Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-20
Organic Act Silent.

Organic Act Silent.
Indeed, some Of them insist that the
school system is really not one of the
functions Of government at all. They
endeavor to find additional support for
their position in the fact that the organic
act of 1878 does not specifically mention
the educational system as coming under
the partnership arrangement and that.
indeed, the only mention of educational
institutions is in a paragraph providing
for the remission of taxes upon such in
situations, privately owned.
1t has been suggested that while the
investigation to be resumed next month
by the special committee Of inquiry OF
the House District committee, Of which
Representative Ben Johnson of Kentucky
is chairman, may accomplish excellent
results by revealing evils, errors or ex-
travagances of administration, there is
no necessity for any tinkering with the
organic act to produce corrective results.
Let us preserve the partnership but
eliminate the half-and-hah principle,
seems best to express the attitude of
the proponents of the radical changes
in question.
Even If this segregation idea with
reference to school expenses falls. 1T
is considered certain that the appro-
priations committee will recommend
and the House adopt an entirely diff
ferent plan of administering the police
ana nTemelnS pension Iunu AL pres
ent this fund is made up of contribu-
lions of 81 a month from members of
the police and fire departments, aug
mented by the total of the fines col
lected in the Police Court and the
amount received from dog taxes. Ex-
pressions from members of the appro
priations committee and leaders of the
majority party in the House clearly
| indicate sentiment in favor of turning
the Police Court fines and dog taxes
into the Treasury, one half to the
credit of the District and one half to
the United States. and including
paragraph in the District bill requir-
ing the District itself to make up the
difference between the amount raised
| by the assessments on members Of the
| two departments and the amount nee
essary to take care OF the pension roll.
Fee System Criticised.
There have been repeated criticisms
| in the past of the maintenance of the
pension fund largely on fee basis
| These criticisms came largely from the
democratic side of the House and now
! that this party Is in the majority ii is
| confidently expected that the reform
| in this particular will be carried out, so
| far as the lower branch Is concerned.
| The amount of pensions granted has also
been the cause of considerable disSatiS-
| faction among the members OF the body.
| 1t IS pointed out that the widow of a
| fireman or policeman may receive a PEN
| sion of $50 month simply upon the
action of the Commissioners, while the
| widow of even general officer of the
army is limited to pension of $50 a
month, unless the amount is raised, as is
rarely done. by special act of Congress.
Some members of the House, while de-
claring that they in favor Of pen
sioning retired policemen and f1remen
and taking care of their dependent famil-
| les in case of necessity. frankly say they
| do not believe in the fee system as ap-
| piled TO the sources of the fund and
| think that If the District had to bear
| the entire expense. aside from the amount
secured by assessment. the pension sys-
| tenn would be more carefully adm inis-
| tered. Even those who believe that the
| federal government should pay half the
| cost of police and fremen's pensions
will insist. when the District bill is up
| for consideration that the Police Cot TT
| fines and dog taxes be turned into the
| Treasury on the half-and-half principle
and that a straight-out appropriation lie
made from which to take care of tn,
| pension roll.
Other Propositions Advanced.
| There are three other propositions
which efforts will be made to incorporate
in the District bill. One Is that the Dis
trist of Columbia be made to pay half
| the expense of maintaining the office of
public buildings and grounds, which takes
| an annual outlay of between $50, 900 and
$4,000. Another is that sum to be
decided upon as reasonable be charged
against the District and credited to the
office of the Treasury auditor for the
State and other departments, where the
accounts of the District are reviewed and
audited. The third proposes that the Dis
trict pay half the inaugural expenses,