Evening star., 1947-11-18
Firemen, Police
lobe Queried
On Pension Rate
30 Contribution
Proposed in Talks
With Commissioners
By NewboId Noyes, Jr.

Before the Commissioners make
up their minds about increased PEN
SionS for Police and Fire Depart
ment widows and orphans, member
of both departments will be asked
whether they are willing to con-
tribute per cent of their salaries to
the retirement fund.
The men now contribute at the
rate of 35 per cent to that fund,
from which survivors pensions as
we'll as retirement benefits are paid
in part. For other municipal en-
ployes. the rate is per cent.
Police Supt. Robert j. Barrett pro-
posed the pension increases last No
vember T. He asked that payments
to widows be raised from $50 to $10O
a month and that orphans under
16 be given $25 a month instead OF
the $40 they now receive.
Special Bonus Urged.
Mai. Barrett also called for a spe-
cial S25-a-month bonus to the Wild
ows of policemen and firemen killed
on active duty.
Budget officer Walter L. Fowler
countered with the suggestion of 43
per cent raise in retirement contri-
buttons by members of the two
services, as the city heads discussed
Maj. Barrett's proposal this morn
ing.
"You are not in a good position
to ask for anything" Mr.. Fowler
said, because you are not paying
enough"
Commissioner Guy Mason asked
Mai. Barrett and Fire Chief Glenn
ent Murphy for an estimate of the
percentage of their departments
work which was performed for the
Federal Government.
Request Unexplained.
He did not explain the request,
but apparently had in mind the
possibility that Congress might be
persuaded to help with the increased
pension costs out of Federal funds.
Commissioner John Russell Young
said he was very sympathetic" to
Mai. Barrett's proposal, but wanted
to study the problem of paying for
the increased benefits to widows and
orphans.
Mr.. Young asked Maj. Barrett and
Chief Murphy to sound out opinion
in their departments, particularly in
the Firemen's and Policemen's As
sociations. on a possible increased
contribution.
No Objection Anticipated.
Both Chief Murphy and Capt.
John Fondahl, president of the
Policemen's Association, said they
thought flremen and policemen
would not object to an increase to
5 per cent.
Mr.. Fowler pointed out additional
revenues received as the result OF
an increase in the contribution rate
would fall more than 100000 short
of paying the cost of Maj. Barrett's
pension-increase plan.
The District now pays $4,000, 900
in police and fire pensions yearly,
including those to widows and Or
phans, and is reimbursed against
this amount by $338,OO0 from the
retirement fund contributions.
Reserve Fund Suggested.
The poposed increase in widows
and orphans pensions would add
1924 900 to the Districts bill. Also
at the meeting today was Russell
r. Reagh, Government actuary with
the Treasury Department. He sug-
gested reserve fund should be Gre
ated in the pension setup for fire
men and policemen, sufficient at
least to cover actual contributions
by the men.
At present no such reserve fund
exists and payments by the men go
directly into the Districts general
fund, for disbursement in the form
of benefits.
The Commissioners said yesterday
they had received a letter from Ru-
fus Lusk, president of the Washing
ton Taxpayers Association, charg-
ing that the pension increase may
be the opening wedge for increasing
all pensions in the District at cost
~ ,,oil1iooc tn local faxnaverS