The Washington herald., 1911-05-21

retirement with civil pensions IL an in
evitabIe consequence. The country may
not be ready for 1t now. but 1t is bound
to come sooner or later, either through
governmental action alone or by voluntary
contributions paid by the employees them
selves with or without the assistance of
the government. The precedent set by
| certain large railroad and industrial cor
porations Of pensioning their employees
after long and efficient service will make
it more difficult for Congress to refuse Its
assent to some form Of retirement with a
civil pension. There seems to be no other
way to make provision for aged clerks.
They cripple the service as long as they
remain, and humanity forbids that they
be turned out to starve. The problem is a
serious one, however considered. and de-
serves. and believe will receive, the con.
siderate action of Congress"
Automatic Promotion to Follow.
Aren't there OF. er reforms to which
the committee OF - will lend its atten-
tion?' was the next question put to the
director.
There are other questions connected
with the civil service, such as a just and
automatic system Of promotion within
the service. Many grievances Of various
Of the committee. but it is evident the
committee cannot consider all these mat
ters without seriously crippling its ef-
forts and chances Of success in the mat
ter Of securing a readjustment OF salaries
and some system Of retirement
With respect to the plan Of campaign,
1t is not the intention to lombard Con-
gress with petitions or to begin now q
campaign Of publicity for the purpose OF
creating sentiment which will induce
Congress to act. The first thing to do is
to prepare the case, and to do that the
facts must be collected and arranged in
an orderly fashion, so that Congress may
be duly advised Of the true situation.
Congress is fair and Just, and when the
facts are presented showing some relief
is needed, am confident our efforts will
be rewarded with success. The matter
may not be considered in the present ex-
ira session, but we hope to be able to Sc
cure results in the next regular session.
With that end in view we are collect
ing facts and information and trying to
find out what is best to recommend and
what changes will be best for the public
service.
Full Hundred Soon.
The committee is taking steps now
to enlarge its membership to 100 and to
make the organization vne truly national
in scope. For that purpose We are ask
ing the governors Of every State and
Territory TO nominate a member Of the
committee The mayors Of the larger
cities will be asked to do the same. Rep
resentatives Of various large and COM
manding interests will be asked to join
the movement. We desire to have a rep
resentative from the country at large of
organized labor, and one representing or
ganized industry and capital, a promi-
nent negro leader, a leading churchman,
a railroad president, and a Brotherhood
man, a member of the Grand Army. and
a newspaper man of high standing out
side of the city Of Washington. These are
only suggestions. but indicate the idea
of the committee as to the class of men
1t desires to enlist to complete its men,
bership and to increase it to 100.
When the organization is completed
and the case prepared, we are confident
Congress will act. So confident are We
of the merit and justice of the cause
that We do not believe it to be either
necessary or helpful to employ harsh
language or extravagant methods to se-
cure from Congress just and adequate
compensation for desering government
employees or other legislation providing
system of retirement for those who have
grown old and infirm in the service of
the government
Gordon Issues Statement.
Following his resignation from the
presidency Of the Civil Service Improve
ment Association Of the Business Men
of the United States, Fulton r. Gordon
in an open letter yesterday renewed his
devotion to the cause Of reclassif1cation
and the advancement of the pay of minor
government officials and the clerical force
Of Uncle Sam.
Mr.. Gordon said:
Having resigned to-day the presidency
of the Civil Service Improvement Asso-
citation of the Business Men of the United
States, wish to say, in doing so, l will
continue to push the campaign with the
same vigor as in the past, and will re-
turn to my original idea as inaugurated
at my Convention Hall mass meeting in
February, to work for the reformation
of civil service as an independent citizen.
independent in politics, independent of
the administration; in fact, without re-
straint, except the unadulterated truth
as my guide, which / will use without
fear or favor in securing for the 100000
government employees their share of in
creased pay. as has been given all other
employees of the govt rnment except those
in the civil service. Also the establish
ment of a court of appeals. assuring fair
play in promotions. demotions, and re-
movals; a retirement fund: also the same
right to The clerks that every other citi-
zen has to petition Congress.
The committee of one hundred yester-
day received 500 toward the fund Of
$4,000 which they are raising to carry
on the campaign for better salaries for
government clerks. Stumph & Lyford
contributed SIS, and E. H. Snyder & Co.,
merchant tailors. SIS.
0REIGRQO CAII R0R