Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-16
RETIREMENT OF CLERKS
MEETING OF ASSOCIATION HAV-
ING PLAN IN VIEW.
Reports Received Outlining the Pur-
poses Of the Organization and
Work Accomplished.


$500 government employees enrolled as
members marked the annual meeting of the
United States Civil Service Retirement AS
socia ton in G. A r. Hall last night. The
meeting was devoted chiefly to receiving
and approving a statement made by Presi-
dent ]. w. Starr, the election Of officers and
the consideration of reports from certain
insurance actuaries employed by the asso-
citation, to the effect that none Of the as
sessment schemes so far suggested for re-
| firing aged clerks on annuities would stand
the test Of practical use.
President Stairs report was long, but
was followed intently to its close. By sys-
tematic methods, he said, complete data
had been collected as to the respective ages,
salaries and length of service of those per-
sons now in the classified service To this
end 1858 cards had been prepared, each
one indicating the service of one person
In the District of Columbia 45S different
grades of employment existed, the number
of employees in those grades being 1853
| and the amount of salary paid in the aggre-
gate $1S,009.66 The youngest person en-
ployed was fifteen years old; the Oldest
eighty nfne years old The smallest salary
reported was s15S5O; the largest, $4,000
The longest term of service was siXty-sX
years. the age Of the employe being eighty
seven.
Purpose of the Association.
A statement was then made as to the au-
thorty from the President under which
the association existed and collected infor-
nation, the effect of this sta tement being
that the associations activities were eX-
pressly limited to the collection of infor-
nation and the preparation of a bill to be
submitted to Congress.
In January of this year an executive or
der was issued prohibiting government en-
ployes from seeking increases of pay or at
tempting to influence legislation in their
own interest. Thereupon, said Mr. Starr, a
letter was sent the President asking an
opinion as to the effect of this regulation
on the United States Civil Service Retire
ment Association, whether a continue ton
of it's work would be regarded as a viola
ton of the order. The work of the asso-
citation since its organization in 1893 was
reviewed briefly. The letter then closed
with a statement that the association aimed
only at discovering practical method of as
sessments whereby aged clerks could be re-
tired without additional cost to the govern
ment, to have bill framed embodying this
method of assessment and to have the bill
presented to Congress- together with the
Information collected by the association,
put without any effort to effect the enact
ment of the measure.
Presidents Response.
Secretary Corteyou replied for the Presi-
dent, stating that the executive granted
permission to the association to continue it's
WORK, subject to the restrictions Expressed
and implied by the letter and spirit of his Or
der of January 81, 19O2-that is to saw tho
Iresioeht permission is restricted to acts
peitihent ana necessary to the single OBJ
Ject proposed, namely, to obtain informa
ton upon which legislation for the retire-
i h OF superannuated employees may be
based a:se ''' 'e
The President therefore prohibits e~
plcltly any and all efforts during tho moo
iess OF your work subsequent thereto
~ lllnuence such legislation before Con-
. 9nesS, either by commencing the plan to
members of Congress, directly or Indirect
~, IN anticipation of such legisla ton. or nv
urging the adoption thereof if and when
the the oiil shall be brought forward; and the
au asf also prohibits explicitly any and
an eHorts, made directly Indirectly in
connection with your work, to secure pro-
motion or an advance of salaries"
Report of Committee.
On this authority, continued the president
OF the association the several plans of as
sesslns government employees We're referred
10 d committee OF actuaries appointed from
the force of leading life insurance COM
pany The report of this committee was
read last night as part of Mr. STAIRS re-
port 1t was shown with much detail that
practically all the plans of assessment pro-
posed would not prove feasible. The chief
objection to them all was the necessar ilv
hlsh rate of assessment. 1t was announced
however. that further plans based on as
sesSments were to be considered by this
committee and more encoura ging reports
were expected With this Mr.. STAIRS re-
port concluded
treasurer Swan made his annual state
meht, indicating gross receipts of s., 299 81
ana disbursements of $1,541 .n3 Officers
were then chosen as follows all being re-
elected: j. w. Starr, president; Pickens
Neagle and S. E. Faunce, vice presidents:
John E. Brooks, secretary; Henry c. Swan.
treasurer. By amendment to the constit1l-
tlon the office of third vice president was
constituted and Mrs Jennie l.. Monroe of
the land office elected to the post by accla-
nation.