Evening star., 1912-01-10
PENSION FUND SHORT
Police and Firemen'S Families
at Mercy of Congress.
REMEDY PROVIDED IN BILL
District Now Able to Pay Only
About Forty Per Cent of Total.
COURT FINES NOT ADEQUATE
Auditor Estimates There Will Be
Only $4,000 to Meet Obligation
of $11,20

Unless there should be a considerabl,
increase in Police Court fines during tn,
next two weeks, which is not regarded a.
| likely. the District this month will b,
| able to pay only about 40 per cent of tn,
total amount carried in the police ant
firemens pension rolls.
After estimating every dollar of antici
pated revenue. Auditor Tweedale ant
Assistant Auditor Donovan today an
nounced that the District will start the
new year facing a big deficiency in the
pension fund and that there is no indica
ton conditions in this respect will i'm
prove. unless Congress enacts the bill
intended to remedy the situation
The total amount of sthe two pension
rolls is $1,000. 1t is estimated by the
auditors office that by the end Of the
present month, the District will have but
81, 500 with which to meet the obliga-
tion. This will leave a shortage OF
Sc, 100. or approximately GO per cent.
Ran Behind Last Year.
Last year the District ran behind in its
pension fund payments from January to
May inclusive. the total amounting tc
about $4,000. During the latter part OF
the year conditions improved and the
December rolls were discharged in full.
The situation. say officials Of the au-
ditor's Office, Is such that this months
deficit may be expected to apply in more
or less degree to the remaining months
Of the year. unless Congress comes to
the rescue. Police Court fines are amount
ing to approximately $500 a week on an
average. and 1t is the belief of the auditor
that they will not increase to any ap-
preciable extent.
From reliable sources 1t was learned
today that il. the remedial measure now
pending before the House District COM
mittee finally becomes a law. the District
will pay OF the $4,000 deficiency incurred
last year. This bill provides that rev.
enues from the sale of all licenses. other
than liquor licenses. may be drawn upon
to make good any deficiencies that may
occur from month to month in the pay
ment of the pensions.
The total collection from licenses last
year amounted to $673. 4J0. of which $459. :
800 represented the proceeds from the
latter amount, which would have been
necessary under the proposed law, total
OF $214. 150 would have been left with
which to make good deficiencies in the
pension payments. s.s-Ses
Should the desired legislation be author
lied by Congress. 1t is believed the Dis
trict could readily liquidate the indebted
ness which it is rapidly incurring under
the present arrangement.
Vagrancy Law to Blame.
The new vagrancy law, under which no
fines are imposed. is the principal reason
given by a number Of District officials
for the falling of in the amount Of Police
Court fines. The shortage in this respect,
1t Is estimated, may amount to as much
as $4,000 year.
So far this month the auditor has re-
ceived but 5000 from Police Court fines.
Estimating $1,000 as the amount that will
be received from this source and adding
to ii the loo collected monthly as dues
from mebers of the police and fire depart
ments, Auditor TweedaIe Is unable to see
how there will be more than $4,SOO on
hand with which to meet the eleven
observation-disclosures obligation
when the January rolls become due.