The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-28

Civil Service Retirement AS
ISOLATION Said to Have
Buried Hatchet.
By JAMES HAY, JR-

AS a result OF the activity OF the
Secretary Of the Treasury in the mat
ter. 1t is now practically assured that
the warning factions of the Civil Serv-
ice Retirement Association will unite
in asking Congress to enact a law for
the cOntrbutory plan OF retiring su-
perannuated Government clerks.
And, the Treasury officials hope, the
sequel TO this united action VIII be the
enactment by Congress next winter of
the desired law.
It is planned by Mr.. MeVeagh, and his
assistants to endeavOr to win the ap-
pToval of Congress for the plan just as
the Endorsement of it by the President
and his entire Cabinet was secured.
Will Save Money.
This was, in brief, the argument that
the scheme will not only cost the Gov
eminent nothing, but will, in facz. save
money.
This is possible, the Treasury experts
saw. because the Government, IN adopt
ing the plan, VIII replace the retired
clerks with younger and cheaper men
and women. Most Of the clerks eligible
for retirement are drawing comparative
" high salaries. Some OF them are
receiving 81. 500 or $500 a year All Of
them are getting more than would be
Maid to a new employee in any parucu-
lar grade.
From the start, therefore. this scheme
of replacing the older clerks with young
employees at lower salaries, will enable
the nav roll TO stand the expense OF the
retirement fund, pay the salaries or the
active clerks, and still be not as large
az II s. now. This is the conclusion
reached by the Treasury officials after
months Of study Of the situation
Once Badly Split.
When the last annual meeting of the
Civil Service Retirement Association
vas held in this city, the organization
was hopelessly split on the retirement
question. and the victorious faction went
before Congress with an earnest plea
for a straight civil pension Hst-the an
nUites OF clerks TO be PAID by the Gov
eminent itself. A minority representa-
ton of the association 1ndorsed the
contriJutory plan
The pIan. IL will be pointed out TO
Congress, is absolutely necessary II the
President is 70 be allowed 10 carry out
his movement for uD-tO-daIe business
methods and economy in the Govern
ment departments
Rressional action on it, WIS the division
Of sentiment in the retirement aSSOcia-
ton. a division which was engineered
a great part by the railway mail
clerks and their friends In a CONVEX
sation yesterday afternoon with the
Secretary OF the Treasury, representa-
tives Of this faction. which asked a
straight civil pension list, practically
agreed TO unite with the other wing 70
petition Congress for the enactment
into law Of the contribUtoTy plan.
Every member OF the Cabinet viii
work for the successful outcome Of the
#f-n rrrars-- crnvnr tod
eminent workers Each Cabinet Official
has no heart for the work of discharg.
ing the old men and women without
affOTding them any means Of support
in their last years But. in equal de
gree, each head OF the executive de
partments is anxious TO keep the fore,
under him up-to-date an hustling. Tn,
only answer 70 the problem, they say
is to have the retirement plan put int
effect at the earliest possible moment