Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-30
SENATE PROBE DEEP HAS DELAYED ACTION
Disposed to Go to Bottom OF Differences Among Employees
Lormer Bribery Charges. as to Retirement Systems.
RESOLUTION TOO NARROW PROPOSITIONS CONFUSED
Likely to Go Farther Than Pro- Clerks the
posed by Accused Senator in Consequence.
MAY WAIT TILL NEXT FALL MORE DISMISsALS LIKELY
Will Result in Delaying Sad Scenes
n ment
Differences Among Employees
as to Retirement Systems.
PROPOSITIONS CONFUSED
Superannuated Clerks the Sufferers
in Consequence. :,
DISMISSALS LIKELY
Post Office Department Official Says
That He Expects Some Sad Scenes
in His Department. i

The statement OF a department Official,
recently printed in The Star. that selfish
ness. and L might also add greed, on the
part of departmental employees in the
matter Of retirement for superannuation.
more than anything else has delayed ac-
ton by Congress on this matter said ~
prominent member OF the House commit
tee on civil service reform today hits
the nail on the head. II do not
mean by that" he said, that the selfish
ness and greed is with the unfortunate
clerks who are soon likely to lose their
positions. But there are a lot OF self
constituted politicians and street corner
debaters who are seeking to gain some
thing for themselves at this time when
public sympathy is aroused at the con-
dittons Of the unfortunate old clerks who
have received notice that they will not
be needed after July 1. The question OF
an increase of pay for the clerks in
general is one thing. and a provision
to keep from the poorhouse those who
seem TO have no other fate in store for
them at this time is another. They
should not be permitted to become en-
tangled each with the other
Mr. Gillett's Belief.
Representative Gillett of Massa chusetts
the author OF the Gillett retirement bill.
is reported to have said in a recent in
terview that he is not committed to any
plan. but that he believes in the idea OF
making the beginning, as an experiment
with the departmental clerks in Wash
ingtOn and securing for them the best
that can be obtained. After that is done
Ii will not be difficult to extend the
provisions for the relief of the superan-
nuated to those in the service outside
the District of Columbia. He also feels.
it is said, that a conflict of opinion be-
tween the clerks themselves as to the
plan of retirement is not good thing
for the measure at this time. Congress
does not propose to be dictated to upon
the subject. 1t has already made ex-
tenslve inquiries, not only In this coun-
try. but beyond the seas, to get the
necessary Information to enable IL to act
intellfgently upon the subject.
The great thing" said a member who
favorS the contributOry plan, lis to get
some action now that Will relieve the
poor souls who will be out of their posi-
tons, many of them with no future pros
poets whatever, within about thirty days.
They are the ones that should be con-
sidered now" he said, because they are
just as much entitled to the relief as any
in the departments. and their need of It
is more urgent than all the rest" Words
of sympathy or the most liberal measure
imaginable six months hence, il is de-
clared. will not help these people to face
the hopeless life that lies before them
now and in the interim
Two factions. it is declared. have
sprung up among the clerks themselves
who have been active in the movement
to secure a superannuation retirement
measure. For some time past they have
been almost hopelessly divided as to the
better plan, a straight pension or the
contributOry plan. They have warred
upon each other, it is claimed. instead of
uniting to secure congressional action
for the adoption of some plan. leaving
Congress to determine from the data
submitted to it what is the most practi-
cable at this time.
More Dismissals Expected.
A prominent official I'm the Post ONCE
Department said to a Star reporter today
he felt certain that in this department
would be soon witnessed a repetition of
the sad sights seen in the auditors office
but a few days ago. when thirty-odd old
employees who had been in the service
and performed good work during their
stay were turned loose with a month 3
pay. Already. he said. the Postmaster
General is seeking to ascertain in the
way followed elsewhere who are the old
and wornout employees in his force.
Once aSCeFtalIlSu, he mas no cIolce uuuct
the law as it actually exists today but to
dismiss every clerk whose term OF use
fulness is found to be past.
Thus. in addition to the thirty-odd
employees released rom the auditors
office, will come possibly many more
from the the Post Office Department.
and when Congress adjourns small
army of old people who are practically
paupers will be thrown upon the
charity of their friends. and possibly
+ hn pnf mn q r.
CUES the urgent need of accomplishing
something before Congress adjourns.
'"These men who are wranSling over
Details" he said. ARE themselves COM
fortably enSconced in government posi-
tions. They want more salary, and
perhaps they should have it; but the
vital thing is to care for the unfortu-
mates whose hour of need is with them
the right to his opinion he continued.
but 1 do think common humanity
should suppress selfishness and greed
at this time. and every effort should be
eXerted for those who must get their
relief now il they ever get il at all.
When a man is drowning it is no time
to discuss how best to save him: the
proper thing is to make the most OF the
facilities right at hand That's the
proposition now with these old clerks.
Apprehensions of Clerks.
There are many of the older clerks in
the department, it is said. who feel that
their hour OF dismissal is not far off.
Although they have not yet received an
intimation of the fact they see the hand
writing on the wall. One old clerk today
said THE sympathy of the President is
thus far the strongest thing we have To
bank upon. We know he wants to help
us But his cabinet officers, who are
daily the economy of their
administration, a who are cutting down
deficits and turning money back into the
Treasury, are not going to have their
work in that line impaired through SYM
pathy, and perhaps We should not blame
them. It is good thing to go before the
country in election and show how
much money has been saved IN this or
that field. and the men who do 1t will
receive applause and make votes; but not
one of the men who applaud, not ono
whose vote is influenced in this way.
would raise an eyeash to prevent the
giving Of relief to these old, faithful SER
wants Of the Government If he could but
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