused, in my opin-
| ion the average percentage paid privates
| of classes 1 and and sergeants in the
| police department of their pay at time
Of retirement should be allowed in cases
where officers are retired-that Is, where
| maximum allowances are made. This
would amount to SO per cent, except to
the superintendent Il Of police. where it
could not under any circumstances. ex-
ceed 36 per cent sro
| Captain MseA. Austin was appointed a
| member Of the forpe May 3, 1866; promoted
to sergeant JanuaHY 81. 1867; promoted to
lieutenant November q. 1868; promoted to
captain and inspee4er July 16. 1886; desig-
mated acting bmajQr and superintendent
November 25, 1856 relieved from duty as
acting major 'eanf superintendent Decem-
ber g. 1886; appointed captain and assist
ant superint tendent May 10, 1901.
| THE bill as prepared and reasons SUBJ
| mitted by your superintendent at the time
| Of it's consideration are herewith respect
fully submitted
| LAS the lave stands it reads in the dis
| cretion' of the Commissioners.
'The retirement is recommended to take
| effect June 80, 1891. In view OF Captain
| Austin's length OF service I am of the
! opinion that he, should be granted not less
| than $50 per monthcon retirement"