The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-06

classified service.
create the fund the assessment shall be
2 per cent of the salary.
The last measure introduced makes a
graduated scale of compulsory assess
mcnts. from per cent between the ages
Of fifteen and thirty. to per cent from
sixty to ninety. the retired salary 10 be
| 30 per cent Of the active wage. Def1cien-
cics in the fund are to be met with pay
n1ents from the T. easury.
! While committing himself to none Of
these measures. Representative Gillett
has seid that he will introduce every bill
proposed, II for no other purpose than
to keep the issue before the public.
] The employees themselves have real
lied most keenly the need for some
feasible plan for retirement. and have
displayed the greatest intelligence and
coed judgmnt in their attitude. to the
question. For the purpose Of forward
ing such movement. and more espe-
| Nldiig lDI the COliCNliLE VI
data on which to base a safe, conserva-
tive and sound plan of action, a number
Of Government clerks, IT. 1900. organized
the United States Civil Service Retire
! ment Association. The first president
was Appointment Clerk Lyman, Of the
Treasury Department. He was sue
ceeded In June, 1901. by Jacob w. Starr.
clerk In the Record and Pension Di-
vision Of the War Department. This
association has upward of 1900 mem
bers. which membership represents the
Iclassified service all over the country.
Only two weeks ago 1900 employees Of
the customs service at New York joined
the association.
IL was through the efforts Of this as
ISOLATION that a resolution was passed
by the Senate OF February Is. 1901 call
ing upon the heads OF the various de-
uartments for information as to age
/ salary. ana length ot service Of the en-
ployes OF that bureau. The object was
10 compile statistics, for submission 70
actuaries, that upon the sound, CONNER
oial calculations Of the latter might be
based a bill which would stand the test
OF experience. When It was found that
the language of the resolution had been
! misunders TODD. and the resultant hG-
ures of no avail the association had
printed. on it's own responsibility. 20OO
cards. asking certain Information, which
were circulated in the departments In
: the District Fifteen thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six cards were filled
and returned. and upon them were
based gables showing the number Of en-
{. pIoyes'uf sach age and grade of salary.
$ and Length OF service. The sheets or
which the calculations are tabulated, 4
connected would make a sheet seventy
feet long. with figures as close together
as consistent with legibility. The vast
amount Of work involved In this tabu-
iation was voluntarily performed by
members of the association, in the even
ing. at their rooms at 1924 New York
Avenue. President Starr having giver
, his evenings and practically all his holi'
days for three years to the labor Of tht
association.
The work Of the association was pro
crossing swimmingly, and 10 the gratifi'
e cation OF all friends Of pension retire
ment-for heretofore there was n'
available information on which 20 judg'
I a proposed measure-when there fell {
: thunderbolt which for a time stopped
D the work This setback came in thu
> nature of an order from president
Roosevelt. forbidding all Government
employees from in any way attempting
? TO influence legislation in their own IN
? terest. Members were afraid to prose
! | cute the work, and others were afrait
: to Join or to contribute the 25-cent fe'
+ 10 defray the expenses OF the actuaries
: At last, in February. 1902, Presiden
Starr addressed a letter TO Presiden
Roosevelt. the concluding paragraph D
s which read:
!, Ever mindful OF our duty to our
y | official superiors, seeking only the In
= terest of the old and superannuated en-
4 ployes who have become worn out In
n the Government service, believing thai
by their retirement the interests of the
\ Government Will be much better cared
It for by migrating therein new material
q and desiring to assist in so just and
e proper an undertaking TO the full ex
:. tent of our power and ability. we mos
e respectfully request OF you. Mr.. Presi
: dent. to give us. in so far as may b'
: possible, your sanction that we MAJ
i proceed IN our efforts TO the point Of
h the formulation Of bill for the retire
9 ment Of superannuated employees, with
"a the understanding that when said bill
shall nave been presented we shall not
: eiti.er as individuals or as an associa
( ton. seek TO influence such Legislation
=, before Congress"
: In reply the President gave permits
J. sion for The continuance OF the worl
e of the committee, only forbidding an,
o efforts to urge the adoption of thei