The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-09
IMPROVE THE WEATHER BUREAU
TO RE-ORGANIzE DEPARTMENT AND
ESTABLISH RETIREMENT FUND.-
Member of Messenger Staff Interviews
Mr.. w. H. Fallon, Wilmington OBJ
server, and investigates the Merits
of the MeaSure-Many Desirable Inn
provements Provided For should
Have support of North Carolina
Congressman.

A member of the Messenger stan
had quite an interesting conversation
Yesterday with Mr.. W. II. Fallon, OBJ
server in charge of the wilmington
office of the United States weather bu-
reau, in reference to a very important
bill materially effecting all employees
of the weather bureau service, which
/ isA now pending in congress- 1t is en-
1 titled AN act to Reorganize and I'm
1Drove the United States Weather Bu-
feau," was introduced by Hon. James
w Wadsworth, December 18th, and
win very probably come up for action
lin. congress during the present week.
The especial feature which is intend
ed to be inaugurated in the weather
bureau by the enactment OF the bill IS
the establishment of the Weather Bu-
reau Retirement Fund" the lea being
for the government to withhold from
the ala of each employe of the bu-
rkau 3 per cent. to be held for the pur-
pose of providing annuities for disabled
or s-uperanuated employees, those who
sefve twenty years to receive 80 per
ceh. of the highest salary paid them
dJfing the last five years of their ser
vice; those twenty-five years in the
sefvice 40 per cent; that those sixty
years of age, employed thirty years
ana retire DIT I0tlT O"h cloCSl NC
paid so per cent. annuity and those
WHO attain the age of 50 years in the
service shall be compulsorily retired
and paid annuities equal to 10 per cent.
Of the highest salary they received du-
ring ahe last five years OF their ser
vice.
Heirs of employees who die during
theif term of office are to receive 70 per
cent of the total amount of the salary
withheld during their term of office.
In short the plan if adopted will estab-
lish an ideal mutual protection for EN-
pIoyees of the bureau without a dollars
extra expense to the government.
Briefly r~ecapitulate the salient fea-
lures in the proposed law, as follows:
1t apportions appointments among
senator's, representatives and delegates
without regard to their political faith.
1t provides that candidates snail De
nominated by the representatives OF
the people, under such rigid restric-
1ions as to age, physical condition, and
education and render it difficult, if not
impossible, to effect the permanent ap-
pointment or the promotion of an unfit
person. 1t prohibits the use of polit-
ical or other influence to secure promo
ton or assignment, and 1 believe prop
erly coordinates the p~rerogatives OF
and the executive officers OF
the g~oHebnment in the matter of the
u III " SAANt NAS
federal. service. 1t places each en-
ployee Strictly upon his merits and
compels to work out his own salvation,
while the present law leaves all this to
the caprice of the executive officer or
the rules of a commission. 1t proh1b-
it's the removal of any employee for po-
litical reasons, n make his tenure
of office secure so long as his services
are advantageous to the government,
and no longer. Without one cent of
|, expense to the government, it provides
for the separation from the public pay
rolls of disabled or aged aficials and
at the same time provide support in
their hours of need"
The bill was drawn by Hon. Willis
l.. Moore, chief of the U. S. Weather
Bureau and has the Jealous support
of the weather observers and other
employees of the department through
out the country N after a careful in
vestigation the Messenger feels war
ranted in saying that it should receive
the hearty support of every
of the house and senate, and 1T would
certainly be a pleasure to note when
the measure come to a vote in congress
that every representative and senator
from North Carolina are active in eff
forts to secure its adoption.