Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-30
Improved School System.


schools and the high schools; that there
is some duplication of work on account
OF this lack, ard that there is divergence
IN the work of the several high schools.
Il think the system should be SO ar
ranged and ope rated" he declared, that
a pupil can begin at the bottom. make
steady progress all the time, and come
out at the top.
81 am not sure that legislation can
remedy the defect or that legislation is
needed" he 81 i'd 1T ought to be cured
inside the organization.
The school hoard is such an ancient
and honorable Institution in the country,
the senator declared. that it is hard to
convince the public that the local school
system might re run without a board OF
education. Bun the board here, in the
view of the chairman of the sub-commit-
tee on schools, does not have the work
that usually falls to the lot of school
boards in other sections. The expendi-
lures for the schools are directed by
Congress, and they make no levy for
funds to meet The financial needs of the
system.
Senator Burkett also pointed out the
anomalous situation of the schools with
regaru to the general municipal govern
ment. There is no separate govern
ment for the police department or for
other department s. but there is practically
a separate system Of government for the
schools. The senator, however, declared
say what he world favor in the way Of a
change in general school supervision.
Police Fund Bill.
Senator Burkrtt introduced in the spe-
cial session of thu present Congress a bill
providing for the reorganization Of the
police pension system. entitled a bill ''for
the creation of the police and firemen's 8
relief fund. to provide for the retirement
OF members of he police and fire depart
mentS, to establish a method Of procedure
for such retirement and for other pur-
poses
The bill first declares that the fund
shall consist of the receipts from all
fines for discipline imposed on mem
bers of the police and fire departments
all rewards and proceeds from gifts re-
cetved by members of either depart
ment with the exception of the amount
which the mem Oers are allowed to keep,
all net receipts arising from the sale of
unclaimed property in the custody Of
the property clerk of the police de-
partment. 81 per month deducted from the
pay of each member of the department
and all fines and forfeitures paid
into the police court. In the event
that the fund is not large enough, the
Commissioners can direct that the re-.
ceipts from all licenses other than
liquor licenses shall be paid into the
fund.
The bill also plGvides for payments
from the funds of t.ctors' bills contract
ed by members wht b come disabled by
injury or disease cort acted in the line
of their duty and for e payment of a
pension to policemen firemen perma-
nently disabled by injury or disease con-
tracted in the line of their duty, the PEN
sion in each case not to exceed one-half
OF the salary of the member retired
The bill also authorizes the retirement
on similar pensions Of any member Of
either department who has performed
police or fire service for twenty-five con-
Secutive years. The Comm issioners would
also be authorized by the bill to pay S75
to defray the funeral expenses of any
member who dies while in service. The
bill also provides for the granting of PEN
sions to widows. children under sixteen
years of age or dependent fathers or
mothers, upon the death of firemen or
policemen.