The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-21
Progress Toward a civil PcasIOn
List.


List.
The real Of Washinyton's NEWSPAPERS
and business men for a civil pension list
and increased salaries for the Govern
msnt clerks NAV be benevolent, but IL
cannot be regarded a. entirely Dis
Interested The SOOoO Government EN-
ployees Wha live IN the capital city and
draw salaries amounting in their agyre-
gate u about t5D.OOo.OOO a year are
supremely important 10 the tndesmen
Of that city.
For several wee5s the Washington
papers have been btisily boosting the
scheme for civil pensions The lOoal
commercial associations have their
shoulders AZ the wheels body has
been organized under the impressive
title of the Association Of Citizens in
Behalf n the Interests Of the Federal
and District Employees. Las, week a
mass meeting was held. nominally under
the auspices Of the business men. u
was largely a gathering Of those who
would benefit personally by a more
liberal flow Of cash from the national
treasury. 4 delegation Of local bust
ness men and Government employees
called IN Senator CUMMISs a few days
ago and asked for a hearing before the
Senate Committee on Civil Service. Mr.
CUMHINs being the chairman Of that
comnattee An arrangement Was made
for a joint meeting Of the senate and
House committees this morning for tho
consideration II emergency Measures.
that b. schemes for an opening wedge
for a civil pension list.
Il h generally recognized that there IL
. no possibility Of an immediate ostab-
lishmsn, n a civil pension system. The
present alternative b the Gillsst ball for
the retirement Of employees IN the CLASH
fed civil service. which proposes a CON-
ullsory savings plan. the Government 20
retain each month a percentage of the
/ pay Of each employees. The fund thus
withheld goes and remains 10 ths credit
Of the individual clerk Il IL an indi-
vidual deposit for the sole benefit Of the
depositor when the time shall come for
his or her retirement. A. many years
must pas before the annuity from such
a systsm would amount 10 moro than
a little pocket money. II u proposed that
the Government provide the whole or
part of the annuity Of those who retire
within the thirty or forty years required
10 make the institution self-supporting.
This scheEne il approved by many Who
by its operation would Kst something
for nothing or much for little: II d Op-
posed by many who would have to
nay for all they received and whose
! immediate INCOME would be reduced by
the compulsory contribution.
An emergency measure IL proposed
Ostensibly for the benefit Of a supposedly
considerable number Of superannuated
clerks now in the service end liable At
any time 10 be discharged or denoted.
The general plan is 20 put such clerks
On the shelf. M their places With othsrs
Al q lower rate Of paw and give % the
employee ~ shelved the difference be-
tween hrs NJ her present salary and the
salary paid 20 the substitute clerk. u
u urged that this would materially i'm
prove the service without increasing its
cost by a single dollar. That is. a post
now occupied by an old and decrepit
clerk drawing 81, tOO a year might b.
filled By q young man or woman 30
whom SaOO world BE- paid, the other
sS0 going to the retired employees.
The theory Is simple enough and seem
inRly reasonable. but Il would probably
fail % work out In accordance with the
claims made for Il.
The demand u thoss Who would be
benefited by q civn pension he IL per-
sistent and n increasing vig1r from
year 20 year Before very long IL viii
have 70 DO squarely MT Meanwhile