The Washington herald., 1915-12-22
SENTIMENT For
Pension GROWS
Civil Service Retirement Law
Is Gaining Converts Ev-
cry Day.
FITZGERALD Is FOR BILL
Representative from Brooklyn De-
clares Uncle Sam Will Soon
Be Forced to Act.
BY JOSEPH p. AMIN.

Sentiment in favor of civil pensions is
expected TO crsstaiize in Congress tc
such an extent this session that the ere
alton Of a permanent system may be
confidently looked for in the near future.
While it is improbable that the present
Congress will witness the passage OF
such a law...it lis believed that pledges
will be offered by leaders of both par
ties binding them to the support of a
civil service pension law in the Sixty
fifth Congress. -
Perhaps the most notable convert to
the movement in recent years is Repre-
sentative John J. Fitzgerald. of Brooklyn.
chairman Of the appropriations commit
tee. In a discussion of departmental
economies with the representative of The
Herald recently. Mr. Fitzgerald declared
that as n humanitarian concession to
efficiency and economy in the government
establishments. Uncle Sam would have
to provide pensions for civil service en-
ployes in-the near future.
MIR. Fitzgerald declared:
There is no question but We will have
10 come TO it sooner or later. The prob
lem of superannuation is the problem of
our constantly increasing proportion of
overhead expense in administering the
affairs of the country. We must find some
way to get rid of these employees who
come inefficient and a drag on their es-
tablishment through age or other infirm-
tiles. and We can't throw them out in
the street.
Would Equalise Compensation
Would a scientific pension system re
suit in the equalization of compensation
in the government departmental" Mr..
Fitzgerald was asked.
"Unquestionahly it would go a long
way in that direction he replied. we
would not he paying first-class salaries
TO old clerks who lTave outlived their
greatest usefulness. Furthermore, we
would not be subjected TO political pres.
sure in making up appropriation bills to
retain CLERKS and in some cases entire
bureaus in order to protect old clerks
who should be pensioned:'
"Arc you in favor of contyibutory
tension PLAN"
Il am not. / never heard of con-
tributory plan that didn't break down"
Representative Hamilf of New Jer-
sey. who has been an ardent worker
Is member OF the COMMITTEE
on Reforms in the Civil Service,
has reintroduced his bill for a straight
PENSION plan. Mr. Hamill went to the
Vr'.ite House for encouragement. re-
ruc.ii til. President to urge the enact
..,' mt q, such a law in his annual address
to Congress. President Wilson replied
that he was very much interested in the
proposed legislation. but that his address
would be given over entirely to discus
sion OF different phases Of national pre-
raredness.
Civil Service protection is much more
popular with the Democrats at this ses-
sion than it has been since the House
went Democratic in 1910. The Republi
cans in the forthcoming national cam
paign unquestionabIy will stress the nu-
rnerous attempts from Democratic sources
to break down the Civil Service system,
and the Democrats are expected to
pledge their national candidate to Civil
Service retirement plan in the platform
by way of reply.