Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-17
PLEA FOR PENSIONS PROBLEM IN TRADE
Retirement for Civil Service National Board Hears Opinions
Employees Advocated. About Its Regulation.
flavor THE HAMILL BILL VIEWS BY Mr. WILLIAMS
Arguments by Speakers Before Senator From Mississippi Declares
House Committee. Against Federal Incorporation
OPPOSE CONTRADICTORY PLAN CALLS FOR NEW "sTATIsM'
Man
Nation That Fails the Drink Habit by Giving
Faithful Him Another.
Retirement for Civil Service
Employees Advocated.
FAVOR THE HAMILL BILL
Arguments by Speakers Before
House Committee.
OPPOSE CONTRADICTORY PLAN
Declare That United States Is Only
Nation That Fails to Reward
Faithful Service.

Andrew w. McKea president of the
United States Civil Service Retirement
Association; Charles Stengle of New
York, editor of the Chief: George =.
Morgan, an employe of the Philadelphia
mint. and Representative George f.
O'Shaunnessy of Rhode Island appea- red
today before the House committee on
reform in the civil service to urge favor
able consideration of the bill introduced
by Representative Hamill of New Jersey,
proposing to retire superannuated gov
eminent clerks on pension. Advocates of
the various bills introduced in the House
this session proposing contributory pen
sion schemes will be heard by the COM
mittee tomorrow.
1t was explained to the committee to-
day by advocates of the Hamill bill that
the United States is the only important
government of the world that has not
adopted some sort of a pension system.
The claim was made by the several
speakers that a straight service pension
should be provided for and not pen
sion based upon any of the contributory
plans, inasmuch as the salaries of gov
eminent clerks are now so low as to
make any further deductions. no matter
for what purpose, real hardship. The
members of the committee demonstrated
their interest in the matter under con-
sideration by asking the several witnesses
many questions.
Mr.. McKee's Argument.
Mr.. Mckee told the committee that
the United States was the only great
government. which did not grant pen
sions to superannuated employees, and
said:
II desire to call your attention to the
voluntary resigna tons in the govern
ment service for a period of years. In
fOrty-three years, inclusive of the year
1902, there were 1920 designations in
the customs, internal revenue and
treasury service of England
For only eight years. inclusive of 1860,
there were :sS. Az: voluntary designations
from these depa rtments in the United States
government service. Inclusive of other
departments there have been more than
81 600 voluntary designations within this
eight-year period. The trouble is that
approximation has so Stagnated the serv-
ice as to preclude the possibility of young
men obtaining promotions, and as soon
as many of them come into the service
and see what is ahead of them they quit.
There is no object, no incentive, I'm
career in the government service of this
country
rs there any danger of the government
running short Of employees" inquired Mr..
Young of Kansas. Are there not four
or five applicants for every position va
cated?"
Il don't think the government will run
short. although it did in 1885, replied
Mr.. Mckee; but | do know that the
ficiency of the government service and
that young men find more opportunity in
other lines"
Salary and Living Expenses.
England does not pay her employees
as literally as we do" Mr. Young re-
marked.
THE cost of living in England is
much lower" responded Mr. Mckee.
Representative Dies of Texas thought
a good many government employees
didn't take care of their money. He
asked Mr.. Mckee if he thought the
people ought to be taxed to contribute
to pensions for these "spendthrifts."
There are about $500 men and women
eligible for retirement under the Hamill
BILL" answered Mr. Mckee. "Of this
number, % per cent have never been able
to save anything under the salaries paid
been able to save, but would you deprive
the 81 per cent of aid in their old age
just to spite the per cent?
Mr.. Mckee quoted Representative Gold
den of New York to the effect that a
straight civil service pension bill would
save the government S3,0o0O0O in salaries
If younger men were employed to fill
some of the vacancies made by enforced
retirement the sum would still be $780,
COO
..Then you go on the theory" suggested
Mr. Dies, that the services of these old
employees are worth nothing.
We'll, 1t has been stated" said Mr.. Nc
Kee that a great many of these old
employees do little or no work at all. Even
the President and some cabinet members
have admitted this to be true. but they
have added that for humanitarian reasons
it was impossible to discharge these faith
full workers in their old age
Bill Favored by Association.
Mr.. Mckee said the United States Civil
Service Retirement Association was in
favor of the Hamill straight pension bill
in preference to the various contributory
measures proposed
George r. Morgan. director of the,
association and an employe of the Phila-
delphia mint spoke briefly.
1.-The main purpose of civil pension
system is to increase the efficiency of the
service said Mr.. Morgan. That is the
thing that this committee must keep in
sort of a pension system Why? Because
1t has increased the efficiency of its serv-
Ice -
I'm what way would a pension increase
the efficiency asked Mr.. Young.
.It would mean the removal or men
when tuey become too aged to do Sooo
WORK." said Mr.. Morgan. 1t would bring
about in consequence proinotions Iol
Younger employees who come into the
service and remain little while, oply to
resign when they see that the chances
for promotion are exceedingly slim.
Don't YOU recognize the force OF TINS,
asked Representative Dies, that II the
government ever embarks on a civil PEN
sion that it is the opening wedge for
general pension system taking In every
class of employees?
What is wrong about that-other coun-
tries do ito" asked Mr.. Morgan.
Opposes Contributory Plan.
The contributory plan, Mr.. Morgan said.
would drive many of the best govern
ment employees out of the service. be-
cause il would take from them money
that belongs to them, and which they
could i'll afford to spare, because of the
small salaries paid
"Why not reduce the salaries and apply
the difference to a pension" suggested
Mr. Carter of Oklahoma.
Mr.. Morgan saiA he didn't think this
plan would meet with popular favor
1.-THE object of this BILL said Repre-
sentative +. O'Shaunessy. rs to promote
the efficiency of the service. The United
states government is entitled to the best
service possible. 1t is impossible to OBJ
tain it under present conditions unless you
ruthlessly put aside all thought OF charity