The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-27
Troubles Which Threatened to Dis
rupt the Organization Have
Now Disappeared.
CONTESTED CLAIMS ADJUSTED.
Payment of Death Benefits to Rela-
tives of Officers Who Joined
Under Unusual Conditions
Precipitated Row.

The troubles which threatened to disrupt
the Police Relief Association have been
amicably adjusted, and the meeting Friday
afternoon of the Executive Committee OF
the association, instead of being stormy. as
was expected. proved harmonious. and bust
ness was transacted with dispatch. The va
cancy caused by the resignation of Secre-
tary Joseph Judge, who retired from The
police force to become clerk to the House
of Delegates. was filled by the appointment
of Thomas J.. Mccormack of the Eighth
District.
1t was decided to give the associations
benefit performance in the week commen-
cling June 90. at Forest Park Highlands.
Mrs. Grace Van Studdiford will be the
principal attraction.
The difficulties which had assailed the as
ISOLATION originated in abnormal conditions
attendant upon its reorganization prior to
July IA, 1900 In that interval. when 1t was
necessary 10 get every man on the force to
hecome a member of the association. extra
inducements were offered members joining
within that time. These are said to have been
taken advantage of by one man. Two other
new members died before the expiration Of
the thirty days. In the settlement of their
claims a compromise had to be effected, and
this led to fractional trouble. which is now
terminated.
AT the time of reorganization there were
on the rolls Of the Police Relief Associa-
ton ffty-four pensioners, drawing $50 a
month each. Fifty of these consented to
give up their pensions In consideration Of q
cash payment of $500. The others are still
on the pension list. 1t was decided to levy
an assessment of 81 on each officer on the
death of 4 member OF the association, be-
sides his payment of IL a month as dues. 1t
ulS rnol NJ H. vnaattnr 80 th@ LS~No
utive ommitte two weeks ago that 80 per
cent of the SIS $500 Indebtedness incident to
reorganization had been paid off. and that
the death assessment would be cut down
from 81 to Sl.S5. Now every member of the
force must be also a member of the Relief
Association. and in default of payment Gf
charges against him and send him before
the board.
In the period of reorganization three
deaths occurred. and the settlement of the
claims against the association made trouble.
Officer Albert Gross paid Sergeant Done
gan. as representative of the Executive
Board. SIC initiation fee nine days before
his death. He was sick at the time, but III
the reorganization it had been decided to
allow all men then members Of the force to
enter the association without medical eX-
pened that Sergeant Donegan did not turn
over the money until after the death Of
Gross.
During the thirty lays of reorganization
1t was also provided that the initiation fee
might be waived. and even now 1t is payable
in installments. There is no provision IN the
constitution that a member must be formal;
ly admitted. officer N. +. Bechmann died
without having paid a cent to the associa-
ton. 1t is said that he was on the way to
pay his full initiation fee Of $40 just before
time of his death. Officer Bolland rendered
the full initiation fee to his Sergeant a few
days before his death.
What part, If any. of the 5000 insurance
these officers heirs should receive was a
question on which the Executive COMMITTEE"
could not agree. 1t was felt that two of the
claims might legally be thrown out alto
gether, but as the association holds Its char
ter as a charitable organization and not as
an old-line insurance company, the majori-
ty Of the Executive Committee decided that
IL was hound to deal leniently and magndn-
tmously with all. Through Its attorneys,
johnson and Marlatt. the committee finally
arrived at a compromise, the decision being
to pay $3.50 on each claim.
Meantime. Officer Flanagan of the Cen!
trail District became sick and made a claim
on the Relief Association for sick pay. but
had refused. it is said: to pay up after lie
ing formally notified by the secretary. the
Executive Committee refused to allow his
If it were right to pay s750 each on the
claims of men who had paid nothing 10 the
association, Flanagan should also be given
something. They instructed dd their I repres Zen
Mullen. 10 oppose the majority.
Some of the minority faction then asked
the four veterans who were stu on the pen
sion list to bring injunction proceedings
against the committee to prevent the pay
ment of the three $50 awards. This was
done. But through the instrumentality of
the attorneys this action was withdrawn,
the plaintiffs paying costs. and waving ali
further claims against the association in
consideration of the payment of 500 back
pension lists. This final settlement of the
difficulties was arrived at two weeks ago,
and, with the prospects Of a lucrative bene-
fit during the week Of June 2. the associa-
ton Is at last resting easy.