Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-02
BADFOR PENSIONERS
Part Payment Only From Po-
lice and Fire Fund.
FORTY CENTS ON DOLLAR
Committee Working on Plan to
Bring in Money to Relieve
Situation.

The pensioners of the policemen and
firemen's fund will probably get this
month only 10 cents for every dollar that
they are entitled to, and unless some
quick action is taken by those who have
it in their power to create a new fund
or new source of income there is like
lihood of continuation of the situation.
The $50 pensioners of the police and
fire departments expect their checks Fri
day. Many of them call at the Office of
Louis Wilson. disbursing officer. Other
checks have to be mailed. for the reason
that the pensioners have had to leave
the city for more healthful chimes, and
still others are so incapacitated that
even though they are in the city they
find it hard TO get down to the District
building.
A large proportion Of the pensioners are
women, widows of men who have died
while on duty for the District of Column
bia. Still others are little children, and
many of them have no other way Of keep
ing the wolf from the door than through
fund.
Amount Varies Monthly.
The way in which the pension fund is
collected monthly makes variable
amount to be distributed. Perhaps next
month the full amount can be distributed
to those who look to the District for their
sole support, but the prophecy of Auditor
Tweedale does not hold out much hope of
this, The Police Court fines have been
smaller than usual of late, and this
money cuts quite figure in the pension
fund.
The Commissioners have been working
over this situation ever since Mr.. Twee-
dale slipped in to a board session a few
weeks ago with the information that the
pension fund was sinking fast The COM
mittee. consisting of the auditor. Maj
Sylvester and Chief Wagner, worked out
a report harmonizing the policemen's and
firemens interests in the various PROPOSE
lions put forward to create a pension
fund that had some stability. and have
suggested that the maximum allowance
for officers in each department be made
in equal proportion, considering the cor
responding grades. Also some attention
was paid to the source of income which
keeps this fund alive.
Bill in the Senate.
The bill in the Senate. which would, 1t
is believed. regulate the stability of the
fund. provides that all fines collected in
the Police Court shall be turned over to
the fund. At present all fines, except
those with the Humane Society gets. go
to this fund. The Police Court fines
amounted to more than hundred thou
sand dollars last year, but may not
touch that figure this year.
In addition. the bill gives the fund all
money from the sale of unclaimed proper
ty, matter of only 1924 last year; all
dog taxes, 81. 63 last year: fines i'm
posed on policemen and firemen, $l.616
last yeex. and retents of dollar month
from every man in the two departments.
This amounted to nearly $4,000 last
year. There is a strong sentiment in ia
vor of changing this last part of the pro-
posed legislation SO that the members Of
the departments from the major and chief
dowp pay ~ per cent Of their monthly
salaries. That would give the fund quite
a sum more than II is now getting.
Should this entire fund not he sufficient
the Commissioners, by the terms Of the
proposed legislation, could dip into any
other license moneys. other than that de-
derived from liquor licenses. in order to
pay 100 cents on the dollar to the widows
and children.
The officials who have been studying
this matter have all the data necessary
to frame a bill, or to make an amendment
to the bill already In the Senate.