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

pension7"
This is the question which is being
put by The Times to high officials Of
tho Government, and to others whose
positions give weight to their opinions,
by reason Of technical knowledge or
vital interest in the issue involved.
It will be observed that, in the form
of the question, no age for retirement Is
specified. no period Of service desig-
mated, and no special plan or mode Of
effectIng the retirement or creating the
pension fund suggested Only the bed
rock principle of pension retirement has
been submitted for consideration. The
Times has no ak to grind, no bill to
father. Its aim has been and is to OBJ
tain the best opinion on a vital ques-
ton; to ascertain what those IN posi-
ton to know the conditions of the ser
vice think about the matter.
This question is OF interest. first. to
1890 civil service employees IN the Dis
tfict OF Columbia alone; second. TO the
vast army OF 10000 classified employees
scattered throughout the length and
breadth OF the country and It's depen-
denotes; third. TO the taxpayer who
eventually foots all the bills. both for
salaries and pensions. and last OF oil, to
every citizen OF the United States.
whose welfare is dependent TO a large
measure on the efficiency OF the Gov
eminent service. Among the Govern
.nent employees, who are most vitality
concerned. the question is of equal in
terest to the 6,0Oe division chiefs I'm
Washington. New York. or Boston, and
90 the rural free delivery postman.
plodding the country roads in distant
States.
Attempts at establishing pension re-
tirernent system for civil employees Of
the Government have been many and
varied IN the history of the country. As
early as 1873 Postmaster General Jacob
Collins, OF President Zachary Taylor's
Cabinet, formulated a bill looking 10
this end. From that time almost con-
tinuous efforts along this line have been
made to this. and since 1888 no Congress
has met but many measures have been
submitted, All. however. have died In
the committee room, none having met
che approval OF the committees having
them in charge or possessing practica-
biIity enough to survive intelligent criti-
cism, At the present time there are no
less than eight bills before Congress. all
OF which were introduced, by request.
by Representative Frederick IT. Gillett.
OF Massachusetts, and were referred TO
the Committee on Reform I'm the Civil
Service. or which Mr.. GiIett is the
chairman, Mr.. Ginett. however. has
made It very clear that ne fathers none
Of the proposed measures.
The first OF these measures introduced.
House bill No. 679e. provides that per
cent OF the salary OF every classified en-
ploye who may so request shall be with
held from his monthly pay to create a
retirement fund, the benefit to accrue
60 the contributing employees. Any new
employee failing to make such a request
within sixty days after his Appointment
shall be forever debarred from the bene-
nts or the fund. Employees who have
become physically disabled in the SER
vice are entitled 20 retirement on 20 per
cent OF their salaries. while those who
have served thirty years or more may
be retired on their own application with
6 per cent of their annual pay. En-.
ployes who reach the age Of seventy, and
have served ten years, shall be compuI
Eorily retired. and all of this class or
the Government pay rolls must be SC
retired sixty days after the passage Of
the act Shortages In the retirement
fund are 10 be paid out OF the treasury
ehouid an employee die before reachint
the retiring age. his heirs are to re
ceive, without interest. the full amount
paid IN BY him toward this fund.
~ RiIl No. 67s7 differs from the foreRo
ing IN that not more than per cent o
tho salary OF each employe must be de
Quoted. eliminating the voluntary fea
tuse. This bill provides for compulsor,
retirement az the age OF seventy. ant
voluntary retirement at the age OF six
ty-fve after -hirty-ive years service
~ one-seventieth OF the average salar,
for each year OF service.
Bill e79s attempts 70 solve the problem
by compulsory purchasing by each EN-
ploye OF an annuity In life insuranc
company approved by the Government
Nc. s7ss aims merely 20 prevent super
annuaticn. providing that all person
over seventy az the time OF the passag
of the act must be dismissed With
three years. and thereafter no perso
more than sixty-five shall hold Office.
Fill 6soo Is on the compulsory pc
cent basis. Compulsory retirement =
seventy. voluntary retirement at sixty
Or a pay not TO exceed $3.50 per quarter
are the features NJ this bill.
On 2 per cent assessment basis, bil
ssoI provides for voluntary retiremen
sitter sixty and a service OF thirty years
and compulsory retirement at sevent
after thirty-fve years service. on 70 pc
cent OF the average annual pay for tn
last i've years OF service.
A 3 per cent compulsory assessment