Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-13
ANNu|TlES FOR THE CLERKS
THE BROWN BILL WILL BE
FAVoRABLY REPORTED.
Measure Provides "Old Age 1nsur-
ance" by Making Monthly De-
ductions From Salaries.

Here is joyful news for the many thou
sands Of government clerks in Washing
ton D. G..
1t was learned today that majority of
the members of the House committee on
reform in the civil service are heartily in
favor of the bill perfected by Herbert
Brown. formerly of the Department of
Commerce and Labor and now in the in
surance business in Chicago, providing for
individual old age insurance for employees
in the classified service of the government
at Washington.
The Brown bill is the only measure OF
this sort which has ever had even ghost
of a show Of a favorable report from a
House committee. much less any chance
of getting through the House itself. But
not only members of the committee on re-
form in the civil service. but many of the
leaders of the House have declared in
favor Of the Brown bill and predict that
eventually it will become a law.
The principal cause for doubt of the
| measure getting on the statute books at
this session is the fact that many men,
bers Of the House will be opposed to it on
the fancied ground that /. has some OF
the characteristics of a civil pension
scheme, which is regular nightmare
around the Capitol.
AS a matter of fact the measure pro-
vides for nothing more or less than ''old
age insurance
The statement that the Brown bill would
be favorably reported to the House was
made today by prominent member of the
committee on reform in the civil service.
And this assertion Is backed by general
knowledge of the sentiment in the COM
mittee which has been demonstrated in
the series of hearings which have been
attended by various members of the Keep
commission. The members of the COM
mission favor the bill. In fact they favored
it so much that they incorporated the idea
of the measure in their report and forgot
to give Mr.. Brown credit for the scheme.
Deducted From Salaries.
This plan, which many members con-
slider ideal, prohibits any general retire
ment fund, but provides that each clerk.
upon reaching the age of retirement shall
draw an annuity made up of the savings
that have been deducted monthly from
his or her salary and put in the Treasury.
According to the plan separate book
ploye in the classified service. The
playe in the classified service. The
amount deducted from the salary of each
clerk will be entered to his or her credit
and interest at the rate of per cent a
year, compounded annually, will be paid.
Mr.. Brown appeared before the COM
mittee today to explain the details of his
scheme. which has the Endorsement not
only of the Keep commission and numer-
Gus members of Congress, but of insur-
ance actuaries. who said that as soon as
the scheme got on it's feet it would be
self-supporting and would not require the
appropriation of one dollar by the govern
ment in the way of financial assistance.
The committee members insist that the
Brown bill, If enacted into law. would
operate for the best interests of the gov
ernment clerks, as the time will come,
they say. when the tendency in Congress
to demand the most rigid economy in gov
ernment expenditures will result in gen.
eral clearing out of superannuated CLERKS.
| Although no conclusion has been
| reached by the committee on the matter
of whether the scheme shall be arranged
for immediate enforcement in full, it is
believed that the plan will be put into ef-
| feet SO as to permit the payment of an
nuities to government clerks who are now
ready to retire. This could be done by
means of an annual appropriation from
| the government for about thirteen years
and after that it is understood, the prop
osition would be self-supporting. On the
other hand, a number Of members advo-
cate an amendment that will except from
the provision Of the Brown bill the pres.
ent superannuated clerks and make the
annuity system go into effect five or ten
years hence.