The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-04
NATIONS CLERKS
TO CARE FOR AGED
Will Ask Congress to Approve Of
Civil Service Retirement
Association.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Oct. 4.-Congress will
be asked again at the next session to
permit the formation of civil service
retirement association for government
clerks, and it begins to appear as tho
the movement would succeed at COM
paratively early date. There is a good
respect to the purpose of such an assoc
citation. It is not true, for instance,
that the government clerks are demand
ing the creation Of civil pension list.
What the clerks do want, and, in fact,
all that they want, is permission from
congress to form retirement associa-
ton, and then to create a pension fund
deducted monthly from the pay of each
clerk. This being the sum total of their
demands, they are anxious that the en-
tire country should be advised as to
their case, to the end that public senti-
ment may help stimulate congress to
action, if possible, next winter.
A strong organization of government
clerks has been formed in this city to
promote this legislation, and it's officers
ing. The heads Of the various depart
ments and tho subheads all favor the
scheme, and it is said that Secretary
Shaw will deliver an address before
the association late in November One
evening this week, w. +. Andrews, au-
ditor for the treasury department., de-
livered such an address, in which he
strongly advocated the right Of the
clerks to recognition by congress.
Number Affected.
The number Of persons who would
be affected by the legislation advocated
| by the retirement association is large.
The first civil-service regulations, is
sued in pursuance to the law of 1888,
included 1924 persons, and by March,
1885, this number had been increased
to 1858. In 1889 the number was
in 1901, S3,737; and last year the grand
total was .154,o93. On that date the
number Of excepted and non-competi-
tive positions was 90,7S9, and Of I'M
classified positions, 49,764. Under later
executive orders, however, substantially
the entire scope of the civil service has
been brought either directly or indi-
rectly under the scope of the civil-ser-
vice act, with the exception Of certain
presidential appointments. Such has
in this country since 1883. Today it is
estimated that there are approximately
2s6,700 civil-service positions, with
$500 presidential appointments addi-
tional, making grand total of 2e2, 900.
From census bulletin No. ~, relating
to the executive civil service, it is
seen that ten years hence the number
of cler ks over 70 years of age will be
approximately 10000; twenty years
900; forty years hence, los 5000; fifty
years hence, $4,000. After making
proper deductions for separations from
the service caused by death and other
wise, these numbers will still be very
large. On the subject Of superannua
ton, Mr.. Andrews has this to say:
Problem Not Yet Acute.
We are just beginning to see some OF
| the logical developments relative to su-
| perannuation. At the end of the next
quarter century, and particularly at the
end of the half century, the evidence
will be forced upon the attention Of the
executive departments, congress and. the
country The reason it has not been
: thus forced to attention at an earlier
date is due to the fact that the civil SER
, vice of this country dates from 1883, and
l there has not yet been time to bring the
approximation question to an acute
/ stage. Some provision is bound to be
: made, and 1t is eminently wise that those
= who are now in the classified service con.
4 tribute without further: delay their best
thought and effort toward wise solution
Of the problem.
It is only comparatively recently that
: the proposition to provide retirement
: fund for government clerks without cos
/ to the government has been up for dis
s cussion. For years the clerks chung t,
e the cherished idea of a government civi
g pension list. and few Of them still
cling to it. The vast majority, however
j. have now united in ian association z~fo
:. the purpose of asking congress to pre-
: nit them to create fund Of their owl
+ and to control it's disbursements, unde
: suitable legislative authority.