New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-11
"WHITE WING" PENSIONS.
Street S5ceepers Likely to Form an
Organisation.

7bara 10 a movement among the five thou
sand men Of the Street Cleaning Department to
start a pension and sick relief fund, after Tue
manner OF similar organization which are Deliis
successfully operated in behalf of the neii'eAi
and policemen of the city. Ever since CoIllllll9-
sioner Woodbury. began his investigation into t'ie
health Of the force the men have been taking
ON the subject. This investigation has been
under way for two weeks. and it Will take ten
DAVIS more to complete it. From the exanllha-
tfo,s already made it appears that the street
cleaners are not an unusually unhealthy TOT anu
that they would be safe in undertaA4us 'ii74i
own pension and sick relief
That the men would have the backing OF Com
missioner Woodbury. there is little DOUBT for
two years he has tried to get the legislature %
fake some action regarding pensions LOT inc
street cleaners He has, at his own expense
sent several of the men. who were in a bad way
fror, consun,ption. to retreats in the Adiron-
dacks. There they have been cared for as char-
itv patients. and their families have been looked
after while the heads were away from work
When the recent scare of a consumption epi-
denric among the White Wings" came out
Major Woodbury. announced that he Wou4o see
that the worst cases were sent to the mountains
If necessary he would do it out Of his own
pocket So far no philanthropist has come ior-
ward with offers of assistance There nave
been several letters tronl persons "ilO llSu PA0F
erty in the Adirondacks which they were more
than willing to allow the city 10 use as home
for consurnptive White Wings
The greatest difficulty does not lie in taxing
care Of the sick men themselves. but OF their
families while they are without work. For IN
iuries received in the line Of duty-beins run
over by a wagon. kicked by a horse, cut BY a
passing hub blood poisoning from lifting rusted
ash cans and the like-the men are relieved from
duty after examination by the department 5
are incapaCitated. For constitutional Ills there
is no half pay provision. The men work until
they drop at their tasks. and then their families
depend on charity
who are talking up the pension idea involves a
weekly contribution from each member OF the
force. The department has a system OF hneS,
and il Is proposed 10 ask the city TO contribute
the money which comes from fines to the PEN
sion fund. \ considerable sum would be de-
rather heavy. For instance. men are fined ten
days pay for trotting their horses. The horses
are worked hard. and forcing them TO over
exerton is severely frowned upon. Smaller
fines are for entering saloons. intoxication, neg
lecting 10 clean routes properly and absence
from post without leave.
There Is no reason why street cleaners
should not have a pension and relief fund -
said one OF the most intelligent Of the army OF
sweeperS TO a Tribune reporter yesterday We
considering that we draw S13 81 a week the year
round. Our places are for life, subject TO good
behavior and physical ability to do the work
Changes in city admin tration do not affect US
in the department. Many Of them know moth
ing Of cooperative effort, but they can be
taught. and II would not surprise me to see
this matter take form within few weeks"