The Washington herald., 1911-11-06
CINCINNATI ASSURES
PROTECTION TO PROTECTORS

Special to The Washington Herald.
Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 5.-For twenty
years, the police and flremen Of cincin-
natl have /enJoyed the benefits Of PEN
sion and relief funds, established by a
State law and partially supported by
! taxation. This city was one of the first
municipalities to take advantage Of the
State law, and nothing, in the opinion of
city officials, has done more to increase
the efficiency and high personnel Of the
| fire and police departments than this
legal provision against the contingencies
i of death and disability constant IN the
line of duty Of the members of these
| departments of the public safety.
Those who know say that the benefits
derived far outweigh any objections that
might be raised by adverse critics. They
maintain that the assurance that the
public guardians and their families will
| be provided for relieves the men from
| worry and makes them contented with
their positions. 1t represents to each
| man a savings account of $4,000, paying
him per cent interest when he retires
The majority, experience shows, do not
take advantage unfairly either, when en-
titled to a pension, but remain with the
department in active service until in
capacitated by age or physical disa-
biIity
The police relief fund is administered
by a board of, five trustees selected an
nually by the members of the force from
among their number! It provides pen
sions for the members, sick pay, death
| benefits, funeral expenses, and relief for
the families 1t is supported principally
by taxation. the levy for 1911 being IA
mill, producing a revenue of $29, ,070 Be
sir Fha Id
on investments, representing an accumu-
lated fund, the interest amounting last
year to S13. $50; dues Of 81 a month from
each member amounting to about s. 100
a year, from the sale of unclaimed prop
erty and from awards, and donations
, from admirers and benefciaries. The
total receipts for 1910 were $4S,6g721 and
the expenditures in pensions and relief
amounted to s45,S7:56.
To receive a pension a policeman must
have twenty-five years of service and
have reached the age of fifty-hve. His
pension amounts to $50 month. A wild
ow or deper ent's pension after his death
is $40 a month. Each child receives IS a
month until the sixteenth year.
Graduated pensions at the rate of 81
a month for each. years Of service are
provided for those members who are
forced to retire before reaching the age
and service limits Death received or re-
sulting from injuries in the line of duty
entitle the widow to full pension. Sick
pay is provided amounting to $1.75 a day.
This totals about $4,000 a year. At the
present time there are thirty-eight men
on the pension list.
The firemen's pension fund is admin
istered by board Of five trustees, elect
ed by the members of the department.
The fund provides only pensions to the
firemen and their families. The condi-
tons of service are the same as prevail
in the police department The receipts of
the flremen's fund is from taxation,
amounting last year to $249SL17, from
interest on investments, amounting to
s., $50 last year; from dues Of 80 cents a
month from each member, and from
fines. The entire receipts for the year
were s50.1H-SS, and the expenditures for
pensions amounted to $4S, 1915, leaving
balance Of $6,66S. Last year there were
twenty-five fremen retired. The number
on the pension list now is forty-eight
firemen, seventy-one widows, and twenty
seven children.
In addition, there is mutual organiza-
ton among the firemen known as the
Firemen's Protective Association, which
provides sick benefits and funeral ex-
penses. This is supported by donations,
awards, and assessments of the members.