The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-21
Topeka Firemen Will BE Retired
on Half Pay.
After 20 Years of Service or
Present Disability.
MAY INVEST FUNDS
New Ordinance Will Provide for
Buying of City Bonds.
New Law Being Prepared by
Chief Wilmarth.

Next week Chief Wilmarth of the fire
department will submit to the city
commissioners an ordinance providing
for the pensioning of the city ,firemen.
This ordinance will embody, also. d
provision allowing the Firemen's Relief
association the right to invest their
funds in city bonds at rate not less
than per cent.
This important measure is now in the
hands of w. C. Ralston, city attorney.
1t was prepared by Chief Wilmarth and
sent to the attorneys office for legal
polish. When the city attorney rubs
over the law points the manuscript will
be given to the fire chief for final ap-
prevail before it reaches the commits
sioners. Then its fate will rest in their
hands.
Ihis new feature will complete the
claims made that the Topeka fire de-
partment is the best equipped, the best
managed and the best disciplined OF
any city of $4,000 or less in the United
States Without the pension advant-
ages Topeka was able to show the best
record of any other city-and with
these features it is expected that the
department will be able to keep in
service the high grade men now en-
ployed.
Through the efforts of Chief Will
marth, Topeka has been able to obtain
a better class of young men for fire
fighting work. The chief with his civil
service methods and his high standards
has placed a ban on firemen with
physical and moral defects. AS a re-
suit he has now in service so stalwart
efficient and highly disciplined fire
fighters.
A Fireman's Advantages.
With the pension system inaugurated
into the dnna T-f chief rtl1
expects to keep this force intact.
When the new law passes the city
commissioners and is carried as a
strength to the old laws, firemen in To-
peka service will have the following
advantages
After being in the service 20 years
and it is found they are unfit for SER
vice through physical or mental de-
fects, long service, advanced age, ill
ness or injuries in performance OF
duties, pension of one-half the salary
will be given.
an accident insurance policy of not
more than $500. Five dollars a week
in case of injury. One hundred dol
lars funeral expenses.
If killed on duty, the widow or chill
dren dependent upon the firemen will
be given $1,000 as gratuity. This, with
5000 accident insurance. totals $1,500.
In case fireman dies OF disease fol-
lowing injury in service and accident
insurance is not applicable, the de-
partment grants his widow $1,000.
These are a few of the advantages
of being city fireman in a city where
efficiency and capability are demanded
The Firemen's Relief association is
composed of members of the fire de-
partment. 1t receives from the state
superintendent OF insurance a certain
amount every year. Each member of
the departm ent is assessed for it's sup
port. Under the new law it is allowed
to buy up city bonds at not less than
4 per cent interest. Under the old
law it was able only to let the money
lie in the bank at regular city 2 per
cent rates.
Ninety per cent of the total funds of
this relief association are allowed for
investment in city bonds
The officers of the Firemcn's Relief
association are:
G. o. Wilmarth. president.
E. E. Babcock, vice president.
William Cawker, secretary.
w. c. Ralston, attorney.