The Indianapolis times., 1923-11-12

Peter Budoff, now 70 years old, is
one of the 500. and his case is indica-
tive of many of the others.
Counted on Pension
For thirty eight years Peter Budoff
worked in the damp, health-sapping
cellars Of the Morris & Co. packing
plant. Age crept upon him as the
years rolled on, but he never worried;
little by little ne was paying a part
Of his wages each week into the pen.
sion fund and he counted on his pen
sion taking care of him when he grew
too old to toll.
Four years ago Peter Budoh was
pensioned at s7730 a month and he
settled back to enjoy a comfortable
old age on his pension--or deferred
wages. for you may call it either.
Suddenly, there came the Armour
Morris merger, followed by a curt
note informing him his monthly pen
sion payments must be stopped next
July when the funds run out.
Is Changed Man
Peter Budoff is a changed man. He
never smiles any more; his white
1--WE worked hard down there in the
cellar, but we were happy" said Bud
cff. because we had Eddie Morris
word when we got too old to work
we would be taken care Of. Eddie.
you know, was the son of old Uncle
Nels Morris who founded the COM
pany, and father of the two boys who
sold out Morris & Co., to Armour the
other day.
"God knows old Peter Budoff
went on, "That old Uncle Nels' and
Eddie would have rather walked up
to us butchers and said: Here's my
right arm; cut it Off than to have
cast us out at this point in life when
we are too old to get another job
Crippled in Accident
And then there's Alfred Carlson,
local employe for twenty-eight years
In the beef curing cellar. and never
once called on the carpet during
that time He got crippled in an ac-
cldent one day, so they retired him
CT pension.
Today ne is facing-well, maybe he
has some kinsfolk who can take him
in and maybe he hasn't.
Eddie Norris" the old man went
on as he drew a damp handkerchief
over his eyes. used to say to me:
Now. Alfred, don't you worry one
bit because our pension fund viii take
care Of you when you retire I be-
lieved Eddie-M Norris and I still be-
lieve he meant every word he said !
n Eddie Morris we're alive he would
own Morris & Co. todav."
Each Has Own Story
Old Peter Budoff and old Carlson
are only two OF the bits Of human
wreckage left by the termination Of
the Morris & Co. pension fund. Run
your eye down the list and look at
some Of the others-old men, veterans
in the twilight Of life. no chance to
start over now-and their loyal. de-
pendent wives.
Here's how II happened:
Morris & Co. sold out to Armour &
Co. recently. The purchaser claims
that 1t didn't accept any liabilities
such as the pensions Of old men who
are no longer fit for work, anyhow.
The Morris Pension Fund was
nquidated. Employees still paying
were refunded their money, plus in
terest. Those Morris s Co. employees
who were taken or by Armour & Co.
were transferred to the Armour &
Co. pension system.
But the old Morris & Co. pensioners
were cut out cold. They were told
their pension payments would cease
when the remaining cash on hand was
exhausted.
Attorneys who have fled suit to
have a trust fund set aside for the
payment of these pensions estimate
such will require about $500 900 a
year. They say it is just obligation
and that the pensions due these old
men must come either from the Nor
ris interests. who received $4,000, 900
for their holdings, or from Armour 6
Co. which boasts that 1t is a $780,.
000, 900 going concern today. They