The Washington herald., 1908-03-28

next session of Congress regarding the
condition of the police and iremen's PEN
sion fund, and legislation which, in their
judgment, would improve the conditions
surrounding the fund.
The Commissioners are TO investigate
the systems used in other cities for PEN
sioning these public employees. and TO in
corporate in their report the results of
this investigation also.
Senator Burkett submitted from the Dis
trict Committee of the Senate report
upon the bill to permit the payment of
the expenses of disabled fremen out OF
the police -hremen's pension fund. in which
it was recommended that steps be taken
10 provide against the probable decrease
of this fund below the sum annually re-
quired to carry out its purposes.
The report was made upon House
bill. and amends the bill 10 allow it to
operate only in case of disability resulting
from injuries incurred in the actual line
of duty.
The committee recommended that the
District Commissioners be directed to sub |
nit to the Senate at the opening of the
next session of Congress "a complete re-
port of the fund, together with a report
Of such relief and pension systems for |
this purpose in other cities. and recon- |
mendation for legislation reorganizing the /
entire system OF pension and relief for the |
police and fire departments Of the District
Of Columbia"
Present Law Patchwork.
1T will be seen that the law is a !
patchwork" says the report, and in |
form and results presents a very steady |
growth and extension Of benefits. The /
amount of disbursements under it have
increased since 1898 from $Ss,566.99 to |
Sl12 6O32O
The first law pertaining to this sub
ject is found in the twelfth statutes. |
page 5Sl and. as is observed By its read
ing, was not very broad IN its scope nor
very large in amount OF expenditure con-
templated But from that it has grown
10 considerable proportions and furnishes
very liberal pensions TO disabled firemen
and policemen. and to their fami1es and
dependent mothers. The pensions allow
ed are about equal TO 50 per cent Of
the salary. The first law provided that
the fund should be made up from fines
Of policemen and money from rewards.
fees, gifts, and emOluments for extra
ordinary services. and that the board OF
police should be the trustee for the fund /
and that whenever any member OF the |
police force in the actual discharge of /
his duty should become actually disabled /
his necessary expenses during his time /
Of such disability should be a charge /
upon this fund. At present 20 per cent /
OF the rewards is converted into a cloth /
ing fund, and the balance is given 70
the policeman who deserves il. as your i
- IL.
committee can learn. this latter fund rs
without any authority of law and is
handled by the major and superintendent
Of police
Fund Becomes Inadequate.
The amount thus collected was found to
be too small for the purpose the report
states. as a result OF which a second
law was passed February 25. 1855, which
provided that 81 a month should be de-
Quoted from the salaries of firemen and
policemen and added TO their respective
pension funds 1t provided a maximum
monthly pension Of so for those retired
for disabilities incurred in the line Of
duty after fifteen years service and also
so funeral expenses for any member
dying In either service.
Need OF further enlargement resulted in
a third law, passed June II. 1886 which
provided for the deposit of a sufficient
sum from fines collected in the Police
Court 70 make up any deficiencies. An
act Of the same date provided for retire
ment of firemen under the same condi-
tons and upon the same pensions as are
provided for policemen
February y, 1901 as part of the act re-
organizing the police system, a law was
passed adding the receipts from dog taxes
10 the fund, and providing that the chief
of the fire department. the assistant
superintendent and captain or lieutenant
of police when retired, should receive a
pension Of 500 a month. and smaller pen
sions for dependent relatives of such
officers.
Successive additional laws. further ex-
tending the objects and limitations OF the
fund were passed March B. 1901. March /.
1905, March 81, 1906, and March 9. 1905
the last providing an adequate pension
for the chief of the fire department and
other officers Of that department
Deficit Not Far OF.
The total paid out of the funds last
year was SIP. .6O3.2O, and the total receipts
for the two funds S141. 1886. leaving only
a margin Of SIS, 1905. The receipts are
likely to decrease, the report says, and
the outlook is not promising Either the
schedule must be reduced. II is declared
the grounds for relief limited. or the fund
materially increased
The committee therefore. makes the
recommendation above noted.
The monthly pension roll Of the fire
mems fund the report states. is S3.O74 |
divided among seventy persons. including
forty retired tiremen. twenty-four widows
five mothers. and one child The 6renen
were pensioned for the following causes;
Heart trouble. 2; injured on duty. s: injured in
accidents, ?; age. 3; tuberculosis 3; INSANITY !.
meiancholia. J. general debility. q failing sight.
cystitis, /; rheumatism, .; hernia 2: eplepsv /.
arterio-scierosis. ); stomach trouble l.
The average number Of years service
before retirement was little over 20. the
longest &c. the shortest 1-3 The average
monthly pension is $4391. the highest 500
and the lowest $40. this being paid TO a
child. One pensioner receives 500. an
other $50. and none of the others more
than $50 a month.
Why Policemen Retire.
The policemen's pension roll pays out
sG,921.5O a month to total of 1es persons.
including 81 widows 25 children. and %
retired policemen. The causes of retire
ment are:
DySntery and deafness. l. chronic bronchitis. Q:
complication Of diseases l; epilepsy. 6; Deafness 5;
injured in accidents. g. injured in line Of duty 5:
rupture from injury /; locomotor ataxia. 2; rheu-
matsm. S; heart trouble 3: tuberculosis IS; liver
disease, /; heart trouble and hernia l: impaired
vision and hearing, l.; influenza and heart trouble
l; general debility. 4; chronic rheumatism 2 con-
junctivitis, /; Brghts disease /; rheumatism and
heart trouble. /: spinal trouble l. artero-scerusis
4; catarrh and Deafness /; diabetes, / hernia +;
grip from exposure. 1: TheumAtoid arthritis 1: de
fective sight. 2: defective sight and rheumatism
l; miocardtis. 2; pruTtuS ami. /: peptic ulcer l:
stomach trouble, 2; kidney trouble, J.; chronic cys-