The Washington herald., 1909-05-21

At rs annual meeting iast night in
Pythian Temple, al which the local and
outside delegates were sadly al variance
for time, but came together in harmony
al the end. the United States Civil Serv-
ice Retirement Association elected officers
for the coming year and discussed Iegis-
lation affecting Il IN Congress.
II was a gathering Of unusual impor-
tance. due to the fact that the efforts
OF the association for the last ten years
20 have the government allow retirement
snnuities are az crucial poin;. with two
bills offered. one in the upper and one
in the lower House. and every probabil-
ity that the next regular session Of the
lawmakers VIII end with a definite statute
enacted
II addition 10 the representatives Of the
local. OF mother, branches OF the assOcia-
lion, there were present delegates from
New York. Boston, Philadelphia, Baiti-
more, Chicago, Norfolk. Cincinnati and
New Haven Nearly 1e.0o0 votes were
cast BY proxy
VI. F. O'DOnOGhue Elected.
n. F. O'Donoghue was elected presi-
dent Dr.. George Y. Leadley, first vice
president: s E. Faunce. second vice
president; Mrs. Jennie L Monroe third
vice president; Dr. LIeweUyn Jordan.
secretary. and R. stone Jackson. treas
Urer. Mr.. Jackson was the only man
Who succeeded himself IN Office An at
tempt vas made 10 re-elect several Of
the officers for the year Just ended. but
= Vas sro--,aH rr- ,7e-Ts-.r-o--- A r-,-----
vote OF thanks was extended 10 the out
going incUmbents for their faithful work
in the interests Of the organization
Immediately after the reading Of the
reports OF the outgoing officers. a def
nite and strong opposition developed from
the delegates OF branches outside Of
Washington. led by II. r Myers OF
New York For a time II looked as II
he would succeed IN upsetting the wishes
of the Washington men and women re-
presenting the mother branches. by which
the other branches are given their
charters
split in the New York delegation. in I
which 4 H Schultz voted with the local
representatives. vas al that prevented 1
the passage Of a substitute retirement bill /
az variance with the bills offered in Con {
gress. 70 which the Washington members I
have pinned their hopes.
The report Of the outgoing president. 4
Pickens Neagle chief Law clerk in the
Navy Department, was a cereful and ex-
haustive review OF the TWO bills already I
offered in Congress relating 10 the retire I
ment Of civil service employees. These 4
bin are the Perkins, or Brown. bill Of
fered by Senator Perkins IN the Upper 4
House az the last session. and the Gillett /
Dill reported IN the Lower House a few
weeks earlier
Mr Neagle referred 70 three provisions
tn the bills which ne believed were mex
pedient and opposed 20 the best interests /
Of the classified civil service These. pro-
visions. ne said, were the deduction OF a
certsin percentage from first year SaIa-
aries, disability benefits 10 be paid from
these deductions. and the Limitation Of the
operations Of the bills 70 the District OF
Columbia He believed the bills showed
4 notable advance toward the solution
of The question Of retirement. and ex-
nibited no intrinsic opposition tc the de-
sires Of the civil service empiOves. ex-
cept in the matter Of expense attaching
TO the Inauguration OF the system advo-
caJeG by the retirement association.
Government Asked TO Lead.
In the plan advocated by the emploves.
resulting from the examination Of z mass
D. statistics referring 10 the government / /
service in other countries. the government
8 asked 70 stand the expense Of fnauRu-
-atins the system. which viii amount TO 3
about S4a000.0eo distributed through the
ext fifty years. After that the system 3
becomes self-supporting. a stated amount $
'eing deducted from the pay Of eacb en-
'loye, 10 revert % him on his retirement :
rom me service in speaking OF this
Doint, Mr.. Neagle said: S
IN order 10 accomplish the object f., I
new, i Is necessary 70 make a starr
% put the plan into operation. and N do /.
nat II ~ necessary that Lhe machinery be d
established But the business belongs 10
ne government; it Is the proprietor. and e
vho nut the government should furnish
ne plan2 The government viii derive !
'eneat from practicable and satisfsc- !
ory plan much greater unuuestionabI,- d
han the members Of the service viii re- '
eive7 a
Regarding other Objectionable features s
z the bills. Mr.. Neagle advocated the ?
OF a bite If the whole annIe /.
ould not he had al once and said amend
aents could be made as the necessity for =
nem became evident Referring 10 the B
lrogreSs Of the efforts Of the United I
states Civil Service Retirement Associa-
ION N the last year. the president said
More work has been done in the last .
ear tnan IN any one previous year. and I Z
nat Work has borne more fruit than the \
,HortS made in any other period. Or
5anizstion has been perfected. inforna- p
ion has been disseminated. interest has q
zen aroused. friends have been made
whose Indifference was marked. favorable d.
'ublic sentiment has been created. uni
ieation Of purpose has been effected
mOng the various branches Of the serv- a
,e and there has been a crystaT Tization I z
favorable consideration in Congress- -
The report OF the secretary. n. z.
, 'Douoghne, and the treasurer. R. Stone a