Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-04
DEFINITE PENSION
SYSTEM IS URGED
Representative Lobeck Cites
Necessity to Civil Service
Employees Conference.
DELEGATES OPEN A TWO
DAY CONVENTION HERE
Warned by Rev. S. H. Woodrow
Against Asking for Too Much.
Pay Visit to White House.

The pressing need for a definite pension
system for civil service employees, upon
which the workers themselves are united,
was emphasized by Representative Lobeck
Of Nebraska today in welcoming the deis-
gates to the national conference OF civil
service employees, which opened a two
day meeting at the Chamber of Com
merce rooms. Once there is settled
plan senators and representatives can be
lined up for it, Mr.. Lobeck said.
Rev. Samuel H. Woodrow warned the
delegates against asking for too much.
and said that if this is done nothing Will
be gained. He spoke of the dangers fac
ing some civil service employees, and said
they were entitled to pensions under GER
tain conditions.
That the civil service commission
stands ready to assist the conference in
any efforts to promote the merit system
and bring about better efficiency was the
message brought to the meeting by An
drew w. Mckee of New York, president
of the meeting.
ALI Speakers Urge Pensions.
The delegates were welcomed to Wash
ington by Representative Lobeck, Rev.
Dr. S. H. Woodrow and by DR.. William
Tindall, secretary Of the board of District
Commissioners. All Of the speakers ad-
yocated the pensioning of civil service
employees.
President Wilson received the delegates
at the White House this afternoon. NJ. F.
headed the delegation. Government en-
ployes from Providence. West Point,
Troy, Yonkers. Brooklyn, Newark. Phila-
delphia. Baltimore, New York and Wash
ington were represented.
The conference .was called to order
at 1890. After the reading OF the
call issued by the temporary officers
by Secretary NJ r. O'Donoghue, the
conference voted that the temporary
officers should act in their capacities
and the convention.
Welcomed by DR.. Tindail.
DR.. Tfndalh on behalf of the Com
missioners and of the city, welcomed
the, delegates to the city. He ex-
pressed the hope that the men would
be successful In perfecting the bust
hess for which they were assembled.
DR.. Woodrow told of his advocacy oi
the pension system, and warned the dele
gates that in framing the bill for pen
sions they must not ask too mich, ana
cited his attempts to obtain universal
transfers Tor the DlS.-lct.
President Mckee then outlined the
work of the conference to the delegates
He told the delegates that a crucial time
had been arrived at in the history Of the
civil service employees. He declared the
subject before it required calm and care
looking at the delegates present, that II
would receive such consideration from the
hands OF the conference.
Makes Plea for Harmony.
He expressed the hope that when votes
on the various propositions which might
come before the convention were taken
and 1t was found that some were in the
minority that they would change their
votes to make the action unanimous.
Representative Lobeck said he was
heartily in favor Of some pension system.
He declared he wished the men would
get up some resolution or bill providing
for such q system.
"Get up some bill we can back up with
every pound of flesh and drop of blood
in US, and have every brain with us.
Well push it," said Mr.. Lobeck.
w. E. Russell Speaker.
William E. Russell of New York, presi-
dent of the Civil Service Retirement AS
sociation, addressed the conference. He
declared there was one important ques-
ton. and that there was one thing he
wanted to impress upon the delegates,
and that was thatsretirement is the issue.
Retirement is the thing We want he
declared land 1t IS the thing we are
after. We want retirement by whatever
means we can get il, il it is fair
He also told the delegates that they
had no power to levy per capita tax
on the members until they were organ
lied.
Joseph ". Buck of this city, an en-
ploye Of the Treasury Department. de-
clared he had been warned as late as
this morning not to attend the civil serv-
Ice conference. He took the floor to pro-
pose that the name of the association
should be THE National Civil Service
Employees Association
d. j. Callahan Extends Welcome.
Charles N. Hartjen. Brooklyn. opposed
the name proposed by Mr.. Buck. declaring
it should include the word classified"
Just before adjournment d. ]. Callahan,
president Of the Board Of Trade. was in
troduced to welcome the delegates on be-
half Of that organization.
He declared he didn't see why every en-
ploye in the government couldn't be en-
listed in the work Of the body, and de-
clared his belief that they would receive
fair play from President Wilson.