Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-27
Protecting Policemen.

The city of Rock Island has gone
eight years without police pension
system, In the face OF the fact that the
legislative enactment providing tor
this protection over the state made 1t I
mandatory that municipalities coming
within It's scope should proceed forth
with to provide guarantees In accord
ance with its provisions.
Rock Islands negligence has been
cited In connection with an appiica-
ton for pension that has been filed by
the family of Policeman Mum, who
lest his life last winter while in the
line of duty. The commission finds
that IL has no alternative but to pay
the allowance prescribed under the
pension law to the deceased officers
relatives. This amounts to one-half OF
the wage that he received monthly
while member OF the department. It
iy presumed as a result Of the re
minder carried by the Mum petit
\ ton that the commission forthwith
will adopt the pension plan prescribed
by the state, and will begin the accum-
ulation of a fund that Will take care
of members of the department in fu-
R1re in cases Of death, incapacity or
retirement under the age limit The
pension fund will be raised by special
taxation and through assessments paid
in by members of the department dur
ing their earning years.
Rock Island is one Of the cities that
has been VIGOROUSLY Indifferent and
ungrateful as to the personnel OF its
police department, officials hesitating
tc initiate legislation in that direction
through fear OF public distavor being
aroused over additional tax require
ments. Another view was that the po-
liceman was paid what he was worth.
and that if he wasn't there was moth
ing compulsory in his remaining in the
service; that he could turn in his star
at will and 60 where he could better
his condition, arguments that may
sound all right but they do not cor
rect a condition whose consequences
revert back to the public in the danger
of less efficient police department
This is ignoring entirely the senumen-
tai and economic features. The pen
sion law is meant to make police SER
vice more attractive than it is now; tc
appeal TO young men physically and
mentally fiji for the work and willing
TO devote their lives 10 il when they
are assured they will be taken care Of
in the event Of misfortune overtakius
them while in the line of duty snC
when they are handicapped from fur
Their activity by advanced years The
pension system will give TO Rock Is
land and every other city adopting i
better grade of men in the polio,
service; men who will be satisfied il
their surroundings and who will worl
with that contentment that means 81
much in efficiency as well in polio,
service as in work In any other line
The larger corporations OF the countr,
have long recognized the wisdom o
providing a pension fund TO take car
% employees reaching the age Of re
tirement. For instance the Rock Is
land railroad has numbers of forme
engineers and workers lin othe
branches of the company enjoyiu
their declining years in the tri-cities
amply protected by the pensions tina
they are drawing down monthly frOr
the corporation they had served 5
long and faithfully.
The people of Rock Island viii b
glad to know that the policeman is
have provision made for his future 81
curity by the city. It's a move in Oh
right direction. Its adoption will mea
better police force for Rock Island.