The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-04
Police Pension
Change Opposed
WhitcOmb and McMurrav
Against One of It's
Sections

George s. Hill, president of the po-
lice board; Albert ]. Merritt, local IL
Quor prosecutor; Mayor c. B. Wilson
and P. L. Holzer appeared before the
COMMITTEES on Cities and Boroughs al
Hartford yesterday in favor of a
measure which would give the police
board the power to arbitrarily retire
all members of the police force after
they have reached the age of 60 years.
The proposed measure also provides
for change in the pension system
and furthermore, would make % years
instead of 20 years the minimum for
service before a policeman, could re-
tire on a pension.
Representative ]. II. McMurray and
Senator J. w. Whitcomb objected to
that section Of the proposed bill which
had to do firth giving the police
board the power to retire members at
the age of 60.
Senator Whitcomb said that at the
present time there was about $40, OO0
in the police pension fund which most
ly represented the savings of the men
themselves and that this fund would
not last long if the men could be re-
tired at 60. 1t would mean that about
35 men would be eligible for retire
ment and this would prove a big bur-
den upon the taxpayers who already
are burdened to great extent. He
was opposed to such arbitrary power
being conferred upon a board, for it
would mean that a group of men
could at their own sweet will depose
men who had served the city faith
fully and who were good for longer
service.
Representative McMurray spoke Wig
orously against the bill. He told the
committee about the recent police ap-
pointments in this city and of the gen.
eral dissatisfaction which existed
among the people who were not con-
cerned in the welfare of politicians
with only their own interests to
serve.
He told how he had tried to have
the Common Council adopt an ordi-
WouFd be made to the force Of men
over 80 years of age and how his
petition was ignored.
He said that some Of the men nam
ed for the police force in the recent
batch of appointments were accord
ing to the records of the department
close to 40 years and that it was no
wonder the commission sought power
to be able to retire them. He was
opposed personally to no man named
but he believed that the best, inter
ests of the city would be served if
the ordinance he had recommended,
that appointments to the police force
be by civil service and that no one
be named younger than 81 or over,
80 years of age, had been passed.
lie LO1Q Cn0 COhlL11lL0c L14dL AelNA11S
this very bill in mind he had petition
ed the Common Council to enact such
a Ineasur but without success.
In answer to a question by Mayor
Wilson, Mr.. McMurray said that when
he was an alderman he advocated
civil service but he was unable to
secure the support necessary to secure
it's passage.
"How do you appoint policemen in
Bridgeport?'' a member of the COM
mittee asked Mayor Wilson.
Half Republicans ana half Demo- |
Gratis" replied the mayor.
fIs that the only qualification" ?"
the committeeman asked with sur |
price The mayor, when the laugh |
subsided, assured his interrogator |
there were other qualifications.
Wallace G. Taylor, president of the !
ire board, suggested some amend |
ments in the fremen's pension bill |
and left with the committee the
which the fire commission /
aad agreed upon and which are the |
same as were sent to the Common
Council recently.