Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-25
SECRETARY TAFT'S ADDRESS
At Meeting of Retirement Association
Last Evening.
FIXED AGE LIMIT OF EMPLOYEES
Report From Jacob w. Starr-Need
OF observation-disclosures Work
by Committee.

In an address delivered last evening be-
iofe an audience OF about 700 persons at
gathering held under the auspices OF The
United states Civil Service Retirement As
soeiaeion, at National Rifles Armory. Sec
rotary OF War Taft expressed the conviction
that the government of the United states
Is IN vastly better condition since the ador-
tion OF the system which makes tenure OF
ONCE secure under the civil service In
opening his speech he said he was familiar
with the constitution of the association, ana
was In hearty sympathy with its aims The
Secretary also declared the belief that the
age limit Of government employees should
De fixed. He made that statement, he said,
with a knowledge of the fact that 1t prob
ably would not meet with the approval OF
his hearers, but he was constrained TO ex-
press the conclusion as the result of his
study Of the question.
Much enthusiasm was shown whenever
the prospect of the adoption of a civil serV-
Ice pension system by the government was
mentioned by the speakers. The audience.
which included many ladies, heartily ap-
plauded every prediction of the enactment
of laws TO mako adequate provision fer
aged and incapacitated employees of the
government. Mr. Robert Arnold presided
and introduced the speakers
Among those who occupied seats on tho
platform were Gen. John {. Black of the
of the civil service commission; Gen. q. r.
Raum, Mr.. f. b. Moore, Mr. c. l.. Treat,
treasurer of the United States; j. W. Starr,
president of the United States Civil Serv-
ice Retirement Association; Robert Ar
mond who presided; 5. Il. Faunce, w W.
Hite, d. ID. Caldwell. j. b. Sample, George
W Evans. r. r. Magic. NJ. +. O Donosnue'
C. II. Besselievre r. Loranz and W. +. An
drews.
Need of Legislation.
Starr. the president OF the association. was
the first business. Mr.. Starr dealt WIN
the popular feeling. as he saw 1t. of the
need of legislation affecting the retirement
of public employees under conditions which
would not work hardships upon persons
who have grown old in the service of the
government. The report covered the re-
cent work of the committee on legislation
and closed with statement that tne Iiila
conclusions of the committee would PROB
ably be submitted during the next lew
days.
Mr. e B. Moore, assistant commissioner
of patents, was the first speaker. He read
| from paper prepared by DIR. L.. Jordan OF
the Treasury Department giving a general
outline of the systems in vogue Ia other
countries and among corporations for the
retirement of employees.
Action by Other Governments.
ut may be said at the outset it was
stated, "that every civilized government In
the world. Including the Chinese and Turk
ish empires has adopted some effective
plan of taking care of its disabled and gu
perannuated civil servants. with the single
exception of the United States. Wherever
the merit system has. been adopted as "a
means of entrance to the civil service soon
er or later has followed system OF retir-
ing the disabled and superannuated EN-
ployes under suitable conditions"
The policy followed In France was dis
cussed. 1t was shown that under this sys-
tenn which was adopted I'm 1853, deductions
of per cent upon the sums paid for sal
aries are made for the establishment OF the
pension fund. The age OF retirement in
France, as in England, 1t was pointed out.
is sixty years. though. in instances. the
time is sometimes extended to sixty-fve
years.
urer of the United States and vice presi-
dent of the First National Bank OF New
York. was quoted as saying that the full
working out of the merit system OF the
civil service OF the United States can never
be accomplished until some proper system
is adopted of retiring superannuated civil
the fact that in 1874 the Grand Trunk Rail-
way Company of Canada adopted system
of pensioning it's superannuated employees
after ten years service upon basis OF
two-thirds OF average salary during the
entire term of service.
This system is maintained. It was added.
by deducting ~ per cent OF the salaries
OF the employees and the railroad company
contributing an equal amount The sys-
tenn has worked with admirable success for
more than thirty years. 1t was declared
Standard of Efficiency Raised.
Testimonials were recited showing that
the efficiency Of the employees had been
raised materially by the system. The plan.
it was asserted. stimulated the employees to
put forth their best efforts, thereby making
the scheme a good business proposition for
the employing corporation.
The appearance of Secretary Taft was the
signal for ovation. He paid a tribute
to the work of clerks and other subordi-
mates In the government offices. saying that
they deserved high praise for the smooth
and efficient operation of the elaborate ma
chinery of the administrative service OF the
government.
1--WE are In the habit" he said. "of sup
posing that II IS the President, the cabinet
and other high officials who run this govern
ment. That's because the most of US are
not behind the scenes. The truth Is II al
most seems that this great country would
move on all right If we didn't have a Pres
ident, a cabinet and-I had almost said, but
I didn't say tia Congress"
Not Adopted for Charity.
Secretary Taft, referring to the custom OF
governments and corporations in retiring
employees, said II was evident that the sys-
tenn was not adopted for charity. When
large corporations put employees on a pen
sion IT necessarily proves. he added. that the
corporations reach that conclusion on purely
business grounds. The government, as a
great corporation. should be in the same
category IN this respect. the speaker
thought
AS to securing pensions for civilians. Sec
rotary Taft said that the heavy military
pensions made the people of the country at
this time opposed to extending the benefits
to members of the civil service.
Secretary Taft thought that the very fact
of enacting a law in the next few years
providing for the retirement of aged en-
ployes would suggest to Congress the neces-
sity of making equitable arrangements for
the benefit of those employees who are re-
tired. Secretary Taft was followed by Gen.
Green B. Raum, who made brief speech
outlining the objects of the association.
Several solos were sung by Mrs. Eva Starr
Ballou during the evening.
Frederick Lands Renominated.
Representative Frederick Lands of the
eleventh Indiana district has received the
nomination OF the republican marty of his