Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-28
Clerks Urged to Present Unit
ed Front for Pension Project.
PERIL IN VARIED OPINIONS
Advocates Will Prepare for Educa
ton of Congress.
PETITION FOR AGED CLERKS
Fair Deal" Asked by Sons of Vet
erns GIN Name Of Justice
and Humanity"

Those who believe provision should be
made for retirement of superannuated
government clerks, as we'll as those who
consider that q general increase should
be made in the salaries OF employees OF
the executive departments, will prepar,
data and other facts from now until the
reassembly of Congress that will enable
Congress to view both questions fairly
and fully.
1t was developed at the meeting of the
business men with the congressional COM
mittee, toward the close of the session,
that many senator's and representatives
perceive the justice of the clerks de-
mands. 1t seems now only to be ques-
ton as to the best method of granting
them.
opinion among the clerks themselves
upon this point. Some are contending
Tor a straishtout pension; others are will
ling to accept contributory plan.
Source of Objections. :
The chief objection manifested to the
former seems to be that there is a long
settled repugnance, not only in Congress,
but elsewhere. to a civil pension list.
The clerks object to the contributary
plan because it lessons their already in.
adequate salaries. and in some instances
imposes additional hardship at time
when the cost of living is high
Friends of the retirement proposition
express themselves strongly upon the
| unw1sdom of presenting to Congress a
divided front by the clerks themselves.
They believe differences of opinion
should be settled among themselves In
private. not in personal communica-
| lions to the press.
1t Is well. they argue, to present
| the merits of the different propositions
advanced, but temporarily and force
fully. Anything like personal con-
troversies. they say. will be disas-
| trous.
Square Dead for Old Clerks.
A monster petition to Congress is beins
prepared at the national headquarters OF
the Sons of Veterans, L. S. A., in this
city. Its object is to have the federal gov.
eminent give its employees, especially
those who have grown gray and feeble in
the service, square deal. This will b<
asked in 1.-The name Of justice and human.
ity."
In a statement issued from headquarters
today it is explained that it is the aim to
secure the signatures OF the 10000 mem.
bers OF the organization and the approx
imately 100000 non-member sons and
grandsons of Union veterans.
The petition will recite:
For the good of the service, ade-
quate provision should be made for the
pay. promotion and retirement of gov.
eminent employees.
Those who enter the service through
rigid civil service examinations, repre-
senting as they do, mentally, morally
and physically, the choice Of a selected
class Of people from the various states
should be given recognition in keeping
with their standing and efficiency.
The same arguments 5ustffying in
crease Of pay to meet increased cost
of living apply to these employees who
give the best years Of their lives to
specialized work claw. finance, &C.
counting and other technical pursuits
equally as to those who have already
received increased pay.
These employees who spend long periods
of service wrestling with the intricate
problems Of government should have a
voice in questions affecting their condi-
ton.
1.-The undivided responsibility of passing
upon questions affecting the right of
speech, of petition, and of retirement
should not be confined to the represent
atives of the people and heads Of de-
partments who spend short periods in
service and have neither time nor oppor-
tunity to become acquainted with the en-
ployes upon whom depends the successful
operation of the government"
The intention of those having the mat
ter in charge is to use the correspondence
school department of the Sons Of Veter-
ans Memorial University. Maj. c. O.
Howard, superintendent, to handle the
enormous correspondence connected with
this effort in behalf of Uncle Sans army
Of workers.