Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-11
FUND NOW $112,249 SENATE FOR PENSION
Passes Police and Firemen's
Retirement Measure.
ALL OBJECTIONS ARE MET
Senator Gallinger Causes Two
Important Changes to Be
Made.

The Senate this afternoon passed the
Gallinger bill providing a new system Of
retirement for members of the police and
fire departments of the District, reported
favorably from the Senate District COM
mittee yesterday. 1t was a substitute for
the House bill. in the nature of an amend
ment. the Senate committee having dis
approved OF the measure of the lower
House providing for a referendum vote
OF the taxpayers OF the District to deter
mine whether or not they desired a spe-
cial tax to be levied to make UP the re-
tirement fund.
Before the bill was agreed to, however,
Senator Gallinger asked two important
changes to met objections, he said. rails
ed by senator's. One change cut out that
ceipts from license fees. other than
liquor licenses to meet any deflcien-
cies in the retirement fund as made up
from other sources. The other amend
ment added the health officer to the re-
tirement board, provided in the bill to
consist of the surgeons of the two de-
partments and two officers from each of
the two departments designated by the
Commissioners.
Objections Are Met.
Senator Gallinger called the measure up
soon after the Senate went into session
today, and the lengthy discussion which
was forecast by the objections raised
yesterday did not materialize. The amend
ments which Mr.. Gallinger proposed, and
which were promptly agreed to, seemed to
take the wind out of the sails Of those
who had threatened opposition.
But Senator McCumber wanted to know
II, under the terms Of the bill, money
was taken out of the Federal treasury, in
directly or directly, to make up the re-
retirement fund.
from the bill to show that the retire.
ment fund was made up Of fines and
forfeitures imposed in the Police Court,
contributions of IN per cent of the
monthly salaries of members of the
of unclaimed property In the custody
Of the police department. fines imposed
by the Commissioners on members Of
the departments by way Of discipline
and such rewards paid policemen and
firemen as the Commissioners will not
allow them to keep.
Saving to Government.
Still Mr.. McCumber was not satisfied.
He asked If funds that would otherwise
60 to the city government were not di.
verted to make up the retirement fund
Senator Gallinger answered that the plan
would save money for the federal govern.
ment II the money was allowed to &C
into the federal Treasury to the credit OF
the District the United States would. un.
der the half and half plan Of the organic
law. have to give as much more to the
District.
II agree that the policemen and firemen
are poorly paid" Mr. McCumber remark
ed, land that something ought to be done
for them. But / object to a system OF
taking money from the Treasury to pay
pensions to civil employees"
That ended the discussion. and q minute
later the passage Of the measure was re-
corded.
The bill now win 90 to conference. The
House might accept the Senate's substi-
tute and give up its plan OF special taxa
ton to raise the retirement fund, but
that is thought to be unlikely. The form
of the measure that will come out OF con-
ference is not indicated At this time.