New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-22
STATE MAY GUARD
POLICE INSURANCE
Fusion of Benevolent
Associations to Follow
Companies Example.
ELLISON WARNS
AGAINST COMBINING
Says Rights of Employers Might
Be Infringed-Ignores Woods's
Approval of Plan.

Plans for the formation Of a police
insurance association, based upon ap-
proved insurance principles. have been
the object OF a committee of mem
about a year ago. Final details are
soon to be announced II Is the out
come of the discussion Of the advisable
ity of the consolidating Of all of the
police benevolent associations of the
police department, and meets with the
approval Of Police Commissioner
Woods. Details OF the work completed
so far and what is proposed by the COM
mittee are contained in a report made
yesterday to the members of the police
force.
What lends particular interest to the
issuance of the report yesterday was an
announcement of a meeting of the ex-
ecutive committee of the Civil Service
Forum, of which William B. Ellison
is counsel. Mr.. Ellison also is legal ad-
wiser of four of the larger of the police
benevolent associations. 1t was follow
ing his criticism of the Police Commits
sioner last summer that the police asso-
Citations that he legally represents. and
which will be affected by the new or
ganlzation, called special meetings and
voiced their approval of the depart
ment's administrative head.
In the statement issued following
. b LII
yesterday it was stated that the ex-
ecutive committee OF the Civil Service
Forum views with regret the attempt
Of departmental heads to create an or
ganization of employees, dominated or
Influenced, directly or indirectly, by
superiors. Rights Of employees can
best be protected and their interests
be advanced by organizations in which
members have full opportunity to ex-
press their views and to elect their
officers" it said "All employees are ad-
vised and warned that any such at
tempt to interfere with the usefulness
OF the regular organization of en-
ployes must in the end militate against
the best interests of the civil service"
The executive committee Of the Civil
Service Forum, which, according TO Mr.
Ellison, has a membership of 200 900
of all civil service employees through
out the state. are Frank J. Prial, Jo-
seph j. O'Relly and Mr.. Ellison.
The provisional committee working
on the insurance plans are Inspector
George Wakefield, Captain Mathew Nc
Kcon, Lieutenant II. Washburn, Ser
geant H. /. Lobbell. of the Mayors
office, and Patrolman Theodore V. Hall,
the chairman. Through inquiry, the re-
Port states, they have learned that the
general sentiment is in favor of
single insurance association, entirely
separated from all social features and
other matters which do not pertain
purely to insurance benefits. A tenta-
tive plan for amalgamating the police
associations was prepared with the as
sistance Of Police Commissioner Woods
and submitted TO the City Chamberlain,
who referred il to the actuary of the
pension commission for report. This
report stated that il would be imprac-
teal TO consolidate existing associa-
tons as units. Some associations APP
peared to have more funds than others,
but the funds did not indicate their
. solvency. since some associations with
very small accumulations were possibly
more solvent than others with larger
accumulations. because those with
larger accumulations had much larger
contingent liabilities.
The actuary of the commission ad-
visod tho formation Of new assocs-
ton, which might take over the old
associations at the option of their
members.
1t further was suggested that a mem
Der might apply for insurance against
retirement on pension and for insur-
ance against death and get larger bene-
it's thereby than if he divided his
money in such a way as to get insur-
ance against dismissal.
1t is advised that the books, records,
the rates charged and the distribution
Of all funds shall be matters of public
record. and will be conducted under the
supervision of the State Superintend-
ent of Insurance or some officer clothed
with similar authority