The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-16
THE WEATHER BUREAU.
A Bill in Congress Providing for Its
Reorganization.

A bill has been introduced into the
House of Representatives by Hon. JAS.
W. WAdSworth, Chairman of Committee
on Agriculture, to recognize AMI improve
the United States Weather Bureau o..
Il. Bill No. 39SS), which contains some
excellent features, and in one respect u
new departure. 1t is Il rigid applica-
ton of the merit SYSTEM and provinces
for the retirement of aged or disabled
officials on 4 moderate salary from d
fund to be obtained without any cost
to the government whatever. A little
thought will prove to any one that en-
ployes of the Weather Bureau are
more in need of legislation in favor Of
retirement than other members Of the
government service. Their business re-
quires a long apprenticeship, and many
year sof experience are necessary to
develop thorough efficiency; white con-
slant study only will enable observers
to keep pace with the rapid develop
ment of meteorological science. OBJ
servers are required to serve III almost
any section of the country from Cuba
to Canada: changes OF station are so
lItuutuI IlldI tIllDIOHto ttlt utINliNu AApi'
obtaining home and are disbarred from
the advantages of long residence III
one place.
The various reasons why Congress
should not refuse to permit the Weather
Bureau to organize Il plan of retirement
supported wholly by themselves are well
stated in Il communication by the Chic;
of tho Weather Bureau, Prof. Willis
L. Moore. to Hon. James w. Wads-
worth M. c., under date of Septem-
Der Doth, 1899
The provisions of the bill with re-
gard to the establishment of retire
ment fund are stated in Section IS.
This section provides in brief; that be-
ginning the LIST day of July 1900, there
shall be withheld each month from the
salaries of the employees of the Weather
Bureau three per cent, which shall be
deposited in the Treasury of the
United States, and constitute Wealth
er Burelu Retirement Fund" The
government shall not pay interest OH
this fund. Beginning the 1st of July.
1902. retirements shall be. made under
the following conditions:
ID. An employee who has served 20
years or more and has become disabled
for the performance of his duties shall
be retired and will receive 80 per cent.
of his annual salary before retirement
(2). A service of p years will entitle
a disabled employees to an annuity of 40
per cent of his previous annual salary.
CD. Employees reaching the age of
60 years who have served 80 years may
retire. Aand shall receive 60 per cent.
~ Employees over 90 years and who
have served 80 years shall be compul-
soriy retired with % per cent of their
annual pay.
The act provides for a proper retire
ment board The passage of the act
undoubtedly have many good effects.
lit would secure a good class of men for
the service: there would be II less mum
Der ofg designations Of skilled observers
who ;tre difficult to replace; more en-
thusiasm and hence better service to
the government, while those who have
devoted the best years of their life in
becoming proficient i'll this practical
science to the exclusion of all other vo-
cations will not be turned away help
less and poor in their old age.