Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-26
Presidents Support Increases
Prospect of Legislation.
.GILLETT BILL MAY PASS
Compulsory Savings to Provide Re-
tirement Fund.
METHODS
POSSIBLE
FOUR
Pensions From Accumulated Reserve
of Salary Is Plan Advocated
in Pending Measure.

| The approval by President Taft and his
cabinet OF contributory savings plan
for the retirement Of government clerks
| in the classified service. and the conse-
quent solution of the approximation
problem, has renewed hope Of action at
this session Of Congress on the Gillett
bill, reported from the House committee
on reform in the civil service and now
pending.
Representative Gillett Of Massachusetts
chairman of the committee in question,
| thinks the present bill offers the best
| solution Of the retirement and superan-
| nuation questions that has ever been
| laid before Congress. He believes that
| the question involved is of such great
| Importance to the efficient administra- =
ton of the government service, and in
| wolves such plain question of justice
| to faithful employees Of the classified serv-
| ice that it should be taken up in both
| branches Of Congress at the present ses-
sion
Fear of Civil Pension List.
| Principal opposition to this Gillett bill
| undoubtedly would come from those mem
| bers Of Congress who, not having given
| the measure detailed consideration, do
not understand its terms, and who be-
sides. when discussing any and all re-
tirement schemes, are invariably con-
| fronted with the specter of a civil pen
/ sion list
| AS a matter of fact. the Gillett bill
was carefully drawn so as to eliminate
all possibility of criticism on the ground
that it would initiate a civil pension
| scheme.
! 1t is considered probable that the in
dorsement by the President and his cabi-
| net OF a contributory retirement plan
| will do a great deal to stimulate Interest
| in the Gillett bill in the House and quite
possibly may result in its consideration
| Of the measure believe it has only to be
brought before the House and debated
in order to make friends.
Gillett's Arguments for Bill.
In making the report on the measure
Mr.. Gillett says:
1T is a measure to retire employees. SO
far as possible. at their own expense. and
is not intended as a means of establish
ing civil pensions. 1t provides for retir-
| ing on annu.ties those employees whose
advanced years have decreased their ca
pacity for service. to provide for the
payment of these annuities from deduc-
| tions from the salaries OF the employees,
and to keep to the credit Of each en-
ploye all deductions from his own salary,
so that if an employe resigns from the
| service he may have all the fund he him
self accumulated, and that his heirs may
| have 1t in case of death.
Temporarily the government shall as
sist in providing the annuities for those
employees who are now superannuated or
| soon will be- and from whose salaries the
necessary deductions cannot be made. In
| effect the plan is compulsory savings
account for each employe.
Mr.. Gillett remarks that the existence
| OF superannuation in the civil service to
| a serious extent has long been admitted
and adds that President Taft in his an
| nual message in December, 1909. com
mented upon the necessity for some re-
| tirement plan.' and that almost every
| member Of the cabinet included a discus
sion of the situation In his last annual
| report
| Four Methods Possible.
| There are four steps that can be taken
to meet the situation, according to Mr.
| Gllett.
| First he says, "a straight civil pen
sion; second, a general fund to which
employees, and possibly the government,
| will contribute, out OF which pensions
| may be paid: third, the substitute plan
| of retiring an employe at half pay and
hiring a substitute for the other half
| fourth. a compulsory savings plan-a sep
! arate account for each employe, every
| tub on its own bottom
THE apparent advantages OF straight
| civil pension plan are its simplicity ir
meeting the problem and the attraction
which it gives to the service. But sew
eral objections are raised. The first is
cost The cost in England amounts tG
over 16 per cent Of the annual payroll.
! THE second objection is that such q
pension soon gives the employees the be-
| lief that the ccming pension is a right
and that once that pension, has been earn
ed by some years of service 1t is unjust
to prevent complete earning Of the pen
| sion The extent of this dimculty Is
manifested by inability to rid the service
of inefficient employees who have par
TALLY earned pensions 1t is charged
rightly or wrongly, that the consequent
cloeging Of the service with dead woOt
is worse than the approximation evi
itself.
Another objection is raised by some
employees that Congress would consider
such a pension in fixing salaries. and con
seuuently employees would be paying fo
pensions whether all got them or not
In lower salaries.
"A fourth objection is the question
whether public sentiment will permi
such plan.
Plan That Has Failed.