The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

Relief for benefciaries OF the pension
fund Of the Police and Fire Depart
ments Of the District is at last in sight
For the next six months. II not longer,
pensioners will receive their benefits in
full.
II is A welcome note TO the widows and
orphans Of those fremen and policemen
who sacrificed their lives in line Of duty
in order that life and property in the Cap
itai City might be saved. For six months
they have experienced the effects Of the
inadequacy Of the present pension funds.
Since the first Of the year, and even
farther back than that, they have de-
pended largely upon their pensions for
the common necessities Of life, and
month after month has brought to them
only SORROW and disappointment.
Some months the payments sank as low
as 50 cents on the dollar, and with this
decrease in income for the benehclarirs,
the cost of living scared upward. II was
a hard winter for the pensioners Many
of them depend entirely upon their pen
sIOns for support. To them the made
ouacy Of the funds has meant hunger
ard privation and sacrifice.
Big sum Available.
But tomorrow a new year begins to
dawn. Tonight the old fiscal year will
be rung out and the new one will be
ushered in. The advent OF the new year
means that approximately so, 900, col
leCted during the past year from the
sale OF dog tags, will become available
for the pension funds. II is expected
that this amount will be sufficient to
pay off the entire pension roll in full
until the first OF the new calendar year.
By that time, unless Congress enacts
1aoFe1afFoT, ha acfa 1fah-
ment of a permanent and edaQuate pen
sion fund, the moneys available will
have dwindled considerably. and 1t will
be necessary to cut down payments to
benefiCiarIes. This emphasizes the need
Cf immediate action by Congress in
order to prevent a repetition OF the suf-
fering and privation caused by the in
activity of that high body so far dur
ing the present session. II legislation
is not enacted at this session. strong
fight will be waged to push through a
measure at the outset Of the new ses-
sion. Practically every civic organiZa-
ton in the city will unite in an effort
TO have this legislation enacted.
During this month it has been possible
to pay beneiciaries only 81 cents on the
dollar. This is slight improvement
over payments in the past. but still il
means want and possible suffering to the
pensioners. At present there is a vast
deficiency in the pension payments. 1t
amounts TO $36 1886. From January to
MAY. last year. the deficiency was SIS
$3.50. The deficiency for the correspond
ing months this year has been S2O,9OO. %.
At present the pension funds are com
posed Of the police court fines, the dog
tag revenues, the money obtained from
the sale of condemned and abandoned
property, and the monthly assessments
levied against the members OF the Police
and Fire Departments.
Bill Now Pending.
A bill is now pending before the House,
which, II passed would temporarily re-
lieve conditions. This bill was recently
passed by the Senate. II it were en-
acted it would wipe out all deficiencies
and leave a margin OF $4,000 annually.
1t is believed by Alonzo Tweedale, Dis
trct Auditor. that this surplus would be
absorbed within a few years as a re-
suit OF the rapidly growing obligations
and the fluctuations in the sources Of
revenue for the funds. The annual in !
crease In obligations amounts to about /
S. COO It is hoped. however, that the bill /
will be passed. as It would clarity the |
for four or FIVE years at any
rate.
The bill would make available for the
fund the receipts from the sale OF in
surance Licenses, and would provide for
a deduction Of per cent from the sal
aries Of members OF the Police and Fire
Departments instead OF the present de-
duction OF 81 per month.