Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12
EARLY LEGISLATION
PROVIDENT ASSOCIATION, WITH
INSURANCE FEATURES.
Action Regarded as Precedent by
United States Civil Service Re-
tirement Association.

Anxiety has been manifested by not
few interested in the welfare Of the United
States Civil Service Retirement Assocta-
tion over two alleged misconceptions. The
sudden rise and short life Of the so-called
Employees Association has created an i'm
preston that either the old organization or
its new branch in the Treasury has not
been able to make good. This idea, it 10,
declared. Is entirely erroneous. The new
Treasury branch being a hearty supporter
Of the old society, its success means, 1t is
said. new life to the parent association
That matters are progressing favorab1y.
with the branch is shown by the fact that
its president is in receipt Of a letter from
Mr.. Elliot H. Goodwin. secretary of the
National Civil Service League. in answer,
to one written him. stating
Your favor of the 10th ultimo addressed
to Mr.. Charles ]. Bonaparte. Secre-
tary Of the Navy and the chairman and
League. was submitted to the council Of
that body at its meeting at Bolton Land
Ing Lake George, on July %. 1 have to.
advise you that 1t was referred for consid-
Grafton to the special committee on super.
annuation, of which Mr.. William Dudley
Foulke of Richmond. Ind. is the chair,
man ...
1t is now confidently hoped by the sup
porters of the association that with the
letter to Secretary Bonaparte, previously,
published in The Star, in hand. Chairman
Foulke will so understand the purposes of
the organization as to be able to report:
fayorably on the movement /.
Probably more important Is the second
misapprchension- Not a few people and
the press in some parts of the country in
sist on identifying the efforts OF the retire.
mert association with civil pension bill.
The Officers of the old organization and Of
Its branches are strenuously endeavoring
Pa, az 1,r 70 f,ntr ra.,1
purposes. The word pension is tabooed.
There has been every effort made to cor
rect any misapprehensions on this sub
ject
Situation Explained.
Historically 1t should be mentioned
says officer, that there has been in
existence for about five years an associa-
ton called the United States Civil Service
Retirement Association which has been
charged with the duty of collecting statis-
tics as complete as possible dealing with
the questions Of age. salary and disability
of employees in the classified executive civil
service. IN order to proceed intelligently to
formulate bill for presentation to Con-
eress. 1t will propose a plan of retirement
based upon certain percentage of salary
deduction of each employee. which will be
without expense to the general government
whatsoever. with such express provision
in the law. This view was fully set forth
in the letter addressed to Mr.. Charles ].
Bonaparte. Secretary of the Navy, and re-
firing chairman of the National Civil Ser
vice League.
Il wish to emphasize the point in the
strongest possible manner that 1t Is not
fact that civil pension list is desired at
the expense Of the government. but on
the contrary. the efforts of those interested
in the movement have been directed solely
to the accomplishment and perfection Of a
plan Of retirement for; the aged disabled
and arpn1OvaS an
expense to the United States government
at all.
1.-The Civil Service Retirement Assocla-
ton in it's constitution states in article 2,
section 1, under the head Object as fol-
lows:
1.-The object of this association shall be
to obtain information upon the subject of
approximation, and to aid in devising
measures In the interest of the public serv-
ice and Of the employees in that service by
an equitable provision for their retirement
without expense to the government.
1.-The treasury branch was organized with
the avowed purpose of stimulating this
movement and aiding in devisng suitable
measure for dealing with the question by
the adoption through congressional action
of a plan which shall be supported solely
and exclusively by the clerks themselves
We have purposely avoided the use of the
term pension as we do not wish to create
in any sense civil pension list. with its
consequent burden upon the taxpayers OF
this country.
ut is our desire to pay premiums from
our present salaries as are annually appro-
priated by Congress in order to insure US
an income Of small amount of retired
pay after certain period of service, or on
reaching a retirement age, and the sane
ton Of the Congress of the United States Is
absolutely necessary for the accomplish
ment Of the purpose.
Approved by Treasury Officials.
..The treasury branch Is not only entirely
in sympathy with the action of the retire
ment association, but has the hearty ap-
prevail of the officials in the Treasury De-
partment Acting Secretary c. H. Keep
and Chief Clerk w. w. Ludlow have grant
ed authority to circulate in the treasury
building and it's annexes in this city sub
scriptions for membership In the treasury
branch of the United States Civil Service
Retirement Association.
"Of the many plans proposed the United
States civil service commission. in its nine
tenth annual report. pages - to -, IN.
elusive, suggests as a possible solution OF
the problem "a provision requiring endoW-
ment or deferred annuity insurance from
all seeking admission into the civll service
cit would therefore seem wise IL Congress
we're to provide that the further admission
of persons into the classified service should
be based upon the condition that the per-
sons so admitted shall provide against their
own superannuatfon or other disability by
adequate annuity insurance, the premiums
to be deducted from their salaries, and that
superannuatio ton and disa ability annuitieS for
those now in the service should also be pro-
yided for, to be secufed so far as Is prac-
ttcable by similar deductions from salaries.
This report was signed by John r. Proc
ter now deceased: William d. Foulke and
Rudolph Garfield now commissioner