246 Pension Fund Report 



allowances should be provided. Service periods for retirement 

 on half pay should be reduced by five years, provided such change 

 is found possible without affecting the integrity of the Fund. 



Surprise is always expressed at the small sums paid to the 

 beneficiaries of deceased contributors, and it is felt that, especially 

 in the case of the lower-salaried workers with long-service periods 

 to their credit, this provision of our Rules fails to meet the needs 

 of the bereaved families. Either the gratuities should be in- 

 creased or some additional form of insurance should be adopted. 

 The group life insurance plan seems to offer a solution. A vote 

 recently taken among the employees indicates that such a form 

 of insurance would be acceptable if the premiums could be ar- 

 ranged on the same basis as Pension Fund payments, i. e., equal 

 contributions on the part of the Corporation and employees. 

 The Pension Board recommends the adoption of such a form of 

 insurance in addition to the insurance features included in the 

 Pension Plan. 



Sudden deaths among our employees have again brought 

 to our attention the advantage to be derived from a life exten- 

 sion service consisting of periodical physical examinations. 

 There is little doubt that such a service would be generally ac- 

 ceptable in the Museum; but it probably would not be successful 

 unless provided free of charge. Such an arrangement does not 

 seem feasible or advisable. As substitute measures, however, 

 with the same object of promoting the health of our employees, 

 two other suggestions have been made: first, that lectures on 

 health and hygiene be given to the employees by reliable lecturers 

 secured through the Museum's Department of Public Health; 

 second, that, in view of the distinctly educational character of our 

 institution, a system of periodic extended vacations, similar to 

 those in force in academic circles, be adopted. 



Originally appointed only to supervise the working of the 

 Pension Rules, the Pension Board finds the scope of its work 

 greatly extended. It has recently been found necessary for the 

 Chairman of the Board to appoint a Welfare Committee, con- 

 sisting of Mr. A. Perry Osborn, Chairman, Dr. James, Mr. 

 Pindar and Mr. Warburg, ex-officio, to handle the problems of 

 employee welfare which are constantly arising. During the past 

 year, thirteen employees have been provided with needed physical 

 examination and medical advice, hospital treatment or surgical 



