Evening star., 1905-10-28

Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.
DR.. Llewellyn Jordan, ]. B. Kfnnear and
Isaac r. Hit, jr., constituting the commit
tee on arrangements; officers of the parent
organization and Mr.. w. E. Andrews, audi
tor for the Treasury Department. Just
prior to adjournment on motion of DIR.
Jordan, the speakers were accorded a rising
vote of thanks.
First to be introduced was Assistant Sec
retary Taylor. He had a fund of good
stories from which to draw, and soon had
his hearers in unusual good humor. Mr..
Taylor'S address, as he explained, was en-
tirely informal for the reason that he was
not very familiar with the movement, al
though he believed very thoroughly in the
principle of civil service retirement People
should now provide for the time when they
will be no longer able to provide for them
selves, he urged. which is simply the whole
principle of life insurance. The retirement
scheme is a forced annuity insurance. 1t
was added that civil service retirement
would be not only an advantage to the en-
ploye but to the government as well.
In his capacity as chairman of the COM
mittee personnel of the Treasury Depart
ment Assistant Secretary Taylor went on
to say manw pathetic cases have come to
his attention. 1t is fact that a great
many clerks have become unable to dis
charge their duties efficiently and must
soon retire from the service, ond some pro-
vision ought to be made for them.
In the opinion of the speaker the young
clerks should welcome the adoption of the
retirement scheme, as the result would be
more rapid and easy promotion for them.
IF there is anything in the world gov
ernment clerk loves it is promotion" the as
sistant secretary declared.
Mr.. Taylor expressed himself as glad to
do anything in his power to assist the move
ment. He pointed out that great care and
thought should be given the matter and
that nothing but carefully considered bill
should be presented and in such form that
Congress would be compelled to enact 1t
into law.
"You are headed right" Assistant Secre-
tary Taylor said in conclusion. Agitation.
organization and discussion are what bring
results. Stagnation is the enemy of prog
ress. l wish you the greatest measure of
success in your undertaking."
Mr.. Hayes Address.
The presiding officer next presented Mr..
Hayes to the assemblage.
Mr.. Hayes said in part:
"As I understand the proposition, what
you are seeking is the organization OF an
age annuity assurance association composed
of the entire membership of the executive
and control OF the general government,
membership in which shall be by law COM
pulsory. This is usually called the civil
service retirement plan, based on the idea
that after arriving at a certain age civil
service employees may or shall be retired
from active service with an annuity suff-
Client to provide them with the necessaries
and comforts of life.
solutey essential. But SO far as this coun-
try is concerned 1t is legislation of an un-
usual character departure along new and
advanced lines Of thought. A movement of
this kind involving new objecs of legisla-
tive action Is necessarily slow in reaching
results. No great reform has ever been ac-
complished, no radical departure from the
beaten track has ever been undertaken, nor
has any valued right ever been accorded a
people except as the result of long-continued
discussion, agitation and demand, and some-
times only after the clash of arms. The
history of the world shows an endless sue
cession Of struggles, each resulting In some
measure of advancement, every step in the
march of civilization and progress having
been made by reason of agitation and edu-
cation. The dream of one generation be-
comes the rallying cry Of the next and the
accomplished fact of the one succeeding.
$50 the proposition which more immedi-
ately concerns us tonight is being consid-
cred 1t has been refused legislative sane
tion In the past, but this meeting is in fur
therance of a great educational movement
having for Its object the enactment of a fed
eral law dealing with the retirement of su-
perannuated civil service employees, law
not only in the interest of economy and ef-
ficiency in the public service, but one for
the benefit of as faithful body of men and
women as ever helped to make a nation
great.
Good Business Proposition.
such a law as this must after careful
study, be justified on considerations of hui
manity. as good business proposition for
the government, as the legitimate resultant
of the civil service law, and as having been
successfully tested by other nations and by
private business corporations.
1.-THE civil service law has now been In
operation just sufficient length of time
to begin to show one of its necessary re-
sults-the superannuation of the employees
working in that service
To-day we have practically civil pen
sion list. paid by the government not only
in the coin of the realm, and at full rate
during superannuation but also In a de-
creased efficiency in the service. and this
condition will exist so long as there is no
age limit for compulsory retirement. The
result OF this proposed legislation will be
to transfer the burden Of these supersn-