Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
UNITY Of OPINION
ON PENSION PLAN
Convention of Government
Employees Unanimously Ap-
proves the HamiII Bill.
DELEGATES MAKE PLANS
FOR FUTURE CAMPAIGN
Reelection of Officers Without Con-
test-Association Adjourns, Execu-
tive Committee Holds Meeting.

ABOVE the mass OF dfnerenceS of opln-
ion on various minor matters concerning
the association, there was one thing
which stood out prominently at the ses-
sions of the convention of the National
Association of Civil Service Employees,
which adjourned here yesterday. 1t was
the unanimity of opinion for the straight
pension system. When the resolution in
dorsing the Hamill straight pension bill
was put on its passage in the closing
hours of the session there was not a dis
senting vote. There was not even any
discussion.
Those familiar with the association, and
who have watched it from its birth in this
city just one year ago, compared the ses-
sions of the convention just closed and
the convention of last year at which the
association was organized. At that time
there was wide difference of opinion as
to the kind of civil service pension which
should be provided by the government.
and the straight pension system received
the Endorsement of the association only
by a narrow margin. At that time. as at
the present convention, the delegates
were told by members of Congress who
addressed them to carry back to their
home branches the Information that they
must get together and decide upon one
plan before they could expect anything
from Congress.
That this was done, the officers of the
association point out, is evidenced by
the proceedings of the convention Just
closed. Although the association has
grown to such size during the one year
Of its existence that it has nearly three
times as many delegates as were &C
r-r at mi dIE00nfinQr
vote was registered to the straight pen
sion resolution.
OHcers Reelected.
That every delegate indorsed the ef-
forts of the officers Of the association
in their propaganda for the straight pen
sion during the year, it was pointed out
also, could not be better evidenced than
structed to cast the unanimous ballot
for the reelection of the offcers Of last
year.
The officers characterised the conven-
lion just closed as one Of the most har-
nonious meetings they had ever attend
ed. 1T was the most harmonious meet
ing Of any kind I have ever attended,
said President Andrew w. Mckee last
night, .'The delegates seemed early to.
be struck with the realization that 1t
was unanimity Of opinion that was
needed. The. number Of supporters for
the straight pension plan is constantly
increasing. and the propaganda of this
will be spread far and wide
during the coming year. I believe that
in the very near future all opposition 70
the straight pension plan will fade II
will certainly happen when the advocates
Of the other plans realize that the
straight pension plan is the only feasible
one, and that the way to get the retire
ment law is to join the majority and let
Congress see that there is unanimous
opinion among the government employees
as to the kind OF pension system tney
want
1--WE propose to use every legitimate
means within our power to spread the
gospel Of the straight pension TO the people
of the country, and through them to their
We are convinced OF the
type of law which we want, and during
the wear data will be collected to De
submitted to Congress to show the senti-
ment in favor Of the straight pension
plan, AS soon as real figures are present,
I believe it will not be long before the
law will become fact.
Will Furnish the Figures.
"Figures are needed. Only the other
day Senator Pomerene, speaking to MEM
bers of the executive committee OF tnls
said he would like to have
some figures on the retirement question
within the next two weeks. He declared
he would welcome any data bearing on
the subject. He will get the figures.
I'm conclusion. 1 might say that the
meetings Just closed were the most sue
cessful gatherings of government en-
ployes ever held to support the straight
pension plan There was feeling of
harmony and cooperation among the del
egates which will be productive of great
results during the year.
Following the adjournment of the con-
vention Yesterday the executive commit
tee held a short session at which plans
for extending the association to many
states in which there is now no branch
MANY of the delegates left last night
for their homes, while others remained
to make sightseeing tours of the Capital
CITY However, it is expected that by
tonight nearly all of the delegates viii
have left the city. President Mckee
said he intended to remain over until
Wednesday or Thursday to attend to GER
tain routine matters at Headquarters and
tn confer with members of Congress about
n,,sh;np the straight pension retirement