Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-31
URGENT DEFICIENCY
TO PAY PENSIONS
Change in Language of Dis
tHct Bill Makes Appropria-
ton Necessary.
ESTIMATES ARE HURRIED
| FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION
Board of Commissioners Points Out
!Dificulty-Promised That Money
Will Be Voted at Once.


: District bill. discovered at the District
building. almost at the same moment
in which the Senate put its final touches
to the measure, for the moment upset
all plans for police and firemen's pen
sions. The change made it impossible
for any pensioner to draw until money
was especially appropriated for the
purpose.
Six Words Put In in Conference.
Six words were Inserted in section 10
Of the bill, providing for the police and
dremen's relief fund, when the bill was
agreed on in conference. When dis
covered today by Daniel Donovan, sec
rotary to the Commissioners, he imme-
diately referred the matter to the au-
ditor and TO the controller of the Treas
ury, getting the opinion from each of
these officers. that under the bill
passed by House and Senate pension
ers under the present plan. in both po-
lice and fire departments. would be cut
off Immediately without a cent. and
that no pensions of any kind can be
paid without an act of Congress or
remedial legislation of some sort.
Maj. Pullman, SUPERINTENDENT OF police.
panied by Commissioner Brownlow, where
they conferred with Senator Smith of
Maryland, chairman of the committee in
charge of the bill.
1t was agreed that the Board of Com
rnissioners shall at once prepare their es-
Inmates of the sums needed to meet pen
sion obligations. Thees estimates are to
form the basis of an urgency deficiency
bill which will be laid before Congress
this afternoon.
1t has been assured that the appro-
priatfons will be voted without delay.
Should 1t go over, however, flremen and
police would get no money until an
other session of Congress.
No Money Without Appropriation.
In the District bill, as passed by the
Senate, the section providing for the
much desired pension legislation had in
It the following sentence:
THE money to the credit sof said
fund shall be available for expenditure
on acquisitions of the said Commission
ers for the purposes set forth in this
act. and all expenditures from said fund
shall be made and accounted for in the
same manner as other expenditures of
the government of the District sof Co
lunbia are made and accounted for"
The conference report made the sem
tsnce to read as follows:
THE money to the credit of the said
fund shall be available for appropria-
tion by Congress annually only for ex-
penditure on acquisitions of the said
Commissioners for the purposes set
forth in this act" etc.
1T was the opinion of the officers of
the District government and the con-.
troller Of the Treasury tlf4t this change
will make 1t ipposSlble to grant any
pensions until appropriation could be
made.
Section,11 Of the District bill repeats
all previous laws inconsistent with the
present act BY this section the pres
emit pension laws will be nuiliied,
which means that those pensioners who
are now receiving money from the Dis
trtct government On account OF the two
relief funds. cannot now draw a penny.
Senator Smith Blames Commissioners.
Senator John Walter Smith, when the
matter. was called to his attention. ex-
planned that 1t was too late to modify
the bill. The District bill, he pointed
out. had finally been passed after a
long contest.
To reconsider the vote OF the Senate
and send the measure back to the
House at this late day might, he said,
result in the bills failure.
He pointed out that the joint resolu-
ton under which the District is now
operating will expire within a few
hours. and that 1t was necessary that
The District bill should become law
Without further delay.
Senator Smith said II any injustice
vas done 1t could be rectifed. He sug-
eeste4 that the District officials should
6ave observed this error In the bill
long ago. and not have waited until
the bill had passed finally before rush
ing an appeal to the Capitol.