The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-03-31
s17 $40. 90 In pension payments

ihouCcu Dy tue lily ~ ktedtef 10 the
contributor than to the taxpayer. A
nan entering the service now may con-
tribute percentage Of his salary an
nually to fund only to find that when
he is ready to retire there Is no money
In the fund and no prospects Of any.
The tax limitation law may make an
adequate appropriation for pension inn
possible without reduction OF salaries
or other essential expense. In this con-
nectiOn, Ii must be remembered that
most taxpayers can not look forward
to a substantial pension at any age
and may be reluctant to bear over
1910 OF the cost of financing q system
for public employees who are, In add
ton, earning larger sums than the av-
erage taxpayer.
I'm addition to benefits TO be paid
under the proposed Ordinance I'm case
Of death in line Of duty, the widow or
children would receive COMPENSATION
In the gross amount Of $4,000. This
amount is also paid from tax money"
whereas, IL is inconceivable BY any
stretch Of the imagination that any
pension plan to which an average en-
ployee contributes 1900 90 and the
taxpayers contribute S22.OOO.OO can be
termed "Self-SuppOrting' as claimed
" the proponents thereof, and
Whereas, in the light of actuarial
analysis, the proposed Police and Fire
Pension Ordinance would impose an
ultimate staggering increase in taxa
ton, and
Whereas, this Council is i'm favor OF
an equitable pension system for all
city employees and not merely for one
group, but this body is also OF the
opinion that any such pension plan
must be predicated on the ability OF
the taxpayers to pay, and therefore
should receive careful and detailed
study by qualified experts In order
that the best interests of both en-
plOyees and taxpayers may be served,
therefore be it
Resolved that this Council deem it
necessary due to the misleading facts
contained in the circular distributed
from door to door in the City, TO in
form the electorate that the Police
mems and Firemen's Pension Ordin-
ance appearing on the ballot April 3rd,
1899, does not have the approval Of
this Council
Be 1t Further Resolved, that the
City Clerk be, and he hereby is in
structed to cause this resolution TO be
published in each of the three local
newspapers during the week preceding
the general election of April 3, 1899.
| move the adoption of the foregO-
ing resolution
Councilman George C. Benin
Supported by Councilman Wagar
Yeas: Councilmen George Benin,
Louis Benin. Brohl, Kreger, Mason,
Wagar.
Nays: None.
WyandOtte. Mich, March 2S, 1899
Resolution, by Councilman Louis
Brohl, Sr.
Resolved by the City Council of the
City of WyaHdOtte,
On Monday, March 20, 1899, the peO-
pie of Wyandotte were saddened by
the passing Of an esteemed and veneer
able citizen, Mr.. John G. Catalan, Sr.
Surely, the Creator must have felt
kindly toward this fine old gentleman,
for he granted him full ten years
beyond the Biblical three score and
ten. His eightieth birthday was cele-
brated last July.
Although never candidate for pub
lie office, his high talents earned re-
cognitiOn within his party on numer-
GUS occasions. He was a member Of
The State Central Committee in the
early SOS, and from 1885 to 1890 he
was deputy Wayne County Clerk. In
1894 he was appointed Chief Deputy
collector Of Internal Revenue at De-
troit. which Office he held for twenty
years. Appointed a member of the Port
of Detroit Commission by Governor
William A. Comstock, il was high trib-
ute to his marked ability and sterling
character to be reappOinted to this
post by the late Governor Fitzgerald
Mr.. Catalan was q foremost expon-
emf of Municipal ownership and for
many years was a leader in the move
ment which eliminated in securing for
lWyandotte municipality owned light
and water plants. He has justly been
called the Father of the Municipal
Service Department" His character
ehdeared him to many, while his abili-
ties were admired by all who were ac-
qEainted with him in connection with
any Of his public and private interests.
His charitable activities were many,
but were performed quietly and often
without general knowledge, so that the
full extent Of his benefactiOns will re-
main unknown except in the hearts OF
those whom he befriended
| The community which he loved will
ever cherish his memory and his out
standing qualities as a devoted father,
Christian gentleman and distinguished
citizen demand permanent recognition
In the records Of the City, therefore,
be it
Resolved, by the City Council of the
City Of Wyandotte, In regular session
assembled this twenty eighth day OF
March, nineteen hundred and thirty
nine, that the citizens Of Wyandotte,
through us, their Representatives, do
hereby declare their sense Of the great
loss sustained in the death Of John q.
Catalan, ST., and do acknowledge his
unselfish devotion to the best interests
Of the people, and be 1t further
| Resolved, that as a mark Of respect
Of the citizens of Wyandotte and the
members Of this Council, and In rever-
ence to his memory, as well as an ex-
preston Of their sympathy, and to per-
petuate the same in the annals Of the
City. these resolutions be spread at
length upon the Journal OF this days
II n