Evening star., 1946-12-21
Letters to The Star
Urges Proper Insurance Plan
for Policemen's Families

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Urges Proper Insurance Plan
for Policemen's Families
To the Editor Of The Star:
The recent deaths Of three members
Of the police force brings to- attention
the pitiful inadequacy Of the Police
Departments pension system TO- sur
viyors OF policemen slain on duty.
It has been revealed that the family
OF Patrolman Taylor, killed last week
by 14-year-old Townsend Annes, will
receive $40 q month under the pension
system. That this is d ridiculously small
figure to support family IN these times
of inflated prices is self-evident.
Equally inadequate, although highly
laudable, are the donations made to
these families by generous contributors
without taking any credit away from
these contributors who deserve genuine
praise, support on this basis Is at best
haphazard and insecure matter. For
one thing, there is absolutely no guaran-
tee that any particular family will re-
ceive anything at all. Secondly. equality
for the various families Is out OF the
question. It Just doesn't work out that
way. Also, there is something heart
rending about the necessity Of these
families basing their existence upon
the generosity Of the public.
The solution lies In the hands OF the
Government. It is the only agency
which can guarantee proper financial
support for these families. What is
needed Is an insurance system, based on
the Army's method Of insuring the .GIs.
which will cover all dependents Of mem-
bers OF the police force. The minimum
amount OF each policy should be $4,000.
This will require financial aid from
the District government. which means
in effect the Federal Government, but
1t is absolutely essential that the Gov
ernment stand ready to aid those who
enforce Its laws. Under such an insur-
ance system, increased pension pay
ments also should be provided. consis-
tent with requirements OF todays cost
OF living. Support to such an insurance
system should be given by all civic
minded organizations and especially by
the newspapers which can be powerful
instruments in bringing about such a
system, to insure justice to members Of
our community who daily are risking
their lives In our behalf.
MAX woLD.
District Rights Demanded Now
To the Editor OF The Star:
The washington Board Of Trade
sponsored the plebiscite Of Washington's
voteless citizens held on elGtion day,
November S. The people voted over
whelmingly for an American-Repub-
lican-Democrat form Of government. It
was a plea for constitutional State
rights that can be granted by legislative
action Of Congress.
Congress has the same power to give
back our rights as 1t had to take them
away In 1874 The affirmative vote on
these questions is for the same rights OF
government that exist In 48 States.
On November the voters OF the
United States elected Republican ma
jority in the Senate and House OF Rep
resentatives. No one is going to repu-
diate that official election. On the
other hand. the definite claims OF the
people of Washington cannot be brushed
aside in behalf of another moscow
cred constitutional amendment which
never is approved by Congress. That Is
a dead issue.
The people demonstrated what they
want in the plebiscite on November s..
There is only one way to construe those
demands. Congress is petitioned to pro-
mote the District Of Columbia from
the position it occupied as territory
within the United States in 1871 and
which was withdrawn by legislative ac-
ton In 1874. The District OF Columbia
has great many more people than q
number of sovereign States. The people
who voted In November this year didn't
ask for any tid-bits or petty samples of
recognition. They asked for their rights.
They knew what they wanted. Our peo-
pie participated in q magnificent land
slide Endorsement and demanded the
SySlCll VI
crat self government as State.
This demand Is warning to any
group of citizens that lets down the
plebiscite, while fiddling with tiddly-
wink specimen Of government for long
years to come-exactly as they have
put up with this discrimination against
them through all the long years SINE
1874.
There Is no comparable discrimination
against the people Of any other capital
city Of any great nation elsewhere In
the world. Congress has no right to
withhold our rights in the Government.
The Constitution says so, and 50 does
the Declaration Of independence.
The opportunity now is in the hands
Of the people in the District OF Column
bia to get the rights that they voted
for on November s. The people asked
for full rights in local and national
affairs. Records since 1874 show that
we won't get those rights unless We join
in a city-wide movement to make the
National Capital safe for democracy.
Now is the time for us to come to the
aid of our home, city and country.
J. e. JONES.
DIR. Nearing on Imperialism
To the Editor Of The Star:
1t is part OF the present anti-soviet
campaign in this country to impute
imperialistic aims to the q. S. S. r.
The facts do not sustain this charge