The Washington times., 1910-01-15
JOINT COMMITTEE
HEARS ARGUMENTS
Split in Ranks of Advocates
Results in Three
Reports.
lContlnued Lon - -

dent in favor of civil pension system,
and by the fact that many Of the great
corporations Of the country are giving
pensions to their employees. He spoke
OF the hazards of many Of the employ
ments in the Government service, such
as the dangers of the work Of the rail
way mail clerks He said that three
mail carriers in Brooklyn only a short
time ago had broken legs on icy walks,
and might be permanently disabled He
advocated retirement for length of seTv-
ice after about thirty years.
II was admitted by Mr. ThOTp tha5
If there was no possibility If civil
pension, Elhen he favored the deduction
OF cOnJributory plan, that =. The plan
OF building up a retirement fund py
contributions from employees. He spoke
of the possibility Of - percent IN
crease of wages and salaries as an &C
compartment of the contribyJtoTy plan
scott NeSblJ, OF the Department or
Commerce and Labor, presented re-
port from the committee Of fifteen
which was signed by himself and N J.
O'ReilIy, OF the Treasury Department.
They favored the cOntributOTy plan MI
NesDit said there should be retirement
for age limit, and also for diSa bility
with proper provision for the families
OF those who died in service. He feared
a civil pension would mean an under
paid official force. He declared BE be
lieved that salaries ought to 5e brought
I'D TO meet the cost Of living. Mr. Mes
on the Government employees IN the low
er grades 10 make a living for their
families He cited the case OF Gov
-rnmenI enpIOye who mad raised a fam
lily Of eight children on $500 a year.
and had sent four sons to the Spanish
war. 4 believe the departments are
largely ID favor of the cOntTlbUtOry
PLAN said Mr. Nesbit-
He added that there was a feeling or
confidence that Congress would take
proper action as 10 wages and salaries
He took the ground that one OF the
most important things was to provide
a fund To 20 10 the family in case OF
the death Of its head He emphasized
the fact that the Government was a
heavy loser through the system Ga
keeping men as chiefs Of divisions when
they were at advanced age and una Die
TO perform properly their duties he
told the committee OF one Treasury cher
who, as he figured II, cost the Govern
ment $1,000 a var. who excused Hl Il-
the chair OF a clerk VINO had fallen
asleep and waking her up
In answer 10 a question v- sSt-ii4A'-
Ia FCHatte- NJ Nesbit said retirement
was the first question to be settled. but
the question Of more salary was press
ing He dweit on the difficulties Of
some Of the ColOTed messengers, Tor
some or whom he said he knew kindly
persons souuimes paid rent He told
with tears in his eyes and with an eN-
libit5on Of feeling that brought applause
Of a unessenGe=- who could rot have a
turkey on Christmas Day because lie
could not STCrd it.
.. y. RAYMOND, Of HarTishuTS- pre-
scented another minority report from the
-pumitte OF fifteen. lie VEs willing TO
leave the details To Congress. but wanted
some re-. cement system.
He spoke especially for the railway
mail clerks. and tOIG or the dangers
Of their business He reused laughter
ny telling OF the difficulties IF paying
g. to - cents a pound for butter. and
50 20 - cents for eggs
Several other speakers addressed the
ioirt- meeting At the close Senator
Cumuius said the various views would
be taken under consideration