Evening star., 1915-05-21
SEEKING THE VIEWS
ONPENS|0N SYSTEM
The Star Invites Government
Employees to Express
Their Preference.
STRAIGHT FEDERAL PLAN,
OR ONE CONTRADICTORY?
Answers Already Received Indicate
Unanimity Favoring First Ques-
ton in Voting Coupon.

An equitable contrlbutorE< plan or
straight pension paid out of the federal
Treasury-which do you prefer
That is the question which hundreds
of the civil employees of the government
in Washington are answering today
through the means of the voting cou-
pons published in The Star. The cou-
pom is published again in today's issue
of The Star and should be cut out by
those who have not already forwarded
replies, answered, and sent to the civil
service editor of The Star as soon as
possible. The coupons must all be in
by June | in order to be counted.
The argument has been made again
and again by members of Congress
that they do not know what the gov
ernment employees want: that some of
them advocate contributory pension
plan. whereby the employees are to con-
tribute small per cent of their sal
airy to make up the funds, and tina t
others demand straight-out pension
to be paid in full by the government.
This argument has been made an ex-
cuse in past, Congresses to avoid action
upon the important question of civil
service pensions.
Asks for Views of Employees.
Believing that the civil employees Of
the government can better their case
by presenting a solid front. The Star
has undertaken a poll Of the employees
in Washington to ascertain what kind
Of system the majority of the en-
ployes want.
AS soon as all the replies have been
sent in they will be tabuated and the
result of the poll published. Steps will
be taken also to present this informa-
tion to the civil service committees of
the Senate and House.
The coupons published by The Star
contain five questions. The second
question is DO you favor civil serv-
ice retirement law for superannuated
and disab bled employees" The replies
unanimous. They show that the en-
ployes believe firmly in the justice of
the establishment of such a system
Differences of opinion. of course, have
been found in the answers as to what
kind Of system should be adopted
The purpose of the poll taken by The
Star is to determine which way the
preponderance of opinion lies so as to
give the employees an opportunity to
get behind the most popular plan.
What the Answers Indicate.
The answers indicate clearly that
many of the employees are taking into
consideration the feasibility of getting
a bill through Congress They are con-
sidering carefully the question which
of the two systems advocated Con-
gress would be most likely to favor.
Some of the answers from persons who
are in favor of the straight pension
plan frankly state that they believe
the contributory plan would have the
better chance of being enacted into law.
On one coupon an employe Of the
Treasury Department has suggested
that it might be a good plan to adopt
the pensions paid the soldiers. 81 day
Treat all alike" the civil and the mill
tary employe of the government. The
employe states that she is in favor of
straight pension plan. provided one can
be enacted into law. She says. how
ever, that Congress will likely favor
the contributory plan.
Sends Letter With Coupon.
One employe. seventyfve years old.
sent a letter with his coupon. He
stated that he voted for the contri-
butory plan.
Many persons Will say" he said In
his letter. why did you not saver
I had much sickness IN my family and
several deaths, and tried to buy a
home and lost considerable money. I
had to throw II UP. Now I have doc
tors bills. l have never dissipated.
am trying to hold on until Congress
meets. hoping for small pension. II
the clerks persist in a straight pension
plan none will be granted, and men
like myself will have to find a home
In an almshouse after their small saw
ings are gone. I do hope that Congress
may grant US a small pension and let
US live II not done next Congress
many old clerks will pass to the great
beyond. Many who hoped last session
have gone