The Washington herald., 1916-01-09
A Duty ShamefuIly Neglected.

Whatever change in the fiscal system of the
District of Columbia may be determined upon by
Congress- simple justice imperatively demands that
a remedy be provided at the present session for
a condition that is today unnecessarily inflicting
severe hardships upon incapacitated and retired
members of the police and fire departments and
their families. The nadequacy of the pension fund
OF thes departments to meet the honest demands
upon, it has been for years scandal and dis
grace to the District government. Founded in
1885 upon system requiring contribution of 81
a month from the.pay of every policeman and fire.
stolen property and the fines imposed on MEM
bers of the department the fund first proved in
adequate in 1896. when Congress authorized the
addition to it of fines collected in the Police Court
and the revenue from the dog tax. Except for an
occasional small deficit these sources yielded suf-
hcient until the end of 1910 but since that
time the pensioners in neither department have
been paid in full
Today there is due and unpaid to the incapaci-
tated members of the police department for the
FIVE years 1911 to 1915 the sum of s454so, while
the District is in the debt of the men who have
become worn out in the work Of FIRE fighting 70
the extent of s2II76 in unpaid pensions surng the
same period.
This total of S6665o too trifling for consider
alton by the District government, but to the men
to whom it rightfully belongs in return for years
of faithful service in protecting the Capital and its
people it doubtless means in many instances the
difference between comfort and want. To the Dis
trct this trifle of $4,000 year so represents
the difference between shame and honor. The
point has been raised that under the law these
pensions not charge upon the District of
Columbia, that when the revenues prove made
quate the loss and possible suffering to which the
men subjected is legal. This far fetched theory
is of combatted but even were it upheld
by judicial decision the disgrace of the situation
would not be lessened in the least. Congress has
established the pension fund, to which the mem
bers of the two departments contribute from their
pay when in active service. When the fund fails
and the men, ncapacitated and dependent become
the sufferers it is the plain duty of Congress to
provide a remedy, duty that has been neglected
for FIVE years at the lowest count.
1t is but fair to assume that not one member
of Congress in ten has been aware of the condi-
tions under which this injustice is inflicted other
wise it would not have been permitted so long to
continue; and yet there are influential members of
the House fully cognizan of the details who placed
obstacles in the way of relief. These men must
not be permitted to block the path of Justice The
District Commissioners have called passing atten-
ton in their annual reports to the failure of the
fund. They should put forth every effort to make
certain that the District appropriation bill contains
the remedy when it is passed. They are constant
advocates of business-like methods and efficiency
They should to it that the ridiculous junk sale
and dog tax system is abolished and that the
amount called for by the pension roll, the honor
roll of the policemen and frcmen, is annually ap-
propriated