The Washington herald., 1908-07-17

The names CT eight pensioners were
stricken from the rolls Of the District
Of Columbia yesterday by the District
Commissioners for the reason that 1hev
had failed TO comply with the law re-
curing the examination OF all police and
fire pensioners once every two years
The men affected are as follows. Fire
pensioners. Sidney Bieber and ". Z
Robertson; police pensioners. Charles
Bsrtei. : E Joyce. George Morgan. H
A. Quail. John Stewart and z.
Wright
These men failed 20 appear for exam
ination before the board Of police and
fire surgeons. as required BY 1he act OF
Congress OF May &C. 1905. which provides.
That within thirty days after the pas
sage OF this act and every two years
thereafter. persons on the pension rolls
ef the District OF Columbia for disabui-
ties incurred while in the service Of the
police or FIRE departments OF the District
Of Columbia shall undergo a medical ex-
animation, and as a result OF such ex-
aminatious the Commissioners shall de-
termine whether the pensions being paid
in each case shall continue in whole or
! n part
Surgeons Attend Conference.
The Commissioners held a lengthy con-
ference yesterday afternoon for the con-
/ sideration OF these and the other - pen
/ sion cases which come under the new
/ law To faciIitare matters. the members
Z Of the board Of police and FIRE surgeons
were present 70 answer any questions
which might arise.
Al the cases were gone over IN TIE cou-
/ ference. but final action vas deferred
/ upon twenty-five or thirty OF them. IN
which there was a question OF doubt as
20 whether the pension saould continue
n whole or IN part These probably VIII
/ be considered in another meeting Of the
/ Commissioners to-day.
/ II was decided that those pensioners
/ who had failed TO obey the direct PRO
/ visions OF the law, requiring them 70 IN
dergo an examination. should lose their
! pensions altogether. inasmuoh as the law
gives the Commissioners the power 10
1 reduce the pensions in whole OF IN
I part and the requirement that such ex-
animation shall be undergone IS express
ed Il obligatory terms
Many Retain Pensions.
More than I59 cases Of pensioners Who
had been examined or had submitted GER
! tifcates OF authorized officers IN various
parts OF the United States were given ia
vorable consideration. It being found that
n these cases the amounts OF the pen
sio1s were not excessive, considering the
length Of service Of the pensioner and
/ ether circumstances under which the pen
sion was granted
I II has been claimed by several OF ths
/ pensioners and others interested that ths
/ Commissioners have not the power to 50
reduce OF withdraw the pensions The
reason assigned is that the fund from
which the pensions are paid is not made
Up OF government moneys, but By as
ssssments on the members OF the fire and
police departments
District Funds Are Used.
As heretofore stated. this is only n
part true. as these assessments ara but
/ a portion Of tle fund the larger part be-
ins made Up by the income from the
[ District dog taxes and certain fines col
Iected in the Police Court which have
been given for the purpose
| Il IS not known whether any OF ths
[ pensioners viii attempt TO carry the
matter any further in an effort 70 prove
their claims Authorities say that thu
objectors 20 the Commissioners action
existing before the present law was
Z -, T0--a