Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-15
Action of Big Corporations.

Action of Big Corporations.
The fact that several big corporations.
notably the Pennsylvania railroad and
the Grand Trunk railroad, have adopted
systems OF straight-out pensions for their
employees as simple business PROPOSE
ton and for reasons of economy, was
laid before the Senate and House COM
mittee by John j. Murphy of Philadel-
phia.
These corporations are not paying pen
sions for the love of the old employees or
for fun" he declared, 'fbut they are doing
it because it is a matter of good business.
Why cannot Congress, then. regard this
retirement matter as good business?
Seeing two ladies in attendance at the
hearing, Senator Cummins expressed a
desire 10 hear from them.
L am opposed to civil pensions because
I am opposed to special legislation" de-
clared Mrs. j. L. Monroe of the land
Office. II think the able-hodied clerks in
the service, by government assistance,
ought to provide for their own retire
ment.'
Il let my husband speak for me- de-
clared Mrs. Murphy, the other woman at
Cost Of Pensions.
DR.. L. Jordan told the committee that,
based on the experience Of the British
government, estimates for the United
states indicated that a retirement plan
for this country would cost about $15,-
100000 year. He expressed the be-
lief that the contributory plan would
prove the best and most satisfactory to
the clerks: and he added that the Eng
Hsh parliament had changed it's civil
retirement law from straight pension
system to a contributory system.
Among the others who spoke were j..
NJ. Gillespie and Albert Burns
Minority Protests Ignored.
The steam roller was brought into ac-
ton to smooth out the proceedings OF
the conference at the morning session
before the visit to the Capitol, but the
minority refused to know when it was
crushed and continued to utter vigorous
protests against the gag rule out
rageous proceedings" and 'stultifying &C
ton even after the motion to adjourn
was carried. Through it all President
O'Donohue smiled and ruled, with the
majority Of the delegates soldly behind
him.
This organization has no right to shut
my mouth when / meet my representa-
tive at the Capitol, and I won't abide by
the decision" Il won't even go to the
Capitol" IF Senator Cummins asks my
opinion i am going to give it, These
were some of the many comments made
by the minority members when the res
olution was adopted that the president
and others whom he should designate
would be the spokesman Of the conven-
ton when 1t appeared at the Capitol.
The original motion was that only the
president of the association should speak
for the delegates, but this was opposed
SO vigorously by the minority that the
motion was withdrawn, and tho one aft
ward adopted offered as substitute.
The minor ty fought this motion also, but
the steam roller. In the form OF the pre-
Nious question and a motion to adjourn,
crushed out the opposition.
IF we don't stop wrangling the COM
rnittee at the Capitol will get tired Of
meeting and adjourn before We get there =
was the comment OF the delegate who
made the motion TO adjourn.
Partial Report Made
As soon as the meeting was called to
order the chairman of the resolutions
committee, Mr. Clark. reported that the
comm .ttee had not entirely completed its
report, but that it stood squarely for
three things-a civil pension, a ply steal
disability clause and a length of service
requirement, not to exceed thirty years.
As soon as the report was made dele
gate presented "a resolution stating that
jnasmuch as the report OF the committee
could not be acted upon before the visit
to the Cap toll the individual opinions of
the m en1bers should be subordinated, and
only the president of the association
should be permitted to speak at the hear
ing. The making of THIS motion precipi-
tated the liveliest kind of a discussion.
which continued until the motion to ad-