The Washington times., 1911-09-21
CONGRESS TO GIVE
FEDERAL CLERKS
THOROUGH HEARING
Thorough Investigation Of
Pension And Pay i
Ssg Questions. |

A thorough investigation Of the rela-
tons between the Government and its
thousands of employees. in Washington
and elsewhere, is to begin with the
converting of the next session OF Con-
gress. The House Committee on Re-
form in the Civil Service will take up
the cause of the underpaid Government
clerk, the question of approximation
and pensions, and the system of demo-
ton and promotion.
It is learned that Chairman Goodwin,
of the House committee, has been qui-
city collecting data on all these mat
tiers for several months past, and that
II is his intention to begin probe
soon after Congress meets in Decem-
Der. The committee is now considering
at least a half dozen plans to bring
about better pay and pensions for the
Government employees, who have APP
peaIed in vain to former Congresses.
The House committee, during the past
extra session, investigated but one
phase of the subject of Uncle Sans re-
lations with mis- army Of workers. That
Rad to do with the right of Government
employees TO affiliate with labor unions,
snd grew out of the fact that the Post
office Department refused to permit
postal clerks to join the American Fed
eraticn of Labor. The Lloyd bill, now
under consideration, would permit such
utilization.
At the conclusion of the hearings on
the Lloyd bill it was the intention Of the
committee to begin hearings on the
larger ard more general question of the
pay of Government employees, thei.
hours. their duties, and their need Of a
retirement system as a refuge after
life spent in tine service Of the Govern
ment. Chairman Goodwin, however, be-
came Ill and was forced to undergo an
operation, which delayed the commit
e tees work.
1t is known today, however, that the
chairman of the committee has not been
idle in the interim. and that he has COL
lected a vast store of information
which he will present to the committee
when it takes up one Of the several bills
now before it for the relief of the Gov
eminent employe. Chairman Goodwin has
encouraged Government employees to
suggest in confidence any change that
might better their conditions, and he
has received scores of letters-not mere
complaints, but helpful contributions to
the campaign which the committee has
planned.
The committee now has before 1t bills
providing for:
A straight civil pension.
contrbutory pension system.
An increase of salaries only.
An increase of salaries, with pension
and approximation included.
1t is probable that from these several
proposed measures the committee will
draft one of its own, embracing what
the committee thinks to be he best plan
for the relief of the Government en-
ployes. That decided sentiment exists
in the House and Senate in favor of
pension and approximation legislation
cannot be denied.
There are but few members who seem
inclined to hand the movement a
knock" Speaker Clark himself is pub
licly committed to increased pay and
more equitable treatment Of the Gov
eminent employees, the House leaders
generally feel the same way about the
subject, and it is believed that the Cod
win committee has but to begin hear
ings and decide upon a bill to bring
about the desired legislation.
The Goodwin committee plans to hear
all sides of the question. Department
heads, members of the Civil Service
Commission, bureau chiefs, and scores
of the clerks themselves will be given
an opportunity to testify. The business
and professional men of Washington
who have interested themselves in the
movement to obtain better pay for the
Government employe may also appear
before the Goodwin committee.