Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-28
OBJECTS EXPLAINED
AN ADDRESS ON CIVIL SERVICE
RETIREMENT.
Auditor Andrews Addresses Treasury
Branch Of Local Association
Pensions to Employees.

4
Branch Of Local Association
Pensions to Employees.
There was an outpouring OF departmental
| people last evening at the National Rifles
| Armory to hear the address of Col W. L.
Andrews. auditor of the Treasury Depart
i ment. on the subject of "Civil Service Re-
| ttrernent: Its Meaning. Object and Ben
| efts. The meeting was held under the
auspices of the Treasury Branch of the
| Civil Service Retirement Association, which
| Is working In the interest of retirement
| pensions for government employees. Tie
audience was made up largely Of men, al
though there were a number of women
present.
! Mr. James A. Sample, president Of the
! association. presided, and introduced the
| speaker of the evening Before introducing
| Mr.. Andrews, however, MI Sample enter
| tanned the audience with a statement of
| the purposes of the treasury branch. saying
| that 1t is in hearty accord with other move
ments In the government departments hay-
| ing IN view the same end The treasury
| branch he said. Is a factor In the work,
4 ana he wanted to see the retirement idea
perpetuated. All people employed in the
government should be Interested in it. rs 1t
Il
| ire Mr.. Sample complimented DIR. i.lewel-
| lyn Jordan. the vice president and others
connected with the work for activity and
cooperation.
One of the features of the evening was
| the musical program rendered by the Hun
ter Orchestra. One of it's members Mr.
Buckle was loudly applauded for mis- Aylo-
phone solo.
President Sample then introduced the
speaker
Mr.. Andrews Address.
Mr.. Andrews said in part:
Il greet you tonight as representatives of
one of the greatest nations known to human
history. This statement is made for the
purpose of emphasizing the fact that we
are engaged in doing things that are well
worth the doing, and also worth doing we'll
Inc value and Importance of our service
cannot De measured accurately when viewed
ds isoiateo transactions. The true estimate
Is secured when we consider. them as parts
OF great system relating to the past and
also to the future
Mr.. Andrews went on to say that in a
national sense are all co-partners in
an extensive business organization. We are
engaged in collecting and disbursing hum
dreds of millions of dollars of public funds
every year to pay the current expenses of
this national enterprise
In the business affairs of this country the
national treasury was the chief center in
TACT the heart whose pulsations vibrated
t1ioiA6 tliS arteries Oh Ina0ce and commerce
The economic and financial policy of every
administration is closely scanned by the
brightest and strongest minds in the bust
ness world
plan and direct wisely. but the successful
execution of their policies would depend
very largely upon the efficiency and the
integrity of those occupying the lower
grades of the public service.
The Rule for Years.
From 17s9 to 1888, said Mr.. Andrews, the
ranks of the civil service were subject to
removals and appointments at the unre-
stricted pleasure of the appointing power.
Thus with the change of the government
from one administration to another and
especially from one political party to an
other efficiency was frequently compelled
to give place to fnefficiency. Many appoint-
ments We're secured solely as a reward for
party service. without regard to the quail
fications of the appointee to discharge the
duties assigned to him. After testing this
method for ninety-four years Congress de-
cided to adopt new policy which is ex-
pressed in the civil service act of 1888
we nave today approximately 2S6, roo
places under the civil service policy, with
600 presidential appointments additional,
making grand total of 2D2, 800. The ma
tional platforms of the leading political
parties of the country indorse the civil
service law to such an extent as to guar
antee its continuance.
quarter or Million Places.
The speaker said 1t was reasonable to
presume that at least 100000 places were
included under existing conditions in any
of the proposed modes of retirement or in
any mode that may be ultimately adopted
Ten years hence the number of clerks over
seventy years of age will be approximately
loe0O; twenty years hence, 27,O00; thirty
years hence, 81 600; forty years hence 103-
900; fifty years hence, $4,000. Later ex-
tensions of the service have increased these
numbers very greatly. After making proper
deductions for separations from the service
caused by death and otherwise these num-
bers Will still be very large Then how can
Congress escape action when the passing
years shall have forced upon the country
the logical developments of the Inherent
character of the law?
We are just beginning to see some of the
logical Developments relative to the matter
OF approximation. AT the end Of the next
twenty-five years. and especially the next
!! fifty years, the evidences will be forced upon
the attention not only of the executive de-
partments, but also upon Congress and the
country. Some provision Is bound to be
made and 1t is emnently wise that those
who are now in the classified service con-
tribute their best thought and effort to-
ward a wise solution of the problem.
Different methods have been proposed and
numerous bills have been introduced in Con-
gress. Each may have its special merit
but united action must be ultimately Sc
cured.
Permit to suggest" said he "a
method of procedure. Select a number of
those who are best qualified to handle the
subject and let them serve as your legisla-
tive committee to reduce to definite shape
such opinions as they may deem proper
When you shall have thus reached a gen.
eral agreement let the entire force of the
classified service stand behind the policy
and suitably suggest its incorporation into
law"
Without Expense to Government
''The association advocates the policy of
retirement without expense to the gov
eminent One of the most important pur-
poses to be accomplished by the work of
your association is the thorough education
of the public mind upon this point My
observations of departmental life and pub
lie and congressional debates proves to me
that Congress will at some future date fix
an age limit in the executive civil service
Just when / will not presume to guess"
Some of those who object to the general
plan proposed by the association, said Mr..
Andrews. seemed to be sanxiousiy hoping
that Congress would speedily adopt a civil
III. A.