The Washington times., 1904-04-20
NOT DISCOURAGED,
SAYS Mr.. STARR
Fears for the Aged Gov
ernment Emp Dyes.
LIKELY TO BE HELD UP
Declares Report on Service Pension Bill
Not Like the American
People.
LIKELY TO BE HELD UP

1T is diseuieting and disheartenine,-
but we arc isot discouraged. y
The speaker was President Jacob w
starr. of the civil Service Retirement
Association. the organization Of the
clerks which has striven 10 secure the
iLtroduction in Congress OF a measure
providing for their retirement on pen
sion.
He referred TO the action of the House
Committee on Reform in the Civil Ser
vice, in instructing the chairman, Rep
resentative Gillett of Massachusetts. TO
report a bin providing that all clerks be
retired without pension on reaching the
age Of seventy, and to refer back TO the
House. with the recommendation that
they be laid on the table all the bills
providing for a pension system which
have come before the committee.
Likely to Be Held Up.
The employees of the classified service
says Mr. Starr, do not believe that the
propositions of the committee viii be
adopted at this session OF Congress
Even II the House adopts them. he be-
lieves that they will be held up in the
Senate In support OF this he quotes
the opinion of Senator Perkins. chair
man OF the Senate Committee on Civil
Service anG Retrsncnment. as printed IN
J ne I ines ~ ia SUM on LilE SuD1IGl.
Senator PHrkins said in part:
1T would he the part of wisdom for
this Government to adopt "A system of
retirement on pension, subject to the re-
STrictions OF good behavior, etc The
gain 70 the character of the personnel
would be almost incalculable.
Prompt Action Needed.
with the best of our young men de-
TERED from entering the service. where
il is almost impossible to put by any
considerable savings. and with old and
I tottering employees vainly trying to ac-
cOmpiiSh SOME little work that they may
not be turned out. the question calls for
brave and prompt action. / believe the
people OF the United States. when in
/ formed, Will indorse as heartily as I &C
! the pension retirement system.
Mr.. Starr says that the greatest dis
/ tress caused by the action of the COM
/ mittee Is among the aged employees. who
/ are at o. a0ove the age limit set in the
| report. and who see themselves in immi-
/ nent danger Of dismissal. with no pro-
| vision for their future support. should
| the report be adopted. He is quite Wig
orous IN criticising the attitude of the
| committee.
Not Like Americans
1T is Inconsistent. says Mr.. starr
with the best Impulses of the Ameri-
can people. and with the treatment ac-
! corded by other civilized nations to then
/ public servants.
1T is further 1T variance with the
I treatment accorded their employees by
/ the majority Of the great business cor
! poratiOns of the country, a summary O
! whose plans and views is set fortl
! in the report Of the Civil Sa.Vice ON
mission for this year, Jdst issued.
1T should be remembered that al
| propositions which have been sugEeste,
I by the clerks themselves have bee
! directed toward a sonttiOn which shall
i cost the Government nothing. The pur
! pose has been 10 provide for system o
retirement the cost Of which shall b.
borne by the employees themselves Il,
this end a great deal of thought an,
labor has been bestowed upon the sub
Ject with results that encourage th
/ hope of a favorable solution
1T would seem that IL is only fair L
| them to wait until IL shall be deter
mined what can or cannot be done upol
! these Ines"