Evening star., 1915-06-04
USEFUND TOBU|LD
MERCHANT marine
Suggestion of Methods to
Utilize Money Set Aside for
Pension System.
CIVIL SERVICE EMPL0YE
RECOMMENDS TWO PLANS
Views of Government Clerk of the
Questions Propounded in The
Stars Coupon.

to build up United States merchant ma
rine, or to develop the public lands. agri-
cultural. mineral and lumber. is the sug-
restion of one Of the civil service en-
ployes who took part in The Stars vot-
ing contest on the subject of civil service
retirement just closed. In sending In his
coupon this employe said:
THE contributions of clerks should be
used, under government direction, in en-
terprises calculated to produce income
sufficient to retire the clerks and increase
salaries / beg leave to submit two plans ,
one to build up foreign shipping busi-
ness the other, develop public lands. ag-
ricultural. mineral and lumber. If these
are not regarded as practical plans, let
some one suggest one that is
Fayors the Austin Bill.
One of the employees who has given
careful study to the question of retire
ment for a number of years. wrote to the
civil service editor, in part. as follows:
Having devoted considerable study
to the subject, and the hearings of the
various commissions and congressional
committees upon the several bills that
have been introduced in Congress pro-
age pension for the superannuated en-
p1oyes; and listened to the arguments
pro and con of the adherents of the diff
ferent so-called plans. and weighing
them all carefully in the light of the
best data and fact, I for one, fail to
find any bottom to stand on in any
plan yet offered the government en-
ploye who is desirous of learning for
himself what the actual facts are and
Is willing and desirous of studying
l.. Mt a
plan outlined in what is known as the
Austin bill. introduced by Representa-
tive Austin of Tennessee. This bill,
however, should be amended in some
particulars. providing annuities for old
age and disabled government employees
upon a contributory basis. and provtd-
ing also readjustment of the wage
scale all along the line, based upon
the character of work performed and
efficiency rating. with an increase of
compensation graduated in each class.
Mr.. Austin, having been in the govern
ment service twenty-seyen years prior
to his election to Congress. is therefore
himself cognizant of the needs of the
service, and one competent TO deal with
this vital subject.
TT Is a matter of fact that the mem
bers Of Congress who have given the
proposition careful thought, and have
expressed themselves. without excep-
tion unhesitatingly say that Congress
will never pass a straight pension act
Tn the language of member of the
Senate committee on civil service
who has made q study Of this question
for several years, and who perhaps Is
better posted on the subject than any
Of the committee. In my opinion. after
most careful review of all proposed
measures In this behalf submitted to
the committee. and knowing the sense
tributory basis is the only one that has
a chance of being passed
This senator's conclusion is voiced
oY . large majority Of the members Of
the last Congress who expressed their
views on the subject, and these In
eiuded Speaker Clark and the chairman
Of the civil service committee of the
House.
Arguments Not Convincing.
.Therefors. I am favoring the plan
four az mentioned in The Stars cou-
pom, as. IN the opinion of many, the
present administration will never in
dorse a pension for clerks that will
take many millions from the public
Treasury. even II there were any sub
stantian ground TO recommend such a
put forth IN favor Of the so-called
Hamill bill. straight pension borne
wholly by the government. are uncon-
vfncing to any one who is familiar
with the true situation; the princi-
pal points made being %, that the old
age clerks having given the best years
OF their lives to the service. are de-
serving OF pension. and % that it
would be economy to retire such old
age clerks by the increased efficiency
in putting into the service new young
employees Both OF these points are
strong and deserve recognition In con-
sidering any pension plan. But the
main question at issue should be faced
. -
What kind of plan of pension or an
nuity for old age and disabled en-
ployes will receive the serious atten-
ton OF the Congress? The contribu-
tory plan is feasible; II is eminently
just and equitab BILE to all: II takes In the
enploye and his family in it's pro-
visions: every employe is the gamer by
its operation: It meets all phases Of
the case, and. possibly has a chance Of
being considered by Congress. Why
ed by any government worker in his or
her antagonism of the only measure
yet evolved that has ghost of a show
of becoming law?
reference has been nade by sona
TO a commission for consideration Of
the matter. also to collatinR data as to
pensions In foreign countries. AZ to
the former. the committees on civil
service Of Congress are the best com
mission that could be named: and as
70 the latter. these data are already at
hand in the archives Of the committees
OF Congress
Ono great aid to action IN this mat
tor IL yet lacking. President Wilson
has not yet spoken on the subject.
II is hoped that the war clouds may
clear and the horizon far and near
may brighten in the meantime. and
that the Presidents favor may be laid
before Congress in December. in his
message. OF some plan of pension for
the old clerks. who have done their
duty to the government and have out
lived their usefulness"
contributory Plan "Unjust."
On the opposite side of the question
another ernploys has written as fol-
lows:
The eontributory plan would be very
unjust and q great hardship upon
thrifty clerks. for the deductions from
the salaries would In many cases be 10
large as to make It impossible for
these clerks TO continue payments on
their life insurance and homes. even
though the government should pay half
of the expense, for the age of each
clerk and his or her expectation of life
must be taken into consideration.
Very few of the employes would
ever live to attain the age OF seventy
30 the net result of such Legislation
would be to add very heavy burden
on the shoulders Of many clerks and
deprive them Of the use of part OF
legislation would deprive the govern
ment of the services Of some Of Its best
clerks. for every one that could get
another place in some business outside
of the government would leave 1t
would he a particularly vicious form OF
ri 10 tRt h..