Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-09
LAW GOVERNING PENSIONS
FAMILY OF FIREMAN KEEFE BAR
RED By STATUTE.
The Effect OF Provision Not What Was
Intended - An Amend
ment Proposed.

The attorney for the District. Mr. A. B.
Duvall. has informed Commissioner Mac
farland. who has immediate supervision of
the fire department. that the widow and
child of Fireman Keefe cannot, under eX-
listing law, be allowed a pension. Fireman
keefe, who died as the result of injuries
received in the collision between truck b
and Metropolitan street car at NJ street
and Connecticut avenue, Thursday MORN
Ing. was appointed a member of the de-
partment the LIST of last July, and for that
reason. says Mr.. Duvall, no pension can be
given his widow and child. the legal ad
wiser Of the Commissioners basing his opin-
ion upon the act of Congress of June H.
1896.
This act as heretofore explained in The
Star. requires the Commissioners to deduct
dollar month from the pay of each ire
man. to be held as a firemen's relief fund
and to be used for the relief of any fireman
who. having served not less than twelve
months shall by reason of injuries receiv-
ed or disease contracted in the line of ac-
tual fire duty going to, at or returning from
a fire, or, having served not less than fif
teen years, shall become so permanently
disabled as to be discharged from service
therefor, etc. keefe had not, at the time
of his death. served twelve months in the
department. and while Mr.. Duvall like the
Commissioners, feels that in all fairness
the mans widow and child should be pen
stoned he regrets that he Is forced to hold
otherwise.
Former Attorneys Views.
Previous to June II, 1896, it appears from
an opinion rendered May .. 1895, by the
attorney for the District, Mr.. 8. T. Thomas.
that any fireman who, by injury received
or disease contracted in line of duty etc,
was entitled to pension, and that, too,
Hath Ia 1nI ~ ha},,e
injured, member of the fire department
twelve minutes or twelve months. And in
the case of his death from such injury or
disease his widow and his children under
a pension, the total amount of the allow
ance then. as now, not to exceed $50 a
month for the fireman, or for his family in
the event Of his DEATH
This law was changed at the suggestion
of Mr.. Joseph Paris, the chief engineer Of
the fire department. for in his annual re-
port to the Commissioners for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1896. he quotes the law
now existing, saying: This amendment was
recommended by me. and was considered
from a point of business to the old members
of the department" 1t is understood that
Mr.. Paris has explained to Commissioner
Mcfarland that, in recommending an
amendment of the previous law the sub
ject, an act of February %, 1855, he de-
sired to prevent men from entering the fire
department in bad physical condition, and
then, after few months of service retiring
upon a pension. The chief engineer, there
fore, sought to provide for probationary
period of twelve months for newly appoint
ed members Of the department, for Mr..
Thomas in his opinion of May 8, 1895, had
pointed out that whilst in practice this
may be very good rule, and result in get
ting the best men for the service, still there
is no distinction in the statute in regard
to pensions between a fireman appointed
temporarily and one appointed perma-
nently.''