The Washington times., 1906-03-25
TAFT ADVOCATES
RETIREMENT PLAN
But Not Satisfied With
Those Before Congress.
TELLS GOVERNMENT CLERKS
Backbone of Executive Lies in the
Faithful Civil Service
Employees.
TELLS GOVERNMENT CLERKS

Secretary Taft. Assistant Commission
er of the Land Office f. B. Moore. ex-
Commissioner of Pensions Gen. Green
p Raum. and Jacob Z. Starr. president
OF the Civil Service Retirement Asso-
citation, expounded the pros and cons
OF the scheme to retire superarnuated
civil service employees Of the ovsrn-
ment at a mass meeting of the retire
ment association at the National Rifles
Armory last night.
Though Secretary Taft lid nos fully
approve of the plans submitted to Con-
gress by the association he thought
they might result in the formation Of
a feasible plan. While not entirely IN
accord with the plans of the association
he was equally opposed to the PROPOSE
ton TO establish a "demotion" rule az
the age Of sixty-five years. as advo-
Gated by the House Committee on Ap-
preparations. He did say. however. that
the members of Congress were only TAX
ing the initial step in this respect. and
felt sure that by keeping at the ques-
tion the united results would be TO the
interest Of the Governments clerks.
Taft Complimentary.
never lost an opportunity TO pay high
compliments 10 the worthy public ser
wants with whom he comes in contact
day after day. He said without any
hesitation that Cabinet officer or
bureau chief was entirely dependent
upon the knowledge Of the civil service
employees.
Il sign my name to many an import
ant document he said. which has been
prepared by my trusted chief clerk 1
don't question him about its contents.
1t may be that I should not admit this.
but 1t doubtless would be interesting to
many ~ know how much OF my annual
report was compiled by that employe"
Il urged the men and " omen OF the
Government service to stand by them
sci rs. and said that though he was a
member of the Cabinet he -elt hn was in
no position to offer them advice in the
matter of eccnomizing as IL believed
they knew as much about that as he did
himself
Neither can I go into details" he
said. about a plan thar would meet
your wishes and still be in accordance
with the conditions that Congress is
sure tc exacJ when it comes to legislat-
ing TO relieve the old clerks of the many
perpIexities now confronting them
Government Service Good.
1t has been stated that when one
who enters the service Of the Govern
ment especially in Washington, he con-
tinued ''he leaves all his future pros
peritv behind him. The truth of the
matter is that ~.th the body Of civil
employees it is not so. 1t can be truth
fully said that those whh are cUntent
! to live on moderate incomes are making
themselves and their families happy
He said that the universal opinion that
the President. the Cabinet, and the Con-
gress were the Government was wrong
1T is because the people do not get
behind the scenes. IL is the good, faith
full clerks who have given their whole
lives TO this Government who are the
ones upon whose very shoulders this
Gov vernment stands
He created d prolonged laughter by
referring TO 1.-The fact that this Govern
ment would get along just as WELL from
| q. business standpoint II we did not have
a President. Cabinet. or a Congress
He took decided objection to the views
expounded by Secretary Leslie NJ shaw
of the Treasury Department.
"The very fact of the matter is" he
said. .'the practical assurance that the
tenure of Office of Government en-
1