The Washington times., 1910-08-02
President Asks Data on Pro-
posed COntributory Re
tirement System.
CLERKS REPORTED
TO OPPOSE PLAN
Complaint of Salaries Already Too
Low Acknowledged by
Executive.
By JAMES HAY, JR.

Whether OF not the superaunuateJ
clerks Of the classified service in the
+ executive departments Of the Federal
/ Government are 10 be retired on annai-
ties made Up by voluntary contribu-
uous on their part, viii be decided by
President Tart within the next few
weeks
He notified officials of the Treasury
Department today that he wants placed
al his disposal aH the data and Geur-s
bearing on the subject, so that he may
study them and decide what TO say to
Congress regarding the matter IN his
message to the House and Senate upon
the colveuinE of the next session
The department viii send TO Beverly
the results Of its sJigations OF the
conditions among the clerks, ard with
the vsrious reports and tables Of
figures showing how money can be
saved for the Government by the con-
trlbutOry annuity plan, viii be sent the
recommendation from the Secretary OF
the Treasury that AIr- Taft recommend
/ the scheme to Congress
As an indication Of what the outlook
7 is FOR the Presidents acting in a man
uer emphaticaIy favorable TO the plan.
IS the fact that Charles Dyer Norton.
now Secretary to the President, and
thoroughly in his confidence. took a
great interest in she matter while he
. was Assistant Secretary Of the Treas
/ ury-
For Retirement Plan
Before Mr. Taft left Washington for
/ Beverly he indicated his belief that tie
{ retirement plan was necessary. both 10
F take care Of the aged CLERKS and also
/ 10 make the administration of the Gov
I erument's affairs more expeditions and
( economical IL was at a Cabinet meet
F ing, shortly before the adjournment Of
+ Congress. that the suggestion was made
+ that a rider be attached TO an appro-
I priation bin In Congress. and that it be
F framed 50 as TO authorize heads Of de-
+ partu-eu-s 10 take the first step toward
I The realization Of the plan
( This was 10 be done by giving the
members Of the Cabinet discretionary
power % retire sGpera1nuated clerks on
annuities estimated al a certain Der
cent Of their salaries
The plan at drst found favor in the
I eyes Of the President, but he aftervar5
said he wanted 10 take final action on
the subject whenever ne did make q
move toward solving the problem Since
nc went 10 BeVelTy, there have gone 20
MIN stories that a considerable num-
ser Of the clerks. both men and v7-0r-z-
are opposed TO the coutr5buf0-T r1,eff1.-i
lL accom- p-isling retirement because
LltL 90 not want TO lose any mart OF
taeir salaries, while they are working
. 80 Iaee-lLE tle expenses Of IfEiu--
This complaint IS one Of the rr5--s
l-ial moved the President 70 his deterrui-
nation 10 make a thorough study Of
- - gl-yl- SlL-lt-lon ln midsummer when
.-e VII nave more time 70 look into il
tnan he wruld have IN washington
III the rush OF routine work
Believes Pay Too Low.
II is well known that Mr.. Taft be-
lieves the salaries paid TO Government
clerks are TOO low. in view Of the re-
cent tremendous increases in the cost Of
living The supporters Of the retire
ment plan claim that. through its Cd
eratiOus, Il viii be possible 10 increase
the salaries Of the active workers. as
the economy accomplished by having
only swift workers and younger work
ers VIII make I'D for the preliminary
cost II instituting the retirement
scheme
This has appealed to the President as
an excellent argument for the plan He
has said that he does not wish TO nv 10
put into effect any plan which does not
please the clerks. but he cannot see
NV e--@S eoelo oDye-L 70 II Il II brought
them higher salaries
Both the President and the Cabinet
are convinced that they cannot put
through Congress legislation for q
straight civil pension list. The expense
or this would be enormous and Con
ETeSS would not stand Cor il ACCORDING
70 repreSentations made to Mr.. Taft Dy
the chalrmen OF the House and Senate
committees on appropriations
roF ms reason 1ir- Taft has made
Up his mind that, If anything can be
done 20 retire che Superannuated clerks.
II must be By the contributor. annuuitv
plan He VIII have a thorough grasp on
The subject long before ne is ready %
write his message TO Congress