The morning times., 1896-05-16
PENSIONS NOT WELCOME
Government Clerks ArgueAgainsi
the TaWnay Reform Bill.
JALL 1T GLASS LEGISLATION
One Protestant Asserts That 80 Per
Cent of AIIthe Clerks Are Opposed
to the Measure, But Most Of Them
Are silent Through Fear-i oung
Would Bear the Burden.

The House Committee on Reform IN the
Civil Service yesterday AFTERNOON gave a
hearing on the Tawney bin erecting lund
for the payment of annuiues To clerks III
the executive department after u period
OF thirty years service.
Representative Meredith read a Petition
signed by several hundred employees in the
Pension office protesting against the bill
on the ground that it is class legislation,
iueuuItaDlc and unC on StiIuUcndl, ana car
res the imputatiOn that the employees af-
fectcd are incapable OF managing their
own business and that they are also i'm
provident.
Mr. Meredith gave notice that before
final action he desired TO be heard in op-
position TO the GIll.
A f.. TOmau, a clerk in the record and
pension division of the War Department.
said that fully 80 per cent of the clerks are
opposed to the bill, but fear to openly
antagOniZe the measure by reason of fear
lug to injuTe their records and the anticipa-
ton of dismissal. The sub-Chicfs generally
favor the bill because they stand to be
benefited by it. most of them having served
from ten to twenty-five years, and are,
there fore nearer retirement than tie
younger employees.
WHY THEY WERE ABsENT.
If it were not for this fear, said Mr.. Tol-
man, 10000 employees of the government
would be willing to attend the hearing,
whereas there was not a CCrporal's guard
who would permit their names to he used
as personally appearing before the COM
mttee.
Mr.. Tolman called attention to the fact
that clerks who entered the service thirty
years ago did so without any contract ith
the government that they would be taken
care of ut the eXpTa ton OF that time. A man
who is near retirement will reap the bene-
fit Of a large Investment which he has not
actually made. The 3 Fer cent of all sal
aries withheld amounts to an absolute re-
duction in salaries.
A table was submitted showing the con-
,litious existing in the Record and Pension
@ffice when a reorganization was rendered
necessary by reason of the inequality of
work performed by old and young employees.
The old experienced clerks were reduced
and the young ones were promoted. Poll
tics did not enter into the matter but the
efficiency records were made up by Il
board comprised of those Belonging to both
parties.
CLERKS ARE AFRAID.
The large number ofanonymOuscOmmu
cations sent 10 the papers, said Mr.. TOiman,
indicate that the clerks are afraid of some
thing. He said the more diSsolute and
disreputable a clerk the more successful
ne was in cvading his creditors and IN
posing upon the younger clerks.
statement was also submitted showing
that a 8 per cent retention of salary
would be entirely inadequate to meet the
purposes sought 10 be attained.
Mr.. Tolman made strong argument
against the copstitutionality OF the bill,
which practically provides that the clerks
must form q mutual assessment associa ton.
he thought it should be regarded a. purely
business proposition.
That class of clerks known as students
was defended by Mr.. Tolman, who said their
work ayera ged favorably with those who
were not taking outside courses. Three
large universities in Washington, he said,
are almost entirely supported by depart
mental clerks He himself is q graduate
of Columbian University Nine-t4nths o,
the government clerks have no intention
of remaining for life in the service, but
continually look forward to their employ
ment al stcmporary and either workto better
| their condition or hope for something 10
turn up The number OF designations. he said.
only average about twenty-five in SOC
| clerks during a year
FoUR-FIFTHs OPPOSED.
E. C. De Putren, clerk in the Pension
| Office, said that after a careful investi
/ CATION and thorough canvass OF that bureau
| he was convinced that fUiy fOur-rfths oi
/ the employees were opposed % the hin IA
| any GoFII. TAe yOang eAensenI acre saaal