The Washington herald., 1911-12-29
CIVIC ALLIANCE
FAYORS PENSIONS
Means Economy and Eff
cheney, Speaker Says.
DIFFER As TO BEST METHOD
Representative GIIIett Refers to
Present Wage Rate as Archaic
and Suggests Compulsory Form
of PensiOninE, While Others
Urge ContributOry Plan.

Characterizing the present salaries of
civil service employees as archaic and
outrageous" Representative F. H.. Gill
lett, of Massachusetts,, in an address last
night at the opening session OF the Amer
lean Civic Alliance, strongly favored the
enactment of legislation providing for
civil pensions and for a general increase
in rates of compensation in all branches
OF the Federal government. Representa-
tive Gillett said that the pension propo-
sition is one Of economy and efficiency,
and that the government would gain in
stead of lose by the introduction of the
proposed plan.
There ought to be an immediate in
crease in the salaries throughout all
branches of the Federal government"
said Representative Gillett. The pres
ent rates of compensation are archaic
and outrageous. The crying need of
the country at the present time Is to
give Justice to the employees who have
grown old and gray in the public serv-
Ice."
FavOrs Compulsory Pensions.
Mr.. GIllett spoke in favor of a COM
pulsory contribution plan of pension
and retirement. The subject of his ad-
dress was Public service pensioning
AANAi llC vie" pOlhl.
Naturally said the Representative,
the civil service employe wants a
straight pension. II I were an employe,
should want one, too. It is undoubt-
edly the most desirable form of pension
for the employe, but the government
must be taken into consideration. In
considering any kind of legislation the
question of attainability must be Set
tied. Now, in my opinion, straight PEN
GiOnS fnahIR
that Congress and the great mass of
people are not in favor of such legisIa-
tion. The recent civil war pension prop
osition made the people Of the entire
country shudder, and So does the fiat
civil pension plan. because of the great
expense attached
He said that the compulsory plan of
contribution is necessary, because of the
fact that the average person is not
thrifty. He explained in detail the pen
sion bill which bears his name, showing
that the cost of putting the plan into
operation would cost the government
sS7. 100000 in the next fifty years, and
that after this length of time the en-
ployes would be self-supporting. reliev-
ing the government of the burden.
Speakers Ideas Differ.
Although all the speakers strongly in
dorsed the pension plan in main, there
was some difference of opinion with re-
spect to the form of legislation needed.
NJ. F. ODonoghue, director OF the United
States Retirement Association in
speech on Civil service retirement
from the employees standpoint" took |
issue with Representative Gillett in re- |
gard to the form of contributory plan. |
Mr.. ODonoghue strongly opposed the |
contribution plan.
- ''What really ShOlIId he
ng pensions and insurance OF govern |
nent employees" was the subject Of an |
address by Miles NJ. Dawson, of New |
York, actuary of the Armstrong Insur- |
inCe Commission. Mr.. Dawson spoke in |
'avor of the straight pension. He said |
hat the contributory plans have been |
absolute failures, without qualification of |
any kind, in every country where they
nave been tried.
Audience Discusses Question.
Following the addresses, the pension
question was discussed informally by
hose in the audience. Among those who
ook advantage of the opportunity to ex-
press their thoughts was DR.. Mary Wal
ler, in her usual male attire. The dis
'ussion was opened by Gerald Van Cas-
eel. of New York.
Maj. w. p. Judson, Engineer Commits
TONER, delivered the address of welcome
o the alliance. DR.. John Franklin
;rowell, president OF the organization,
presided. Il
Two sessions will be held to-day in the
Raleigh Hotel. The first session will
'egin at o'clock, the theme of the ad-
resses being "A review and outlook for
anking reform" The second session
Fill begin at o'clock. The sessional
opic will be THE corporate problems of
o-day."