Evening star., 1915-05-28

A tabulation <of the first 1000 voting
coupons on the questions Of civil service
retirement received by The Star from
employees in the various departments
and bureaus Of the government shows
the contributory plan running ahead
of the straight pension.
It shows. too, that an overwhelming
majority Of the employees voting are in
favor of a retirement system being
established: that the great majority
Of them are anxious to have the gov
ernment provide some kind of a sys-
tenn for them which will insure pen
sions upon which they can retire in
old age or in case they are disabled.
The count of this first 1000 ballots
the employees are in favor of a re-
increase of salaries.
The Star has requested the employees,
in answering the questions contained
in the coupons, to select the pension
plan which, In view of all the circum-
stances. including feasibility, the en-
ployes favor. Some of the employees,
however, have voted for both the con-
plans. The employees who have yet to
send in their coupons are strongly
urged to vote SO that their preference
as to the plans will be clearly indi-
Gated.
Favor Contributory Plan.
In the tabulation of the first 1000
votes received. 713 employees voted in
favor of the contributory plan and 227
voted against 1t. For the straight pen
sion plan. in which the government is
to pay the entire amount required, 3es
employees voted and $40 voted against
it,
The6s seems to be little doubt in the
minds Of the employees as to which plan
Congress would be more likely to favor
when the matter of civil service re-
tirement is taken up. A total of sos
expressed the opinion that Congress
would favor the contributory plan and
101 said they believed Congress would
favor the straight pension plan. Some
of the clerks expressed the opinion
that Congress would do nothing what
ever in the matter, thirty-flve voting
that way.
The Star will publish the voting cou-
pons daily up to and including next
Monday. All replies must be In the
hands of the civil service editor not
later than June in order to be count
ed In the final tabulation.
Employees are urged to send in their
coupons as early as possible in order
to permit the tabulation to go forward
as quickly and to prevent congestion at
the close of the poll.
Members Of the cabinet are express
ing interest in the question of re-
tfrement system for the civil service
employees. Secretary of War Garrison
today reiterated his belief. expressed in
his annual report Of last year. to the
effect that he believed the government
and the employees would be much ben
efited by the establishment of a retire
ment system.
Garrison, that 1t is practicable to save
the government money and to benefit
the government service by ESTABLISHING r
a retirement system"
He said that he did not believe there
for a retirement law which would call
tor a large outlay Of money on the part
of the government He Indicated
strongly that he favored the contribu-
tory plan. Yesterday Secretary of the
Interior Lane expressed much the same
view as Secretary Garrison
The Star has taken no position for or
against either plan In conducting the
present poll. 1t has offered the civil
service employees in Washington IN on
portunity to express their opinion and
desires in regard to the establishment
Of the retirement system. SO that thew
may themselves know how a majority
OF their number feel. Congress has sew.
eral times in the past plainly Indicated
that they objected to giving oonsidera-
tion to the question of a retirement
system when tho employees themselves
had such widely differing ideas as to
what should be done.
The results Of the poll now being
taken by The Star will be preserved and
submitted to the congressional com
mittees having charge of the civil sery-
Ice in the Senate and House While
the coupons must be signed by the EN-
ployes, the names will not be made