Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-17

ing, at which definite emergency meas
ureS will be laid before them and argu-
ments advanced to show the great neces-
sity for the adoption of some plan. was
the concrete result of todays hearing al
the Capitol.
No General Legislation Now.
Senator Cummins. who heard the del
egation for about an hour this morn
ing, made it clear that in his opinion,
there is no chance for the passage of
general civil service retirement law
in the dying days of the present ses-
sion.
Of clerks who, after years of faithful
and efficient service for Uncle Sam, are
to be dismissed from the service July
were presented to Senator Cummins,
and the possibility of emergency legiS-
lation at this session was suggested,
he at once volunteered to arrange an
opportunity for the members OF the
committee to hear outlines of definite
emergency legislation. 1t was agreed
that the hearing shou,u be granted
Tuesday morning.
At the opening of today's hearing
Senator CumminS outlined the attitude
of the Senate committee on civil Serv-
ice toward a general retirement plan
had several hearings, he said, and dis
cussed a specific bill-the Perkins
Gillstt Chile nsdl7rs sillwwith viTw to reporting
Bill to Be Reported.
The chairman was instructed to report
a bill which would establish a general
civil service retirement system. 1t would,
however. make no provision for employees
now in the service. providing that they
could, at their option. accept the plan
and get the benefit, when retired. OF
those contributions which they would
make in a brief remaining term of serv-
ice. The bill would, however, make it
compulsory for those entering the gov
ernment service in the future to adopt
the retirement plan.
bill did not meet with his views. He
informed the committee that he did not
wish to report such measure.
The majority of the committee was not
in favor of plan which would call upon
the government for contribution to get
it started. He is willing to make such
concession to get retirement system
working.
Harries Suggests Hearing.
Gen. George H. Harries. president of
the Board of Trade, and chairman of the
ways and means committee of the As
sociation of Citizens in Behalf of the
Interests of Federal and District EN-
plOyes, asked the attitude Of the COM
mittee toward an emergency measure ito
provide for the clerks to be forced out
July Z.
The proposition for temporary plan
has not been before the committee" re-
piled Senator Cummins
The question then is: Will the COM
mittee meet and will it consider such a
plan?' persisted Gen. Harries
Il think the committee will consider
anything in the line of humanity re-
piled the senator. Il will call meeting
of the committee for Tuesday. At that
to the presentation of an emergency
measure and of arguments for it,"
House Committee, Too.
Isaac Cans asked if the members of the
House committee could also sit with the
Senate committee and hear the argu-
ments at the same time Senator Cum
minis agreed to make an effort to have
the House committee present
During the discussion of the commit
tees attitude toward general retire
ment plan it was shown that the COM
mittee considered too costly to the gov
ernment any plan which would take care
of employees already in the service 1t
was upon that point that Herbert V.
Brown Of the Treasury Department, stu
dent of civil retirement plans, entered the
discussion.
AT the hearing Tuesday," he said, Il
desire to present some figures to show
that the government will save money If
it carries out the general plan outlined
in the Gillett bill. i have been prepar-
ing figures to meet the objections raised
by members of this committee and they
show some interesting results
Can you present figures to show a lack
Of necessity for an appropriation? asked
Senator Cummins.
II can show that the actual cost to
the government will not be one cent,
but will actually be small saving"
In going into details, he explained that
a $1,000 clerk could be retired at $500
per year and a 81. 900 clerk hired to do
the work. This operation, he said, has
been worked out for a large number OF
clerks.
Substitute Clerks Suggested.
This led to the suggestion OF an emer-
zency measure by one of the veteran
government clerks who was i'm attend
ance He favored the enactment of
legislation that would allow the head of
clerks desired to be retired and to divide
The salary of the position between the re-
tired and active clerk.
There is no question but that a critical
stage has been reached i'm the matter of
retirement of government Clerks said
John Joy Edison, in concluding the hear
ng.
Let me say a word as to the position
If the citizens. Many who live here were
,nce in the government service. and they
nave a direct interest. / waSGsa clerk
.hirty years ago and have watched the
Of the civil service.
II have long since concluded that to
perfect the system and to provide the |
BEST service for the government 1t is |
necessary to have a retirement system. |
let us get together and see what is the |
afest and best plan. i
''The government is turning old men |
nto the street. 1t Is not becoming to the |
government, In my opinion, to do that"
At the end of the hearing Isaac Win |
Continued on Tventy-ffst Rasea !