Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-30
President Roosevelt Said to Favor In
crease in Department Employees Pay.
DAVIS BILL BEFORE CONGRESS
Author Explains Its Scope and Pur-
pose-Prof. Chancellor's View Of
Governments Duty.

Rifles Armory last night to hear words OF
cheer regarding their efforts to secure
retirement pension. These meetings Of the
association are periodic, though not held
at stated intervals. They have been ad-
dressed by many officials of the govern
ment, all of them joining in the view held
by the clerks themselves that government
salaries in Washington are too low to save
money on. when the cost of living is taken
into consideration. All the officials so far
expressed this view, but Secretary Shaw,
one of the speakers, did not appear to have
much sympathy with the movement for
establishing a civil service pension list.
Those who delivered addresses last
night were more in harmony with the
spirit of the meeting Two of them spoke
kindly of the pension idea and third as
sured the clerks that their pay is too
small anyhow and outlined his plan to
have it raised
of Minnesota.,the author of the bill which
proposes to increase the salaries Of the
clerks from 800 to 5000 each per annum,
according to their grades and the length
of their service. Mr.. Davis went into the
details of his bill. He said it had been
worked out with care and had received the
Endorsement of the President. This state
ment was received with loud applause
Salary Problem Vital.
Mr.. Davis said the salary problem is a
very VITAL one III washington. he spoke
particularly of the high price of food stuffs,
showing that when the grocers' and butch
ers bills are paid there is usually little
enough left at the end of the month to pro-
vide for any other of the necessaries of life,
to say nothing of the luxuries. He said
this is particularly true. in the case Of the
man receiving from $500 to $1,000 a year.
He had more sympathy, he said. for the
man who Is trying to struggle along on q
small salary than for the higher salaried
man. even though the latter might have
more responsibilities him and be COM
PEELED to keep up more Of the appearance Of
gentility.
The discussion of the increased salary was
little out Of the immediate line Of the
Retirement Associations endeavors, but 1t
was received with vigorous applause, and
President James A. Sample introduced Prof.
William B. Chancellor superintendent of
the District public schools, who spoke on
the ethical obligation OF the government to
look after clerks who had given the best
years Of their life to its service.
Country Owes Clerks a Debt.
Prof Chancellor said the country owes q
debt TO the clerks who worked for 1t to
the exclusion Of their chances In outside
business. and that 1t would be reflection
on modern civilization II the older and su-
perannuated men Of the service are not pro-
vided for so that they may live In dignity
and comfort for the few years that remain
- them after their active life's work is fin
ished.
In discussing the obligation of the govern
ment to provide for its superannuated en-
ployes. Mr.. Chancellor said:
1t Is bitter thing to say that the dis
lodgment OF senescent men from their
places Of power has been a process CO.
incident with the progress Of mankind in
wealth, in peace, in knowledge, and in
morals. but 1t appears to be the truth. One
might almost say that civilization is a de-
vice for the prompt detection and convic-
ton of approaching senility.
Society needs at the post of service the
best available man. Modern society denies
the ancient doctrine of vested rights In
particular offices. Due for value received
'quid pro quo, what can you do now?-
these are the modern maxims. Because
they prevail We are progressing now in
single decades father than the ancient
world progressed In centuries.
Injustice to individuals.
But this progress is OTTER at the cost Of
great injustice to individuals. Because the
senescent man should step down 1t does
not necessarily follow that he should step
out, and even If he should step down and
out from the world Of the days work 1t
by no means follows that he should be cut
Off as an outlaw from the world of wealth.
1t may be he has not received back from
that world all that he gave IT. He may not
have received full wages for his products
The right of society to displace the old
man who can no longer do his work well is
conditioned and limited by the disposition
of society to maintain this old man in hon
orable retirement. civilized society that
permits faithful old men to disappear in an
undeserved poverty through the invalidism
of old age Is less human than were the
barbarian tribes and hordes of times now
remote in history. 1t is guilty of an I'M
rejecting savagery that prevents the moral
sense of youth and childhood for whose
hest ADJ m n
working
Address by Mr.. Treat.
United States Treasurer Charles II. Treat
had the most to say about the faithfulness
of the government employe. He said he
had found not only great industry and
pride of work among the employees with
whom he had been thrown in contact. but
that they rule the best and most
painstaking accountants in the world.
Referring to the effect on the spirit of
mans work that is given by knowledge
that nc will be cared for In sickness and
old age. Mr. Treat said when in private bust
ness he had tried the scheme of having his
firm contribute to the fund for the sick or
disabled as much as all of the other employees
could raise together. He said il was won
derful the stimulating effect that this had
on mutual charity, and IL had the effect
of keeping his employees with him and keep
ing them happy and satisfied in their work
Upon entering the government service
he said he had found 1t impossible to help
the subordinate employees in the same way,
because he did not hold the purse strings
of the government, but he had recommend
ed life insurance and annuity policies be-
cause he knew just how much such things
mean to the clerks and how they improve
their work from the added peace of mind
that they give.
Referring TO the efficiency of the old
clerks. he said that not long ago he was
requested by the higher authorities to pick
out the clerks in his Office who were over
sixty-ive years OF age. and certify whether
in point of efficiency they were good bad
or indifferent He said he never let them
know for just what purpose they were
wanted but had them ordered up In squads
OF from three to five. He shook hands
with them personally and looked them
over for himself. in addition 20 having
their efficiency records before him. He said
that out OF forty clerks over sixty-five
years old, there were but three whom
he found were not fully up to the mark IN
efficiency. And he said that the only thing
which worried him about the series of in
terviews was that some OF the dear old
ladies thought they We're being sent for
to receive n raise. and ne was not able to
give IL 10 them
Accuracy and Thoroughness.
He said that lie had been greatly i'm