Evening star., 1915-01-06
Less Bronze and Granite and
More Christianity Needed,
Says 7. H. FIaherty.
ADVOCATES RETIREMENT
LAW FOR EMPLOYEES
Members of Congress Also Champion
Idea at Mass Meeting of Gov
ernment Clerks.

"a little less bronze and granite on
the outside of government buildings
and a whole lot more Christianity and
humanity on the inside is what is need
ed" declared Thomas II. Flaherty, sec
retary-treasurer of the National Fed
Grafton of Post Office Clerks. arguing
last night before a mass meeting OF
government clerks at the Home Club
of the Interior Department, in behalf
of the enactment of a civil service re-
tirement law.
Mr. Flaherty had been preceded in
his remarks by Senator Sterling OF
South Dakota, republican, and Repre-
sentative Raker of California, demo-
crat, both of whom declared that some
thing should be done in behalf of the
aged and superannuated government
employees. The meeting was presided
over by Bo Sweeney, assistant secre-
tary of the interior.
Growing Old, Only Crime
Mr.. Flaherty began his address by de-
claring that approximation had be-
come dread reality to the postal en-
ployes.
I'm the Postmaster Generals annual
report the glad tidings were spread
porting at last the first time since the
days of Benjamin Franklin. But in the
same report we are informed that the
aged men and women in the service
must prepare themselves for demotion
or dismissal. Yet their only crime is
in growing old They have given the
best years of their lives to the govern
ment service. Men are dismissed in
the sacred name of efficiency and econ
omy. ! think that these faithful en-
I'M he 70
1T is all very well to moralize upon
thrift when you enter the government
service at $4,000 a year. But the aged
men of today entered the service at $3.50
in compelling man to live decently,
clothe himself well. to marry and rear a
family. Under these conditions ! defy
a man to reach old age with such salaries
with any compensation laid by.
Twenty-Five Fired"
There is a magnificent post Office
building in Washington, and 1 am glad
to see it. We are told that the columns
cost $4,000 each. that the solid bronze
bulletin board cost $500. Yet twenty-five
old clerks of the Washington post Office
were fired when the office moved down
to the new building. Possibly they
thought the old fellows would look out
of place in the pew building. A little
less bronze and granite on the outside
of government buildings and whole lot
more Christianity on the inside is what
is needed today"
Mr. Flaherty said that the Federation
of Post Office Clerks had for eight years
advocated the contributory pension plan
by which the clerks themselves would pay
in part of their salaries to create PEN
sion fund.
"A straight pension would make US too
servile," he said. He advised the gov
ernment employees to organize as far as
possible under the law, and carry their
ganization, he insisted, would anything
be accomplished.
Offers a Rebuke.
Mr.. Flaherty's outspoken criticism
seemed to SAVIOR of lese majestic to As
sistant Secretary Sweeney. who declared
that the meeting In the Home Club had
been called to discuss a plan for retire.
ment of government employees and mot
to air personal grievances"
Senator Sterling. in opening his ad-
dress, predicted that the day would
come when the citizens of the District
would be accorded the ballot and would
be represented in Congress.
Turning TO the subject of civil service
retirement, he said that there were two
distinct plans for the creation of a re-
pioyes. The first, he said was The
straight pension plan. the government 20
furnish the entire amount of money
needed. The second was the contributory
plan: by which the government employees
would pay in each month a small per-
centaSe o. their salaries to retirement
fund. The first plan, he said, was rep
resented by the Habill bill, and the sec
ond plan by the Perkins, Gillette and
Austin bills.
Urges Getting Together.
The introduction of so many bills in
Congress indicates clearly the great
interest existing in this question to-
day., said Senator Sterling. I'VE may
expect some legislation soon along this
line He said that the attitude of the
employees themselves toward the mat
ter would have much influence with
Congress, and he urged them to gel
together and advocate one plan or the
other. Senator Sterling described the
working of the two plans, and point.
ed out that in the first thirty-five
years the straight pension plan would
cost the government s159.000,0O0 more
than would the contributory plan and
that in fifty years the contributors
plan would become entirely self-sup-
porting. He said that he did not be.
1ieve that the people of the country