Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-27
POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS
AMENDMENT TO DISTRICT BILL
IS OFFERED.
Proposal to Remodel All Legislation
on Subject Next
Session.

Senator Burkett today submitted d
favorable report to the Senate with one
amendment on a House bill % amend
the metropolitan police act for the
District. In the report is some in
teresting information with regard to
the policemens and firemen's pension
fund.
Inc bill proposes to amend oy adding
the following section to the act: THAT
hereafter. when any member OF the fire
department Of the District in he actual
discharge of his duty shall become so
disabled by injury to require Serv
ices or treatment other than such as
can he rendered by the board of police
ana fire surgeons the expense of such
services or treatment may be paid from
the fremens pension fund, provided
that no such expense shall be Iaid eX
cept upon the recommendation of the
chief engineer of the fire department.
approved by the Commissioners of said
District, and such recommendation must
be accompanied by a certificate from
some competent surgeon setting forth
the nature and cause of sickness or
disability which rendered such services
necessary
Originally the bill contain the words
disabled by sickness or injury but an
amendment strikes out the word sick
ness"
Senator Galinger introduced a bill at
the beginning of the year for the same
purpose. but the House bill was today
substituted for it.
Calls Law patchwork
In his report Mr.. Burkett says that the
subcommittee has reviewed the legislation
bearing upon the pollcemens and fire
mems pension fund, and he says it will
be seen that the law is patchwork" The
increase in disbursements since 1908 has
been from $36. 5000 to S112603 %.
He says that a brief resume shows that
March l, 1908. the total monthly pay roll
for the firemen's fund was S3.:D4. and
there was total of 40 persons on the
roll. follows: 40 retired firemen. ~
widows. > mothers and l child. The total
monthly pay roll for the poicemen's fund
was on the same date $6,!21 20. and there
We're 1913 pensioners. as follows: 81 wild
ows. % children and 81 retired policemen.
The highest pension paid. as shown by
a table in the report. is 500 month.
which was granted to ]. Paris July !.
1901. after thirty-tive years of service and
on account of old age. There are three
500 pensions, one being that paid to Sid
ney Beber, and granted September l..
1865. after service of four years and
two months on account of disability from
tuberculosis. The other 800 pensions are
In the police department. as follows. NJ. A.
Austin. granted July 1. 1901. after thirty
I'VE years Oh SeTNiCe, on dCCoubt VI ui"-
ability caused by complication of
diseases: j. B. Amiss. granted July !.
1905. after thirtysix years of service, on
account of epilepsy.
Immediately after presenting the report.
Senator Burkett offered a resolution
which was agreed to by the Senate,
directing the Commissioners of the Dis
trict to submit TO the Senate at the open
ing of the next session of Congress
complete report upon the policemen's and
firemen's pension relief funds. showing
the amount of money expended from each
fund since the year, they were created.
together with list of persons drawing
reliefs the amount thereof, the disabil-
ity or if a widow or child. the cause of
death of the husband or father; also a
statement of such relief and pension sys-
TENS of other cities. and to recommend
legisla ton they may think advisable Tor
reorganizing the entire system.