Evening star., 1914-05-18
Services for Policemen and
Firemen Who Died During
the Past Year.
AMPLE PENSIONS URGED
FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS
Men of Two Departments Have Re-
sponsibilities Not Usual to
Their Callings.

Commissioner Siddons. who has imme-
date supervision of the fire and police
departments: Mai. Richard sylvester
chief of police, and Frank ]. Wagner,
chief of the fire department. attended
the initial memorial service for the
police ard fire departments. held last
night at the Young Mems Christian AS
sociation building
Many members Of the fire and police
departments and their families were III
attendance, members of the two depart
ments, in uniform, acting as ushers ana
candle-snuffers Former District Com
missioner Henry B. F. Macfarland pre-
sided and was the principal speaker
During the time he served as District
Commissioner he displayed an unusual
interest In the two important branches OF
the District service.
Have Unusual Obligations.
Addressing the meeting. Mr. Macfar-
land said:
Because this is the National Capital
the police and fire departments, pesldes
protecting private life and property. must
protect the lives and property or the
national government ard also OF the
embassies of foreign governments. More
over because George Washington planned
this capital on a magnificent scale, they
must cover an unusual territory, much
of it hilly. The police must patrol the
greatest proportionate street area IN lhe
world.
Remembering the big patent office fre
of a quarter century ago, L NivldlN kno"
the danger TO buildings, records ana nVes.
One has only to think of the President,
ont
Supreme Court, the cabinet, the olpio-
matte CORPS to realize the special re-
sponsibilities of our policemen ana hfe-
men.
arrangement of appropriations Tor the
National Capital are suggested by thsse
departments Their efficiency justly de-
pends upon that arrangement We nsea
more policemen and more tiremen. add
tionaI fire stations and modern buildings
in place of antiquated buildings In both
departments.
paratus Yes, and still for efficiency
quite as much as in justice to the men.
We need regular annual appropriations
on the 'half-and-half' plan for pens ons
for veteran policemen and fremen and
for the widows and orphans of those
who die. Moreover. we ought to have
more policemen and firemen so that
they can have more time at home with
their families for the community sake
as well as their own.
Are Soldiers of Peace.
These soldiers of peace, who fight fire
and crime and constantly take their
lives In their hands even when they
answer q false alarm, are just as
worthy as the soldiers of war. Congress
between 1900 and 1910 granted the
greater part of the Commissioners an
nual estimates and approved their bills
for the reorganization of these depart
ments, greatly increasing their facilities
and efficiency and improving the condi-
tons of their service. But the same
rate of progress has not been since
maintained. Instead of section of
the pending District appropriation bill,
which proposes to transfer to the ma
tional Treasury for national uses all
local revenues raised for local purposes
for the next year, that can be deliberate
iy Kept from appropriation, thus break
ing up the 'half-and-half arrangement
the National Capital should have all the
appropriations needed for the adequate
Improvement of the police and fire de-
partments and all other municipal sery-
ices as well as the general development
OF the capital. which is the pride of the
whole country.
Inc high pressure fire protection
service requiring only S750,O0O for
special water mains and adding vastly
TO the protection of the capital would
prohtaoly employ part of the local
TAX money which section proposes
10 take for purely natural purposes,
ana which then might be expended
anywhere from Porto Rico to the
Philippines
The millions of dollars invested in
government buildings alone. all with
out any fire insurance whatever, call
for this additional protection"
An Advocate of Pensions.