Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-05
FOR A RETIREMENT LAW
Justice Demanded for Superannu
ated Employees.
ALLEN CIRCULATING BLANKS
Many of Uncle Sans Employees
Outside Washington Join Cru
SADIE for Relief.

All the officers of President Taft's cab
met, 10000 government employees outside
the District of Columbia and many more
of the clerks in the executive depart
ments, it is declared. have signed or ap-
proved petition which was put in circu-
lation in this city yesterday asking Con-
gress to enact a retirement law based on
an equitable contributory plan, such law
to provide for an adequate retiring allow
ance based on average salary and length
of service.
It is said that President Taft himself
has approved the plan asked for in this
petition.
Other Countries More Generous.
The petition recites that 1.-THE greatest
republic on earth is practically the only
civilized nation which makes no provision
for the retirement of its superannuated
civil employees; that retirement systems
have been recognized as just, reasonable
and economical, and adopted by many Of
the business corporations of the United
States: that a commission appointed by
the President, after devoting much time
to investigation of the subject, reported
in favor of retirement in the classified
civil service, and that the President and
his cabinet favor the principle of retire
ment as sound and economical policy
on the part of the government, tending
to increase the efficiency of the civil
service"
The petitioners ask, in addition to the
retirement of superannuated employees on
an equitable contributory plan, that con-
tributions for the purpose. which are
made by the clerks, be returned with in
terest to persons leaving the service be-
fore reaching the age limit, or to their
legal representatives in case of death.
All Should Contribute.
The petition further recites as follows:
ut is apparent from the experience of
other countries in granting civil pen
sions payable wholly from the public
funds that such a policy ultimately re-
suits in an underpaid official force, and
we believe that the establishment of
civil pension law in the United States
would tend strongly to maintain the
present low scale of salaries existing
throughout the service. because the pros
pect of such pension would be con-
sidered an essential part of the cOmpen-
sation. AS such pension would only be
received by the comparatively few en-
ployes who survive to the retiring age
and also remain in the service to that
age. it would be secured to those few
at the expense of the great majority of
the employees working for less than full
compensation, on the prospect Of re-
ceivng pension they are destined
never to enjoy.
1--WE further petition your honorable
body to enact a uniform classification
law. under which salaries shall be based
upon the character and quality Of work
performed by each employee
II. G. Allen OF the coast and geodetic
survey has charge of the circulation of
the petition blanks among the civil serv-
ice employees in Washington. Accompany
ing the blanks is a card signed by DR..
Llewellyn Jordan. secretary, United States
Civil Service Retirement Association.
which states that the petition has been
prepared with the approval of all Of the
members of the cabinet. and its general
circulation throughout the departments in
the city of Washington and elsewhere has
been authorized by them.
Time to Act.
This being taken as true, it establishes
the fact that the executive branch of the
government, which employs and has SUI
pervision of the men and women engaged
in the civil service, and who should know
best the facts i'm the case, is agreed that
provision should he made for the retire
ment of the superannuated clerks and
employees in that service, and it would
seem that justice demands that such pro-
vision be made now and not after the
superannuated employees have been re-
moved from the service, whether because
of the introduction of labOr-saVing ma
chinery or to secure more efficient human
help.
Something less than a hundred en-
ployes have already been notified that
after July !. 1t may be that many of
these employees are not superannuated
and that their separation from the serv-
ice is juStifiable and proper, but it was
stated at the Treasury Department to q
Star reporter that there were some DID,
infirm and Superannuated clerks among
the number, and their friends claim, and
it would seem with justice, that they de-
serve the same consideration that may be
given those who are more fortunate in
the other departments of the government
Gave Best to Government.
These people. it is declared, could not
have remained i'll the service until they
were worn out and useless outside had
it not been for their faithful, satisfac-
tory service covering many and perhaps
the best years of their lives Their
service to the government, it is claimed,
has closed the door of opportunity to
them in the business world, and old Or
young. as has already been said by a
prominent merchant in this city in an
interview with Star reporter printed
some days ago, the length Of their serv-
ice in government employ is record
of their undoing in the business world
There are many who differ in opinion
with those who have prepared the pc
tition which was started on it's rounds
yesterday, it is claimed but, it is said
all. or nearly all. are willing to sink
their opinion and trust to the future for
a better plan in order to obtain relief
for the unfortunates of today who must
get their relief now or not at ALL