The Washington times., 1910-12-19
TINES IS BESIEGED
WITHHOLD REQUESTS
Government Clerks Anxious
to Cast Ballots on the
Propositions.
TWO FACTIONS EAGER
TO VOICE SENTIMENT
One FavorS Straight Civil Pension,
the Other Compulsory
Retirement.
Continued from First Page)

greatly pleased over the prospect Of the
Government employees having an op-
pOrtUnity TO vote
THE poll is a bully scheme and no
doubt VIII wipe out erroneous impress
siOns with respect 10 the ideas OF the
employees themselves on the various re-
tirement plans,'' asserted Mr- CantwelL
There has been much said pubncly
about the compulsory cOnIr1outory plan,
but the advocates Of straight pension
have found arguments supporting that
form Of retirement, and Il also has the
backing OF thousands OF men and
women in the service OF the Govern
mert."
Protests or remonstrances, bearing
5000 signatures OF employees averse to
the CoutributOry plan, have been sub
m5tted to Postmaster General Hitch
cock within the last few days. accord
Ing 10 Ar- CantWelL he stated IhaC the
renOnstrances are intended as a force
against the GiIlett biH, and II IS ex-
pected that they viii reach Congress
''Our association now has a member
ship Of over $4,000 Government employees,
representing every branch Of the classi-
ned civil service. and our strength is
growing daily" said Secretary Can't
well we are all opposed TO the Gil
lett bin and are urging the passage OF
some bill providing Tor straight pen
siOns-''
Notices were being mailed today by
Secretary Cantvell to members Of the
association calling their attention 10
the annual convention TO be held IN
Washington January % and Z The
meeting VIII be held in the G. r
hail. and II IS anticipated that over 40
delegates viii be present
Other Faction Equally Interested
The other faction OF the United States
Civil Service Retirement Association,
headed by Tr- IIeu-eIIvn Jordan q clerk
IN the Treasury Department, IS none
tire less interested In the proposition
10 hold noH or the retirement queS-
ton Members OF this faction which IS
{rreEOcablv IN favor OF the coutributory
plan Of retirement, are eager 10 get the
question fairly before the employees and
predict that the result viii be an over
whelming victory for their cause
While I believe the artillery should
be trained On Congress 10 speed the
passage Of the Giilett bill I an II ia
vOr OF giving the employees a chance TO
express their sentiments on the queS-
tion,'f declared Dr. Jordan "Our plan
has the sTTport OF the President and
the heads Of several departments and
there Is no doubt that great majority
OF clerks and ether employees favor the
plan.
7 an Of the firm belief that only a
comparatively few employees favor
straight civil pension, and a fun vote OF
the 25.001 10 2S.o00 clerks viii confirm
Owing % 1he factionaI fight in the
United State& civil Service Retirement
Association and the incidental confusion
have not taken sides on the two retire
unent propositions They are known as
"neutrals' and are content TO leave their
fate with Congress
Approves Plan OF The Times
Il have wished that some united ac-
ton could be taken for long tine, and
I now believe The Times has hit the
nail on the head said a clerk in the
Treasury Department, who has remain
ed alOof from the wrangles OF the fac
tons. There are hundreds Of men like
myself who would ike 70 see the argu-
ments Of both sides presented before de-
Gliding what is just and equitable Tor the
empIOye and Government alike. We
could all form an intelligent opinion II
We knew the arguments, pro and con-
on the question, and could cast an in
tellIgent vote
Not only the employees but several
members Of Congress. believe that such
& poll as suggested by The Times would
90 q long way toward solving the Ques-
ton as regard to Just what the en-
plOyeS would Ike 10 have Several
REPRESENTATIVES think that much OF the
doubt and uncertainty in the minds Of
some members as to what IS the most
popular. as well as equitable. plan would
be removed by a poll Of opinions Of the
employees
''It Is q splendid idea said Represen-
tatiFe Mcguire Of Nebraska "a mem
Der OF Congress can sit down and fig
tfre cut IN an Indifferent way what is
best for the Government in the ecOnom-