Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-23
ADM|RES POLICE
AND F|REMEN
CHICAGO EXPERT LIKES OUR
"BOYS"
Senator Hall Of Illinois Tells of lr1-
proved Pension System Employed
In His State end FaVors
Retirement Law

According to my opinion there are
in Los Angeles as fine a body of men
in the police and fire departments as
can be found serving in a similar ca
pacity anywhere in the United States. u
This is the expression of Senator Harry
G.. Hall, who was for many years con-
nected with municipal affairs in Chi
cago.
Senator Hall is at the Van Nuys
hotel. In speaking of municipal affairs
last night he said:
"I am always in favor of giving the
policeman and fireman a square deal.
When / was in the senate of Illinois
last year the question of pensioning
the old and disabled firemen and po-
| licemen came before the legislature.
The original bill dealing with the sub
ject was prepared and introduced by
me and, of course, was anxious that
1t should be passed.
"The bill which I had drawn pro-
vided that funds for pensioning old and
disabled firemen be provided by taxing
all foreign fire insurance companies do
ing business in Chicago 2 per cent on
all business done by them. This would
give revenue of over 100000 a year,
which would be more than twice as
much as would be needed to pension
the firemen who were entitled to 1t.
"The balance was to be used In
extending fire protection to the whole
sale lumber district. There are many
portions of the wholesale lumber dis
trict where a fire engine cannot get
within a hundred yards Of fire, be-
cause the alleyways between the piles
of lumber are so narrow. The money
derived from the tax is sufficient to ex-
tend the pipe lines so as to afford am
pie protection to the lumber dealers.
SympathIzes With Policemen
Before my law was passed the
method employed to raise money for
the firemen was to give each year a
fremen's ball. But in that plan were
many serious disadvantages. One seri-
GUS objection was that it demoralized
the force for weeks before the ball
for men would be detailed from duty
| in the fire stations and sent out to sell
| tickets.
"I have a hearty sympathy for a
police officer or a fireman for the rea-
son that a policeman especially must
walk the narrow path of rectitude
without a misstep, for If he does not
some one with a grievance against him
will take great pleasure in presenting
the news of his false step to the police
commission in the most unfavorable
light possible.
"It is the policy of the city of Chi
cago to be as liberal as possible with
men worn out and perhaps injured for
life In the service of the city. Under
the new law a man who has been in
the service as a policeman or fireman
can upon completing his twentieth
year of work for the city, be retired
on half pay as long as he lives. Then
If the widow does not remarry she gets
$40 a month for herself and SIS month
for each child she has to support.
"I have fallen in love with this coun-
try and I think that I have never seen
SO perfectly desirable a place in which
to live as Los Angeles. The climate
is perfect and the people are no less
perfect. I have been treated with the
greatest courtesy and I will always
have a very warm place In my memory
for the city and the people of Los
Angeles.
"I would like nothing better than to
be able to remove my family out here
and engage in business and If I find a
location suited to me I shall very
likely become a citizen of the Angel
City"
Senator Hall will remain in Los An
geles about month.