Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-14
Representative GouIden 0p-
poses Superannuation Plan.
MAKES APPEAL IN HOUSE
Says Congress Should Be Patriotic
and Humane.
HIS SENTIMENTS APPLAUDED
Member From New York Points Out
Possible Abuses of Proposed Leg
islation by Division Chiefs.

The inclusion by the House appropria-
tion committee in the legislative bill of a
drastic Superannuation clause, giving
heads of departments almost unlimited
power of dismissing employees when in
capacitated. has stirred things up in the
House. number of members have an
nounced that they will bitterly oppose the
proposition on the floor. and it looks as
If the provision is doomed.
Today Representative Goulden Of New
York made a hot speech against the pro-
vision. and urged his colleagues to see
that 1T was not enacted into law, thereby
increasing and strengthening. the powers
vested in chiefs of rooms and divisions.
and working to the detriment of old and
faithful employees Of the government.
Astounding Propositions.
"This legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation bill'' said Mr.. Goulden.
contains some astounding propositions.
While realizing fully the difficulties that
the committee must meet in a matter of
this kind. it seems incredible that GER
tain recommendations are made and
others that should have been made are
omitted. 1t would appear that the men,
bers of that hard-working and trying
committee. some of whom would certainly
fall under the unfortunate ban of having
lived long and useful lives, would not be
guilty of agreeing to that superannuatiOn
provision.
"If enacted into law it will add undue
strength to the powers now vested in
chiefs of rooms and divisions. enabling
them to easily make room for friends and
favorites. 1t will undoubtedly bring
about the removal of hundreds of de-
serving men and women whose only fault
is that they have grown old in the Serv-
ice. In most cases of removal or demo-
ton. poverty will stare them in the face.
In my judgment 1t Is wrong. and in Its
present shape should not become law.
AS 1 recall it, a somewhat similar propo-
sition was in the bill last year. but went
out on point of order made by the gen.
tleman from Ohio, Mr.. Keifer. himself
living refutation Of the charge of inca
pacity on account of years.
Case Of Mr.. Bingham.
1.-THE same may be said of the distin-
guished gentleman having charge of this
measure. Mr.. Bingham. the father of the
House. and Mr.. Livingston of Georgia.
on that committee. None of these dis
tinguished gentlemen, though up in years.
deserves to be Oslerized or relegated to
the walks of private life. l am person
ally acquainted with many employees of
the government who have passed the
three-score period of life. who might be
classed by young and frivolous upstart
in charge of a room or a division with
being incapacitated, and thus be either
dismissed or degraded by being denoted.
'I have in mind a woman eighty years
of age, the widow Of gallant officer who
lost his life on the battlefield of the civil
war, who rarely misses a day and is COM
petent to perform the duties Of the posi-
tion she SO ably fills. l will cite one more
of the many similar cases with which
am familiar. The law clerk of one of the
auditing divisions of the Treasury. who
has been there for forty years and is
regular encyclopedia of legal knowledge,
who lost an arm in fighting the battles
for his country's flag, a gallant officer of
our brave volunteers, though nearly sew
enty, is a Jealous and loyal official of the
government whose head might in the
near future, be in danger should this
proposition pass. This party receives a
salary of 5000 a year. which, in my
judgment, is less than one-haf of what
similar services and ability would COM
mand in any Of our large cities.
''These are mere samples of the condi-
tion of things in the various departments.
If the Congress believes that the old and
faithful servants of the government
should give way to younger persons a
vided for them. Fifteen years ago. as
member of the board of education of New
York city, l found many teachers and
principals in the schools who had been
teaching for forty years or more, but un-
able to retire on account of poverty.
Something had to be done, so a retirement
bill was passed by the board of education
and approved by the state legislature.
giving those incapacitated and who had
seen thirty or more years of service a
pension of one-half their salary. not to
exceed 81 600 yearly. This has since been
raised to 81 800.
Let Congress Be Humane.
Let Congress be as humane and pa
triotic as the great democratic city of
New York and incorporate such law on
the nations statute books. Until that is
done feeling men. men with humane, SYM
pathetic hearts. will not agree to thrust
hundreds of good, jealous men and women
whD have grown old in the service Of the
government on the cold charity of the
world
Mr.. Gouldens remarks were punctuated
witt applause from his colleagues. and
at their conclusion there was quite a
demonstration. indicating that the faith
fu' old government clerks of Washington
have many friends in the House and that
there will be decided and united opposi-
ton to the Endorsement by the lower
braEch of the national legislature of the
drastic superannuation provision favored
by the House appropriations committee.
Bombarded With Letters.
AS a result of the publication in The
Star the other day of the drastic legis-
lative provision included in the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
bill, as reported from the House appro-
priations committee. Representative Taw-
ney OF Minnesota, chairman of that body,
is being bombarded with letters from gov
ernment clerks, aged and otherwise, pro-
testing against enactment of this COM
puisory superannuation proposition. 1t is
not known that this fusllade of appeals
has served TO change the mind of any
member OF the House appropriations COM
mittee. but several of them are rather
lukewarm on the proposition and may
floor. In any event, 1t is not believed