The Washington herald., 1910-01-02

With the reasSembllng or edCh Con-
gress that little army of clerks which
conducts the affairs Of the national gov
eminent in Washington rekindles hops
that has been Pickering for years and
waits patiently for legislative action
whereby their meager salaries may be
increased.
Despite the fact that hundreds OF new
positions have been created 10 meet the
ever-increasing business of the govern
ment in recent years, the wages of the
classified clerical force have remained
stationary for more than ffty-dye years
Grow Old in Service.
Employees have grown old in the public
service. organizations for relief have
been formed. publications advocating an
improved system of retirement have been
circulated. and various reforms have
been instituted. still the common goal of
al these enterprises, an increase Of pay
for clerks, has been ignored.
Numerous bills have been introduced in
the Senate and the House in past years
providing for an increase Of salaries and
creating various forms of retirement to
prevent the approximation Of clerks It
Is said the majority Of these measures
were never reported from the committee
and the rest have never been laid before
the legislators for action.
The other method of advancing the COM
pensatiOn OF the clerical force, inserting
estimates for increased appropriations in
the legislative. executive. and judicial
budgets, has invariably failed TO relieve
the conditions Of the classified service.
That scale Of salaries established in
1854, dividing the force into four classes.
with wages ranging from 81. 200 to s., 500
year, has never been changed Sub
sequent acts have created lower posi-
tons with smaller salaries.
Four Bills Pending.
At present there are four bills. framed
10 aid the clerks. pending in the House,
and like number IN the Senate. These
have been referred TO the Committee on
Reform in the Civil Service.
The latest measure designed to i'm
prove existing conditions and authorizing
the retirement OF employees in the CLASH
fled service was submitted by Repre-
sentative Goulden on December 6. This
measure, It is understood, has the ap-
proval Of the United States Civil Serv-
ice Retirement Association.
It provides that. beginning July / next
following the passage of the act, there
shall be deducted and withheld from the
monthly salary Of every officer or en-
ploye of the United States an amount
sufficient, with interest thereon al per
cent 10 purchase from the government an
annuity for every such employe on ar
rival at the age Of sixty or siXty-five
years. This annuity is to be equal to
~ per cent of his annual salary.
The retirement age Of employees whose
duties require great physical activity
shall be sixty years: for employees whose
duties require moderate amount Of
physical activity the retirement age shall
be sixty-five years, and for those whose
duties are mainly intellectual the retire
ment age shall be seventy years.
II IS further provided that after serv-
ing the United States twenty years an
employee may be retired by the proper
appointing officer by. reason OF disability
not due TO vicious habits.
Invested with Power.
Control of the fund is TO be vested in
the Secretary Of the Treasury who is
empowered to invest the sums collected
under the system.
A proyiso that has received favorable
comment states that none Of the moneys
mentioned in the act shall be asst enable,
either in law or equity, or be subject to
execution or levy by attachment, gar
nishment, or other legal process.
An appropriation Of $4,000 is authorized
TO meet the expenses necessary in car
rying out the provisions Of the proposed
law
Although it is the preordained policy
OF the administration to pursue a re-
trenehment plan, and Notwithstanding the
fact that Congress has already voiced
its approval of President Tafts proposal
leaders in the movement for civil serv-
ice retirement fund are sanguine Of sue
cess at this session.
They point out that the nation in es-
tablishing such an institution will econo-
mize and at the same time create a feel
ing among the 2S5,912 Federal officials that
will achieve greater and better results.
Nations Provide Funds.
Every civilized nation IN the world
provides for its superannuated or dis
abled civil employees except Venezuela,
Colombia, Haiti, and the United States, %
said NJ. r O'DOnOghue shall the United
States be less just to its civil than to its
military employees? The officers and men
OF the American army and navy are re-
tired on three-fourths Of their highest
pay on attaining a certain age or becom-
ing physically disabled.
Almost all large corporations and
many business houses retire their SUPER
animated employees on the whole or In
part of their highest salaries, these in
stitutions paying the whole or in part Of
the amount. The universal trend is in
this direction. Because Of the Increase
IN the cost OF living the clerks Of the
government are becoming less and less
able to provide for the inevitable age
Of approximation. "
From time to time Senators and Mem
bers OF Congress have championed this
cause. but circumstances have always
arisen to defer final action on measures
that would remedy the defects in the
classified service
Senator Bacon. of Georgia. during con-
sideration OF an appropriation bill on