The Washington times., 1911-12-29

Of John T. Doyle, secretary Of the Ciyil
Service Commission. in regard to sala-
ries, the quotation being:
The salaries paid in the Federal
civil service are based upon a law
Of 1853. The average pay of the
r ssyos forss has. has not been mstef
service has grown greatly in com
plexity and responsibility.
The chief of division today usu-
satss sy has to psss S apSn 8f
than bureau chief Of fifty years
ago. There are more hours of labor
now than then. and the rearing OF
FAMILY costs more"
Shows Corollaries.
1t was argued by Mr.. O'Donoghue
that just as retirement was found to be
corollary with the merit system. so in
creases in salaries have been found to
be corollary to service annuities. He
said the increase in efficiency from all
causes Is such that not only is the cost
Of retirement saved, but an additional
amount to warrant generous increases
in salaries. He pointed out that the
salaries Of the English civil service en-
since the straight pension plan was put
in vogue, while the Pennsylvania rail-
road employees have had their wages ad-
vanced 25 per cent since they were
Mr.. Dawsons address was as much an
attack on the contributory plan of re-
tirement as 1t was an argument in favor
OF straight pensions or service annui-
compulsory savings idea would be an
outrage as well as impractical" bas-
ing his opinion, he said, on the expert
ence Of other nations and concerns.
pensions plans now in operation in in the the
municipalities throughout the country
was q statement by Mr.. Dawson. He
said the pension funds are nearly al
they have proved burdensome for the
employees as we'll as the governments
under which they are conducted.
II consider the contributory plan the
THAT is not theory, but cold facts,
founded on experiences"
No criticism or censure for the men
who have labored untiringly In behalf
Of the contributory plan was intended,
said Mr.. Dawson, but he took occasion
to dispute certain statistics about the
compulsory system. He took exceptions
to a statement that the British plan
cost Is per cent Of the salaries. saying
the salaries.
Gillette Speaks.
After asserting that Mr.. Dawson's
speech consisted principally of asser-
tions, connecting causes and results. 4"
Congressman Gillette outlined the pro-
visions Of the Gillette bill, which he
said was a compromise measure em-
bodying the ideas OF various factions
favoring the contributory type Of re-
tirement plan.
The total cost of tine contributory
plan, as contemplated in the Gillette
bill, would be $S7, 900 in fifty years,
81 IA sl.oA
it would cost 81, 10000 the first year, and
could gradually increase for twenty five
years. when 1t would cost 81, 500, 900. and
then would decrease until fifty years
it Would S cost COST nothing to- to retire II ep1r the su,
perannuated. On the other hand, he
said, the straight pension plan would
cost $500 o00. 900. "an amount that would
He said the bill practically provided
for Q savings account for each civil
service employe, with interest at ~
per cent. The basis of the bill. he said,
age Of seventy years he would have a
Of the yearly salary he had drawn
when in the service. This annuity would
pioyes. he explained, never to % exceed
more than 10 per cent Of the salary.
Now is the time to grapple with this
gr, t problem" said Congressman GIL
q readjustment Of salaries and q PEN
sion OF some sort, but Congress viii
never grant q straight pension, as pub
lie sentiment Is radically against such a
plan."
DIR. Mary Walker, who was in tho
audience and an intense listener to the
discussion of the pension question,
asked a few questions regarding the
two plans at the close or the meeting.
When Congressman Gillette explained 20
he. the principle Of the Gillette bill, she
declared: That Is splendid"
There was an informai discussion of
the two plans of retirement, and several
civil service employees expressed their
views on the subject.