The Washington herald., 1912-02-29
WANT IMMEDIATE
PENSION ACTION
Lack Of Funds Causing Hard
ship to Police and Fire
mems Beneiciaries.
OFFICIALS ASK RELIEF

With decreased payments facing the
beneficiaries Of the police and hremen,s
pension fund, Senator Thomas s. Martin,
OF Virginia. is urging immediate action
on the bill introduced by him recently
providing for the use Of District license
fees to meet all deficiencies In the fund
which may occur. The bill has been re-
ferred to committee. but. no considera-
ton has yet been given the measure.
Senator Martin said last night that he
Is doing all in his power to press the
legislation forward.
II believe the bill to be just and fair" )"
said the Senator. Because of this fact.
am pressing the matter with all my
power. I realize that action should be
taken on the bili Immediately, as pen
sioners are feeling the effects OF the de-
creased payments. I cannot say how the
members OF the committee stand on the
proposition. They have not considered
the bill When they do decide TO give IL
consideration l shall do my utmost to
bring about its enactment"
At present there are four sources Of
revenue upon which the pension fund
depends-Poliee Court .tres revenues
from the sale of condemned and aban-
dOned property. the dog tag fund, and
the monthly assessments levied against
Oh the pOllCt ana uNldTl-
ments. The Martin bill provides that
all deficiencies which may occur shall
be met by the use of the necessary
amount from the District license fees.
with the exception of liquor license rev.
enues. This plan will solve the pension
QUE stion for many years to come, in the
opinion Of District officials Alonzo
Tweedale, District auditor, has express
ed his hearty approved of the proposition.
The Commissioners, after a thorough
consideration of the measure, transmit
ted TO Congress recently a favorable re-
port on the bill
Urge Permanent Fund.
The Commissioners are giving it their
full support, but at the same time they
are of the opinion that a permanent fund
should be established. Under the pro-
posed plan the adequacy. OF the fund is
guaranteed as long as the license fees
exceed in amount the pension deficit.
The Martin bill requires the District to
bear the entire burden of maintaining
the pension fund. While this plan is not
decidedly Objectionable to the District
officials, they would prefer a plan where
by the Federal government would bear
one-hah of the expense as in accordance
with the organic act OF ISIS. The Com
missioners. however, realize that some
kind Of legislation is needed at once, and
they are working for whatever measure
Will give the pensioners relief, even IL
but temporarily.
1t is estimated by the District Auditor
that unless there is immediate relief the
deficiency will reach SIS 600 by the end
OF the next fiscal year. II was an
nounced yesterday by Auditor Tweedale
that his Office will be able to pay only
5S cents on the dollar TO benencIarles
during the month OF February During
January 5s cents was paid on the dollar.
The deficiency for January was &.704, and
that for February was Ss.o5272- There L.
a deficiency of $4,000 for the last fiscal
year. which still remains unmet.
The amount carried on the police pen
sion roll for the month Of February was
$40. For meeting this obligation the
District has but s4.oS29S. The firemen's
pension roll amounts to 1857. The Dis
trict will be able to pay only s2.121.35
of this amount Police Court fines dur
ing the month amounted to $49S46S.
Deficiency Causing Hardship.
Frank J. Wagner, chief OF the fire de-
partment. yesterday told Of the hard
ships to which pensioners are being driv-
en- as the result OF the decreased pay
ments.
1T is strange" said Chief Wagner.
that the legislators cannot see the great
need of establishing a, pension fund They
seem to be blind to the conditions which
are resulting from the depleted pension
fund. I have urged the enactment OF
legislation. and can do no more. Some |
thing should be done at once |