The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-23
WORKING HARD
 FOR PENSIONS
Congressman Reilly Favors the Bill for Retirement of
 Government Employes
IS NOW BEFORE CONGRESS
Believed That Once It Reaches the House It Will
 Be Passed

Things are humming in Congress just at present over the retirement of
 gov ernment employees when they. are unfit to keep up with the present race on account of old age or disabi ity- Most of the representatives who have
 kept informed on the subject are con vinced that there would be a great advance in efficiency well as in l actual saving in money to the govern ment by the adoption of a straight pension plan. Joseph T. Manley, the president of the British Actuarial So ciety of Great Britain, declares that
 no other plan should be considered
 for country, or a corporation of any importance.
 Congressman Hamil. who has in troduced the direct retirement bill in Congress, had two hearings on the measure last week before the commit tee on reform in the civil service and he is enthusiastic over the showing made by the advocates of his measure who supplied figures and information that at times startled the committed It was shown that clerical veterans, debilitated and crippled, drag them selves to work after 40. [ and 55 years of service for Uncle Sam. drawing full pay when they would be thankful, to retire on half pay so that an active young man could do the work
 There's is one man on the treasury department payroll over 95 years of age. The State of Massachusetts all lows its employees to retire after 8 years of service, under an act passed last year. MT. Hamill is positive that the bill vii become a law at this ses- sion owing to the tnsistent demand from all parts of the country for ef- ficiency and greater opportunities for the younger men in the government service now held back by the presence of the old men on the payrolls- He believes that there can be no real i'm movement in the government service until a retirement plan Is adopted to provide scientifically for the veterans of the service.
 Information For Committee.
 The United States Civil Service Re form Associa tton, through it's officers, placed all of its accumulated in@orIna- tion on the subject at the disposal of the committee The committee members questioned them freely and showed generally that they had been miSre represented in some sections of the country for political purposes that the southern representatives in Congress tiring any one on a pension due to | the depth of feeling over the condi- | tions in the South. On the contrary l they seemed to be wide open to argu- | ly action as the best means of inn 1 proving the service. Many Congress- men are importuning the committee daily to report the Hamill bill. Once |
 
 10 doubt of its passage
 Congressman Reilly in Favor.
 The United States Civil Service Re 'orn Association held it's annual con 'ention in Washington, D. C., on Jan lary 19 and 20, with representatives present of over 200, 900 government The meeting practically 'esolved itself into a ratification of he work of the officers during the -ear, which seems about to be crown d with success. 4 number of Con yressmen addressed the meeting, each me confident the bill would pass, all hough one or two cautioned the mem 'ers to keep up the work of education md spreading of information in order hat public opinion should be prop ,rly represented in the action of rep ,ers were delighted with Pres dent Taft's declaration in his economy and message, that he wou d sub nit in a day or two plan for the llong the lines of his testimony when le was Secretary of War in 1906. when le said that it would be matter of 1 economy for the government to retire III of it's employees over 65 years of lge upon three-fourths of their sal try.
 Many Of the delegates attended the rearing on the subject of retirement before the Congressional committee on eform in civil service.
 Congressman Thomas L. Reilly ad- lreSSed the convention on Saturday l morning after he returned from the Chamber of Commerce banquet at Sew Haven. He reaf irmed his inten- ion to vote and work for the HamiH Jill on every possible occasion. He znew, he said, of no more important business at this time than to have it ettled by the enactment of laws that his government meant to treat it's aithful servants honorably and above oard for the encouragement of the employees and to preserve a osition of dignity among the nations f the world
 CARLET FEVER
 CLOSES SCHOOLS