New Britain herald., 1924-12-12
POLICE PENSION FUND \
 LEGAL OBLIGATION

""e'i-r las HJt IE pal t'4 4IUil tItc land. Policemen who have contrib uted two per cent of their wages to s pension fund which has been es- tabhshod hy city charter have enter- cd into a contract with the city, have paid a valuable consideration on the basis of the contract and the city has accepted tho consideration, and tho terms Of tho contract cannot be waived aside by any administration or body of taxpayers without break- Ing the contract, which would be contrary to tho Constitution of the United states itself.
 Edward r. Hall, chairman of he board of finance and taxation, who favOrs the pension system and wants 10 ward off any possibility of vitiat- ing it, is unquestionabIy right in suggesting that the pension fund should not be made a tax burden. or at least not a serious tax burden; but 1t IS extremely doubtful whether any body Of officials would attempt to violate q solemn obligation by overthroHing the pension system for this or any other reason as regards those policemen who in good faith have contributed a part Of their wages to the fund since its estab- lishment by city charter.
 IL would be possible to change the charter so that no additional police. men be required to pay two per cent of their wages into the fund, thus not adding to those who would bene- fit by the fund in later years, But even this would be backward step and would be an incentive for such policemen to desire more wages so that they could be in better posi- ton to lay aside rest egg for use after they retire from the force. And as the city pays the wages, it would amount to an increase in taxes for police purposes 10 pay the additional wages. In popular parlance, it would
 
 With respect to the police who have contributed from their wages to the pension fund, it would be im- possible legally to deprive them of the benefits of the pension fund up- on any pEeta&t; and there is no likelihood that any responsible per. sons connected with any city admin istration will ever cndcavor 10 break the contrlc,, Tie public may somstinles make mistakes in electing public officials, but it is doubtful if 1t would make the mistake of elect ing protessed contract-breakers
 From a legal standpoint the con- tract stands upon a firm basis, is part Of the city charter even, and so far as those policemen who have ou- tered 1n,o it ar. con,4racI, they are legally emitted to laIf-ray pension when they retire, The city is obli- ga:ed 10 uphold t'a s&aro of tle con- tract, !: good many policemen were eventually to ta retired upon a pension. thus @aanteg .hc capacity of the fu.l, soma way undoubtedly could bo loa0l hop j. ubosc the demands, lut that Is a prtga that cannot he properly crossed unu 1t is roacu,I; HlcnH such . sj,ua- ton nocI oo,or orjs. win s,ch a talent as Mr, Hail lul.1 .,, tlc Lad Of those cndravoring 10 =o.&e the problem,
 The question a, issue is no. the pension fund, as that is firmly and legally established, but the als lsa- bllity of retiring such policemen as have reached th, asc when such re- firement IS advisable. Tie present law does not make it obligatory 10 retire a policeman, leaving it to his own wishes. The police commis- sioners favor obligatory retirement and wish the charter to te changed accordingly T. that is 10 be done with only an attenua.el pension fund in sight compared with The number of men who would be pensioned, perhaps 1t is better 10 exercise cau- ton and not retire policemen upon kAe wholesale plan.