The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-02
DC. COMMITTEE.
URGES PENSION
BILL BE PASSED.
Measure Would Increase AlIot-
ments to GOT Police and
1876 Firemen.

The House District Committee has
reported the District firemen's and
policsmen's equalization pension bill
with q recommendation that 1t be
passed Immediately.
Accompanying the bill was re.
Frederick II. Zihlman, author OF the
measure and one Of the leading mem.
bers Of the District COMMITTEES.
"In 1916, Congress passed q law"
says the report, known as the
Policemen's and Firemen's Relief
Fund Of the District of Columbia,
and provided that one and one-half
per centum Of the monthly salary
OF each member: all fines imposed
by the Commissioners OF the DIS.
trict Of Columbia upon members OF
the Police and Fire Department In
the said, District, by way OF dis
cipline; all rewards, proceeds OF
gifts and emoluments: and the net
proceeds of sales Of unclaimed prop.
erty In the custody Of the Property
Clerk Of the Police Department
should be paid into the Treasury
of the United States. and consti'
tute a relief fund for the firemen
and policemen Of the District.
1T was further provided that
any member of the two depart
ments, who should become tempo
rarity disabled by injury received,
or disease contracted in the actual
discharge of his duties should re-
ceive medical or hospital treat.
ment. to, be paid for from the
relief fund, and that whenever any
member should become so perma-
nently disabled through injury re-
ceived. or disease contracted In the
line Of duty. as to incapacitate him
for the Performance Of duty. or.
having served not less than twenty.
1--we years and reached the ago OF
tifty.five years. shall. for any cause.
become 30 permanently disabled as
to inca pacitate him for the perform
ance Of duty should make written
application and to eligible for re-
tirement.
at was further provided that
men. having reached the age Of
sixty years. could be retired by the
relief board, and should be entitled
to receive so per cent OF the
monthly salary received by him at
the date Of retirement.
There was also provision made
for the payment Of a pension TO
widows and orphans OF men In the
two services.
443 Men On Rolls.
There are 443 pensioners on the
rolls. 307 members from the Police
Department and 1876 members from
the Fire Department. and Of this
numebr 159 members Of the two de-
partments would be subject to the
increase In their pensions carried in
this bill, and the total cost to the
District would be approximately
S41.s04.16 per year.
Tho bill az reported to the House
today provides that all policemen
who were retired or pensioned prio-
to December 8, 1919. shall be en-
titled to the same rating and beno-
fits and receive pensions equal In
amount to the pensions now being
granted or that may DO hereafter
granted to policemen retired or
pensioned since the passage Of the
Act Of December 8. 1919. and all re-
tired and pensioned firemen of the
District Of Columbia who were -s-
tired or pensioned In accordance
with laws enacted prior 10 January
same rating and benefits and re.
ceive pensions equal In amount to
the pensions now being granted, or
that may be hereafter granted to
firemen retired or pensioned since
the passage Of the Act Of January
~. 1920, and all such retired and
pensioned policemen and firemcn
shall also be entitled to all pension
benefits resulting from any and all
increase In pay that may hereafter
be granted by Congress to the
policemen and firemen OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia"