The evening times., 1899-12-15
MpRdv1kG THE SERVICE.
A Bill for the Proposed Reorganisa.
tiOn of the weather bureau.

A BILL tOf the FfOpOSe0 AeOr8nntzoe
tiOn of the Weather Bureau.
A bill for the Reorganization and i'm
provement Of the United States Weather
Bureau. has been introduced In the House
Of Representatives. The bill provides that
Senators. Representatives. and Delegates.
shall nominate candidates for the several
positions in the Bureau. and that the Civil
Service Commission shall pass upon the
fitness Of applicants for appointment.
Instead of allowing promotions and as
signments to be made by the executive Of
ficer or a commission, the bill provides
that the employees shall be advanced on
the basis of merit. 1t prohibits the re-
moval of employees for political reasons,
and makes their tenure Of office secure SO
long as their services are advantageous to
the Government. and 20 longer. 1t FUR
ther provides for the pensioning OF dis
abled or aged officials, from money deduct
ed from the Salaries of certain employees.
The bill provides that beginning on the
first day OF July, 1900. there shall be with
held each month. from the salaries OF the
employees of the Weather Bureau, draw
ing salaries Of $3.50 per annum and upward
Except that retired officers and enlisted
men Of the army or navy shall not be
the provisions of this act, 3 per cent.
or so much thereof as the retirement
board hereinafter described may deter
mine to be necessary for the purpose here
in specified: said sum SO withheld to be
deposited in the Treasury OF the United
States. to the credit OF the Weather Bu-
reau Retirement Fund as a special de-
posit. which. with the approval OF the
chairman of the retirement board, shall
be subject to requisition by the disbursing
officer of the Weather Bureau, and for
which the official bond of the latter shall
be liable. to be expended by him for the
benefit Of the employees who shall be re-
tired upon the plan and under the provis-
ions of this act, provided that on all
moneys so withheld from the salaries OF
such employees, the Government shall pay
no interest," that on and after the first
day of July, 1902, employees in the Weather
Bureau service who are subject to the
provisions of this act, shall be retired from
such service. and paid an annuity equal to
a certain per cent named in the bill, pro-
yided that such retirement shall be made
under and subject to the following condi-
tions:
-. Employees in the Weather Bureau
or other branches of the Government ser
vice for period of twenty years or more.
and who are disabled for the performance
of their duties, as determined by the re-
tirement board hereinafter named may be
retired, and. when so retired. shall be paid
an annuity equal to 30 per cent of the
highest annual pay that may have received
during the last Ave years previous to their
retirement.
'.2. Employees who have been employed as
above named for a period OF twenty-five
years. and who are disabled for the per-
formance of their duties, may be retired,
and when SO retired, shall be paid an an
nuity equal to 40 per cent of the highest
annual pay they may have received for the
last five years previous to their retire.
ment.
''3. Employees who have reached the age
of sixty years and have been employed thir-
ty years may be retired upon their own re-
quest, and shall be paid 60 per cent of the
highest annual pay they may have received
during the last five years previous to their
retirement.
Il. Employees who We reached the age
OF sixty-flve years arS sho have been en-
ployed thirty years shall be compulsorily
retired and shall be paid 80 per cent OF the
highest annual pay they may have received
during the last five years previous to their
retirement, and any person who shall at
tain the age of siSty-five years. without
having completed thirty years service.
snail be retired and receive annually one
thirtieth of the 20 per sssnt of salary for
each year Of his service; provided. that
in all cases where employees shall voluntari-
ly leave the Government service or be re-
moved therefrom for cause they shall for
felt to the retirement fund the amount OF
salary withheld under the provisions Of this
act; but il those who voluntarily have re-
tired thereafter re-enter said service they
shall be entitled to the benefit of the time
they may have served prior to the time of
leaving such service.
That any employe who has contributed
as herein provided to the Weather Bureau
retirement fund hereby authorized who
shall ole before retirement shall have paid
to the person previously designated by him,
but to no other person. 20 per cent OF the
amount Of salary withheld during his term
of office and deposited in said fund; and
any employe who may be discharged by
reason of any legislative enactment or be-
cause of the failure of Congress to appro-
pirate money for the payment OF his salary
shall have paid to him the amount Of salary
withheld during his term of office and de-
posted in said fund.-
The retiring board is to consist Of the
Chief and two employees of the Weather
Bureau to be selected by the Secretary Of
Agriculture.
CAFE HEEpTNn M ETTNnc