Evening star., 1914-10-02
PENSIONS AGAIN URGED
FOR j. S. EMPLOYEES
Civil Service Retirement Association
Sends Letter to Supervising
Government Officials.
Directs Attention to Slow Promotion
Of Younger Men and Points Out
Remedy to Better Conditions.

Government officials, always willing
to point out to Congress the need of
providing for superannuated govern
ment employees, are called upon in an
open letter sent to every supervisory
government official to suggest the best
means of taking care of these faithful
employees. The letter is being sent out
by the United States Civil Service Re
tirement Association. one of the or
ganizations having for it's object the
obtaining of law for civil service
retirement. Following is the letter:
The commissioner of pensions, in a
recent address to the employees of the
pension bureau, made the following
statement in view of the contemplated
reduction of the force in that bureau
July !, 1915:
NOW, this is to notify you that
changes may be expected at the end Of
this fiscal year; circumstances Will
imperatively require them. Therefore.
you should make such arrangements
where, as will best promote your own
welfare Fruga1ity is commended; lay
aside something for the day OF need.
Transfers to other branches of the
public service will be encouraged.
Retirement Legislation Needed.
Former Presidents, cabinet officers
and numerous bureau chiefs have re-
peatedly called the attention of Con-
gress to the necessity for proper civil
service retirement legislation. Numer-
Gus bills have been prepared and in
.roduced in Congress. and several such
bills are now pending before the civil
service committees in the House and
Senate.
1T is the general practice of the sew
eral departments. in the interest of ef-
ficiency and economy to reorganize the
personnel, frequently resulting in sub
stantia1 reductions in the numbers of
employees, which changes necessitate
the separation from the service of the
employees so displaced were it not for
the practice of allowing vacancies to
accumulate until the end of the fiscal
year. While this practice has much to
commend it, yet it prevents the promo
ton of meritorious employees, and is
more or less productive of discomfort.
IF a retirement law were in force
sufficient number Of retirements would
annually occur which would create suf-
icient vacancies that could be filled by
persons displaced through reorganiza-
tion, and under proper retirement
system there would be constant,
steady and uninterrupted flow of pro-
motions for the younger employees.
inefficient Employees.
at is we'll known to every bureau
chief that there are throughout the
service, both in and out of Washing
ton. many employees who have long
since ceased to be physically active
and whose efficiency has become neces-
sarily impaired by reason of old age
or disa bility. Under a proper retire.
ment law these employees would be hu-
namely cared for and the general eff
cheney of the public service improved
by their retirement.
This letter is intended to emphasize
the necessity for proper civil service
retirement legislation, and your active
cooperation is earnestly solicited in
bringing this important matter to the
attention of Congress in every proper
way. and to stress the importance OF
such legislation whenever an oppor-
tunity occurs when appearing before
any committee in Congress.
Believing that you are in favor OF
continuity of service during good be-
favior and upon proven efficiency of the
employees in the classified civil sc vice
will you please favor US with an ex-
preston of your views on this impor-
tant matter. and indicate the particu-
lar form or plan of retirement which
in your judgment will best subserve
the interests of the government and Its
employees"