Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-16
TO AGREE
ONC|V|L PENSIONS
Rival Associations Confer on
Question to Settle Minor
Differences.
ONE BILL is SUGGESTED
COVERING THE SUBJECT
Means Sought for Compromise Be-
tween Contributory and Flat"
Pension Systems.

Pension Systems.
Seeking to devise means for affecting
compromise between the contributory
and flat" systems of pensioning superan-
nuated civil service employees. a conference
was begun this afternoon between repre-.
sentatives of the United States Civil Serv.
| ice Retirement Association and of the
National Civil Service Employees Asso-
citation. in The Sar building The OBJ
ject of the conference is to settle minor
differences Of opinion. in order that both
associations work together for legislation
| for the betterment Of civil service en-
ployes.
Following a long discussion the United
States Civil Service Retirement Associa-
| ton, at meeting this morning at the
New Ebbitt House, voted to confirm a
| resolution passed at a meeting last night
| to authorize a committee of four to meet
with four representatives Of the other
| association and agree on a basis Of COM
promise. The committee was authorized
| to offer to the other association a prop
osition that the civil service pension bills
| now being supported by each organiza-
ton be dropped. and that a new bill be
| drawn up following conferences with gov
eminent officials and members OF the Sen.
ate and House.
Fear of Losing Identity.
The conference was finally decided on
this morning by the association on sug-
gestion made at its meeting last night by
Andrew w Mckee. president OF the other
organization. Fear this morning was felt
on the part Of some members Of the as
| ISOLATION that it would lose its autonomy
| and be absorbed into the other organiza-
| ton.
The representatives Of the United States
Civil Service Retirement Association at
| the conference are w. E. Russell of New
| York. president: R. Stone Jackson, treas
urer: c. w. Bum Of New York and Oscar
F. Nelson of Chicago. Representing the
| other organization are Andrew w. Nc
| kee. president: John J. Deviny, George
I. Morgan and ]. d. Holland.
Constitution Is Amended.
An amendment to the constitution OF
the United States Civil Service Retire
| ment Association was adopted this morn.
ing which enlarges the purposes Of the
| organization. Under it's amended consti-
tuition the association will seek to bring
| about the enactment of a contributory
| system of civil service retirement, and
| also a reorganization OF the civil service
SO as to more adequately pay the en-
| ployes for the work they perform, and to
| provide for a system of longevity in
creases and regular promotion. The
amendment was introduced by John Nor.
| rfsOn Of New York.
Earnest pleas for harmony We're made
| by a number of members OF the organi
| zation during the meeting. It was agreed
that 1t will be impossible to get the de-
sired legislation at the present session
of Congress. Several Of the speakers said
| that civil service employees are getting
! tired of squabbles between different or.
| CARNATIONS working for their benefit and
that all should work together.
Convention in Turmoil.
Despite numerous pleas for harmony
stormy scenes prevailed at such frequen,
intervals that the convention could no,
complete it's work last night The situa-
| tons, at times, were tense, and in one
instance President William e. Russell OF
New York dropped the gavel, after call
ing the first vice president to the chair
| and resigned his Office. declaring that his
| resignation should become Immediately
effective. Members. however, followed
| him from the room and persuaded him
| to return. When motions were in order
| from the floor, amendments and substi.
| tute resolutions came SO thick and fast
that when the president was ready to put
| the question 1t was usual for many dele
| gates to rise and ask on what they were
| voting.
/ After much discussion the convention
decided to appoint committee to confer
with similar one from the National AS
ISOLATION of Civil Service Employees to-
day and. after organizing, to interview
| various government officials on the queS-
| ton of retirement. and then to prepare
| an administration bill in conformity
| with the views obtained.
The convention was opened by Presi
dent Russell. He told of the stormy pc.
RODS of the last year which his associa
| ton had passed through. but he ex.
pressed the hope that the present year
impressed upon the members that the,
must harmonic if they expected to &C.
! complish anything, and in closing his re
| marks sounded a note Of warning thai
he would not tolerate any personalities
| from the floor, and told the delegates thai
they must not engage in witticisms a,
| the expense of fellow members. He ther
| introduced Andrew w. Mckee. president
of the National Association of Civil Serv.
| ice Employees.
| Advocates Straight Pension.
President Mckee outlined his advocac,
OF the straight pension, told of the actor
Of his convention. but declared that II
after going before Congress it was found
that a straight pension system could moi
| be obtained he was willing to accept
anything they could get. IL step in the
| right direction. He then submitted q
| proposition to the convention that Presi-
dent Russell appoint a committee of fou,
members to confer with a similar com.
mittee of Mr.. McKee's association. This
committee, he said. would seek to arrive
at tentative agreement that under Ger.
tain conditions the two associations would