The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-15
Indications Are That Retire
ment Plan Will Pass
This Session.
CABINET MEMBERS
FEELING SANGUINE
Proposition Is to Give Discretion
ary Power 10 Heads of
Departments.
By JAMES HAY, Jr.

While the business rns1. OF Washing
ton are making final preparations today
for the big mass meeting a. be held in
the Old Masonic Tem2e, at Ninth and
F streets northwest. tomorrow night 20
inaugurate a campaign to care for eyed
Government clerks, inquiry at the Capt.
tol made it clear that the movement
for retirement OF the superannuated en-
ployes Of the Government is gathering
additional strength every day
Members Of the Cabinet are more con-
fdent than ever that their plan, in
dorsed by the President, to make pro-
vision for the old clerks, will pass at
this session Of Congress. They have
made diIigent inquiry among their
closest friends in the House and Senate
and I've been told that there is
strength enough in both bodies for the
plan to put it on the statute books.
Plan for Retirement.
The plan, as 1t is now proposed, is 10
give the heads Of the departments dis
cretonary power to discharge superan-
nuated clerks with the understanding
that the annulties they shall receive
upon discharge shall not exceed the diff
ference between their active salaries and
the active pay of the younger clerks put
into the service at lower salaries. The.
members oi the Cabinet argue that. if a
clerk drawing $1,5JO d year is superseded
by a young man or woman drawing 500
IL viii be an easy matter TO pay the an
nuities without exceeding the regular
appropriations made fer the conduct Of
their departments
Retirement OF the .-lerks ar the age
OF seventy IS not made COmpulsoTy IL
is left 20 the discretion Of the heads of
the departments. II clerks seventy
years old or over are considered still
able 90 do fun days work for
tul days pay. they will be retained
in the service.
President Favors Plan.
Individual members Of the Cabinet
made il clearer than ever today that
the President is heartily in favor of
the proposition to retire aged clerks
only If they are TO be given annuities.
Neither he nor the members Of the
Cabinet viii agree TO dismissal OF the
old clerks unless provision is made for
caring for them.
1t is realized that. if action is to be
had rom Congress on the subject
during this session, il VIII have TO
come quickly, for il is now ger orally
believed that Congress VIII adjourn
NY saturday week. The friends OF the
movement however, predict that the
sentiment in the House and Senate is
such that the legislation VIII be had.
At nrSt, there was strenuous objection
TO the plan because il looked as II
Republican Congress-, on the eve of
troublesome political campaign, was
voting "A StTa ghU civil pension list
away with i'm large measure by the
ingenuity of the friends OF the move
ment In deyisiug a scheme which Will
entau no additional expense on the
United States Treasury.
Program of Meeting.
At the mass meeting tomorrow nigh,,
which viii be held under the auspices
OF the new Business Mems Association
o. the District. there viii be a free-for-
ali discussion of an the phases Of the
interests of the Government clerks.
I'VE viii go into the meeting with no
set plan OF action" said Louis z. Shoe
maker, president of the associat tion. in
discussing IL this afternoon There is
Wel--dennCd opinion among the clerks
and among the business men Of this
city that something ought to be done
10 foster the welfare of the men and
women who work for the Government
and finally reach an ge when they face
dismissal, or discharge, or retirement
whatever YOU please 10 call IT,"
The United States Marine Band will
furnish thc music during the evening,
and there viii be speeches from Govern
ment officials. business men, and Gov
ernment clerks