Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
TO RETIRE employees
TWO BILLS IN HOUSE OF INTER
EST TO DEPARTMENT CLERKS
Measures introduced by Representa-
tives Gillett and Reeder~Thetr Pro-
visions Detailed.

Classified employees Of the government
service in Washington are much Interested
In two bills now before the House of Rep
resentatives designed to prevent superan-
nuation In the service. One of the bills was
introduced by. Representative Gillett OF
Massachusetts. who because of his activ-
ity in securing the additional half hour
order is already persona grata with
the vast majority of government clerks,
and the other was introduced by Repre-
sentative Reeder Of Kansas.
Mr. Gillett's Bill.
1t may be said without hesitation that
Representative Gilletts bill is not such as
to guarantee restoration of his popularity
among department employees. 1t provides,
briefly stated. for the compulsory retire
ment of government employees on the clas-
sfed lists when they become seventy years
old without pension or other compensation
to provide for the necessities of old age. Inc
bill provides that upon the Both day of
June, 1907 every office in the classified
service of the United States held by per-
son who is then over seventy years OF age
shall become vacant, and that after the
Both day of June, 1907, every office in the
classified service shall become vacant when
the person holding it becomes seventy
years old.
Mr. Reeder's Bill.
Representative Reeder's BILL while not
imposing a civil pension tax on the gov
eminent, at the same time provides for
compensation for superannuated clerks.
The Reeder bill provides that on and after
July l. 1905, there shall be a class of sub
stitute clerks in the executive departments
for the purpose of retiring aged and infirm
government clerks now and hereafter I'M
der the civil service upon 80 per cent OF
old salaries of $1,000 and above. The SUBJ
stitute clerks are to be designated by the
civil service commission from persons de-
string the positions under the age of TWEEN
ty-fve years of age at salaries ranging
from $500 per annum and above. namely,
one-half of the salary of the clerk desig-
mated for retirement, until there is va
cancy in the list of retired clerks, when
promotions shall be made from the substi-
stute lists of clerks to fill the vacancy thus
created.
ANY clerks designated or retirement be-
low the salary of 81 600 shall be promoted
to that salary before retirement.
The candidates for appointment as SUBJ
stitute clerks must be certified to the civil
service commission by their representative
In Congress and if they pass the required
civil service examination they shall be APP
pointed substitute clerks as vacancies oc
cur by retirement of civil service clerks in
the executive departments.
Rules to Be Drafted.
Rules are to be made by the civil service
commission in consultation with the heads
of the executive departments. and approved
by the President. designating the age and
qualification of retirement of clerks
The substitute clerks are to be classed as
follows: S-A, $500; S-B, 5000; SC, 500;
SD, $500; Sc, $500; ST, $1,000; Sc,
$1,000
The retired department clerks are to be
classed follows: R-A, $500; RIB, 5000;
Re. 500: RID, $500; RE, 5000: R-F. 81 900;
RIG, 81 200
ha mil IL,
Ice, to which the Gfllett bill was referred
has reported 1t to the House with a recon-
mendation that it do pass. This. however,
was before the Introduction of the Reeder
bill
The average government employee when
asked which bill he or she prefers usually
replies that the fact is too apparent for
comment or explanation.