Evening star., 1922-02-27
HOUSE, REJECTS
D. c. PENSION BILL
ZihIman Pleads for Police
and Firemen-Pawnbroker
Bill Also Discussed.

By two decisive votes the
House today defeated the Zihlman
BILL, which would have given $50
former members Of the police and
hfe departments an increase In
pension amounting to $41,SO4 a
year and squnifzing their pension
with that Of those now being re-
tired under the Increased pay
schedule.
After the bill had 1een attacked
ON the noor Of the House. under
the Leadership OF Representative
James II. Mann Of Illinois, Repre-
scptnttve Mann moved to strike
out the Cnacttng clause. This was
adopted BY vote Of IS to In the
cOmnafttte Of the whole, and ON
eetne repefteA to the House con-
cuffent action wis taken By .
vote Of l73 to 124, with two re-
corded AZ present and not voting.
In committee OF the whole the
House is considering this afternoon
the Zihlman bill to increase the pen
sion allowance Of 159 members of the
police and fire departments with the
annuities which would be allowed
present members of the force under
the increased pay schedule which re-
Gently became law, and a bill. faith
cred by Representative Focht. to
regulate the business of pawnbrokers
in the District.
Zihlman Makes Plea.
Representative Zihlman said that
there were 443 pensioners on the rolls,
3O7 of whom are from the police de-
partment and 1856 from the fire depart
ment. The total cost of the proposed
increase tn tho vafaron UanSinnaro
on the same annuity footing would cost
the District approximately S4I,804.16 a
year.
Representative Zihlman called atten-
ton, however. to the fact that the
,,,n,alS number Of men affected by the bill
year. and that all future pensions
would be on the same basis.
He explained that in 1916 Congress
passed the policeman's and ireman's
relief fund legislation, which pro-
vided that one and one-half per cent
together with all fines imposed by
the Commissioners on members of
the police and fire department by way
of discipline, and all rewards, proceeds
Of gifts and emoluments be COM
pounded and the net proceeds Of sales
into the Treasury, constituting re-
lief fuAd for the police and firemen.
Explains Pawnbroker Bill.
Chairman .Focht reported to the
House that his bill to regulate pawn
brokers in the District Will permit
honest and law-abiding pawnbrokers
to do business and permit them to
perform their legitimate business as
the poor mans banker. 1t will allow
the borrower. he said, to get loans at
the lowest legitimate rate, and at the
same time will give him full and COM
plete protection against the loss of
his pledge by any trick or device by
unfair means, such as are now resort
ed to by unscrupulous loan sharks, to
the misfortune of many small bOr-
roWers.
The bill provides thorough police
regulations, he said, that are recom-
mended by the police officials as a
material aid in the detection of crime
and the recovery Of stolen property.
The rates are fixed at per cent per
month on loans over $35 and per
cent ON loans less than $35. These
are demonstrated by the general ex-
perience throughout the United
States, Chairman Focht said, to be
the lowest at which legitimate and
honest pawnbrokers can make loans
and do business on a reasonable return
and at the same, time give the borrower
the protection and the insurance TO
which he is entitled.
Chairman Focht pointed out that
the existing law is known as IAN ex>
ueriment in legislation" 1t was en-
acted February 4. 1913. and under 1t
7Confinued on Page 3. Column 81