Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-25
CONGRESS SHOULD ACT
DECISION REACHED By CLERKS
RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION.
Speakers at Meeting Declare Provi-
sion Should Be Made for Veneer.
able Employees.

ut is the unanimous sense OF this meet
ing that Congress should make suitable
provision for the retirement Of aged and
disabled employees of the classified civil
service, and we hereby approve and COM
| mend the efforts of the civil service en-
ployes to secure the enactment of such
| legislation as will permit them to provide
sufficient fund for this purpose by de-
auctions to be made from their salaries"
The above in the form Of a resolution
was unanimously adopted by rising vote
at the fourth meeting Of the Treasury
branch of the United States Civil Service
Retirement Association. held last night
In the National Rifles Armory.
The Addresses.
A large audience assembled to listen to
addresses by Representative William Sui
ger of New York, Mr.. F. L. Siddons of the
National Civil Service Rerform League,
and Mr.. John JOY Edison. on the subject
of retiring superannuated civil service
employees. The Treasury branch was or
ganized June IS. 1905, and now has men,
bership Of nearly 5000 government en-
ployes
Mr.. James A. Sample welcomed the au-
dfence and told of the several distin-
guished men who have, on former occa-
sions, addressed the association. He re-
ferred to the order of Secretary Shaw, is
SuSC III J6tfudTy last, loTDIuulHS SOiieltd-
tion for increase of pay, etc, and read a
| letter from Secretary Bonaparte acknowl-
| edging receipt of the two bills introduced
| by Mr.. Gillett of Massachusetts, providing
| for retirement OF incapacitated employees
| and saying that he could not express an
| opinion upon the movement Secretary
| Taft and the civil service commission
made like reply. Secretary Shaw trans
| mitted the bills to Congress. but express
| ly disclaimed partisanship in the matter
| Mr.. Sample introduced Mr.: Siddons, VINO
| fourteen years in the civil service reform
| NOV ement The Civil Service Reform
| League had been chiefly concerned in hnd-
| ing a plan by which efficiency could be Sc
| cured. He had no sympathy with the COM
| pulsory retiring age provision recently sug-
gested. The great question is what are we
| to do with those who have grown old anu
| inefficient in the government service. The
| league took up the question long ago, and
| Mr.. Dana. Mr. Foulke and Mr.. Burke.
| members, recommended a system of insur-
| aDce on a deferred annuity plan. The pres
| ent bills propose deductions from salaries,
| the amounts to be deposited in the treasury
| and constitute civil service retirement
fund Mr. Siddons regarded the principle
| of the two bills now before Congress as
right. 1t is no answer to say the average
| $1,000 clerk with family of five shall put
aside money for a rainy day. He advised
| against creating the impression that civil
pension list Is to be established. The En-
| glish plan of a civil pension list is not pos
sibie in this country yet. Public sentiment
is opposed to 1t. The President has placed
an inhibition on the work of the assocla-
ton to the extent that nothing shall be
done except collect the data and present
the arguments to Congress. but not person.
ally press the passage OF the bills upon
representatives or senators. But wish to
say that although 1 am busy man, offer
you every service in my power to further
your cause" Mr.. Sddons closed with
tribute to the officers of the association
Mr.. Evans. Mr.. Sample and DR.. Llewellyn
Jordan.