Evening star., 1911-01-20
Civil Service Employees Cheer
Straight Pension Advocates.
SLOGAN FINDS SUPPORT
Retirement Association Assemblies a;
Grand Army Hall.
SPEECHES ARE APPLAUDED
Representative Calder Promises Sup.
port in Fight-others
Speak.

straight pension was the slogan that
evoked highest enthusiasm at the con-
vention of the United States Civil Service
Retirement Association. which assembled
this morning in G. A. r. Hall. Applause,
cheers and votes of thanks were given
speeches in accord with this sentiment.
A pledge to the cause of civil service
retirement was given by Representative
William l.. Calder of Brooklyn, who ex-
pressed doubt of legislation at this ses-
sion Of Congress. and the belief that CONF
promise would be necessary before any
measure would be enacted into law
I hope sooner or later to see the enact
ment of law that will place no part o!
Its burden upon the employees affected by
it" was the sentiment expressed in
letter from Gen. +. c. Ainsworth. adju-
tant general of the army.
denial Of the conclusion reached by
Herbert D. Brown. in his report to the
Senate. that the British pension system
IS theoretically contributory plan, was
the subject OF paper read by Andrew
w Mckee, president Of the New York
Dranch OF the association. MIR. Mckee
announced that he had issued to Mr..
Brown a challenge to bate the matter
on any platform. His letter has not been
accorded reply. he said.
Education and Agitation"
Education and Agitation" was tho
motto suggested to the association by
Charles l. Stengle. associate editor OF
the chief, the organ of the civil service
and advocate Of the retirement plan. MIR.
Stengie urged civil service employees to be
single In their purpose for straight
pension plan. and to hear of no compro-
mise.
That se'f-interest actuates employees of
the government in the fight for a retire.
ment policy was denied by George T.
Morgan. president of the Philadelphia
branch Of the association. He asserted
that the patriotic purpose to provide for
the United States the best civil service
in the world was the desire that animated
those employees who have been in the
service for any length OF time.
r. +. Quinn Of Philadelphia. William
Harper OF Chicago. John r. Sheean Of
Worcester, Mass: William F. Gregg of
Cleveland and William II. r. Woodrow Of
Baltimore were announced by the presi~
dent as the committee on credentials.
Called for $50 o'clock, the convention
assembled an hour later. NJ. f. O'Donog-
hue, presiding. In the name Of the Dis
trict Commissioners the delegates were
welcomed to the National Capital by DR.
Il have a plain duty TO welcome you 10
Washington" said DR.. Tindall "The
duty is as pleasant as 1t is plain. ex,
press to you the salutations of the Com
guests OF this city. Your activities are
SO aggressive that they allow you nc
thought of defense The burden of de,
fense has been placed by you upon youI
opponents. l wish you wisdom and sue.
cess in your deliberations"
Says Movement Will Succeed.
Announcing himself as an advocate OF the
retirement policy, because his constituents
have declared for the principle. Repre-
sentative Calder declared his confidence
that the movement would ultimately sue
ceed. The civil service employees Of New
York and Of Brooklyn having declared
against the Gillett bill for contributory
pension plan, therefore he was opposed
to it. he said.
1.-The Goulden bill goes far" he com-
mented. land will not be passed at this
session of Congress. L am afraid. Nor
will it be likely of enactment without
compromise
That he is i'm favor Of legislation along
the lines of the Goulden bill and that he
will favor such legislation or nothing at
all was his declaration. He urged the
civil service employees to stick to the plan
and promised them that they would get
something of the sort.
"A start in the right direction has been
made" he said. You have got the peo-
pie interested. and you have Congress
interested. You will soon make 1t felt
by Congress and the public that II will
be of benefit to the community as well
as to Individuals
Mr. Calder said that the civil service
employees can always depend upon him
to vote for any fair and proper COM
pensation of their labors. He pledged
So
tion pensions A rising vote of thanks
was given him.
Mention "Full Pay" Plans.
Commenting upon Mr. Calder's express
sion of views, President O'Donoghus
called attention to the retirement plan OF
the army and navy on three-Quarters
pay and OF the justices Of the Supreme
Court of the United States. who are re-
tired on full pay.
This is a country of equal opportunity.
1t must be a country of equal rights and
equal treatment for all i propheSy that
employees will retire on full pay.as do the
Justices of the Supreme Court, he added.
The elimination Of graft in government
service he foresaw. would result from
the proper provision for the welfare OF
the government clerk during his period
of service and when his work Is done.
The prospects would remove temptation,
he said.
President Morgan Of the Philadelphia
branch. declaring that the desire to have
for the United States the best civil serv-
Ice plan the foremost purpose of gov
ernment employees, commented on con-
ditions prior to the establishment OF a
civil service.
EVERY nation except the United States
has q retirement SYSTEM he said, land
the United States must have some form
of retirement. In the days before the
civil service, when to the victor belong
ed the spoils,' there could be no thought
of q pension plan. But now, when gov
ernment employees make their duties their
life work, 1t Is Inevitable that provision
will be made for their approximation.
when they may shrink away from their
labors, with their futures secured. and
their places taken by younger men,"
Presidents Annual Address.
In his annual address. President O'Don-
oghue reviewed the activities Of the as
sociation and explained how the senti-
ment of the association has become TO-
,used on the Goulden bill.
"It would be q matter Of economy to re.
ire government employees at three-quar-
ters OF their pay at the age Of sixty
i've" Mr.. O'Donoghue repeated as the
substance of his declarations before tho
House committee.
Speaking Of Gen. Aineworth as the best
n nformed man In the United States on re-
.irement matters, and Of his utterances
On the subject rs the sermon on the
mount Of retirement literature. Nh