The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-13
NEW CLERKS UNION
PLANS FOR PENSIONS
Reconsideration Of Work and
Salaries Sought by Federal
Workers.

A pension plan and q Reconsideration
OF work and OF Halnrios In the Goicfn-
mont service Ia to he sought bv the
new clerks union.
Immediate effcrt Is to he made nv the
union to get a retirement plan upon
which all employees can agree, 30 con-
ccrted action may be taken for pen
sions. Similar unaninllty Is to be
sought on q Reconsideration Of the serr-
leo to obtain smaller and more fire.
The Constitutional committee OF the
union is to meet tonight at the temnor-
AIRY headquarters. In the ouray huild !.
ing. In a statement today. President
III. NJ. McLarin says the constitution
will be so drawn as to mako the union
support the will OF majority Of two
thirds. or tbreo-fourths as may be- de-
termined. This will be done 10 avoid
the criticism in Congress that tho EN-
they want when 1t comes to pensions.
Question of Form.
Mr.. McLarin said:
Congress has already shown a dis
position to seriously consider the
adoption OF some form OF retirement.
and the question now uppermost Is
what Is the best form. II the en-
ployes will get together, work out a
pan, agree 10 ana BIlCk
together in their efforts to have same
adopted. 1t will go through.
THE condition of the department
service now Is most deplorable both
from a humane view and from the
standpoint of efficiency. A reasonable
retirement provision would not only
relieve intolerable conditions now ex-
listing in regard to the hardships Of
having to force old people to come to
work and work or to starve, but would
actually save the United States money
every year.
by such a scheme the number of
clerks could and would be reduced at
once, and those retained in the serv-
ice would be able to render much
more efficient and rapid service be-
and ability to move quick and think
quick.
"a provision for retirement of Gov
eminent employees can be made which
those who have devoted their lives
to the service OF the country, and &C
tually save the United States dollars
and cents every year.
Our organization intends and will
exert every effort toward a unified
movement for retirement.
AT the present time two clerks or 9TH
er employees will sit side by side, both
doing exactly the same work, and yet
one may. receive a salary several num-
GRITTY In many cases has had this effect
Consideration should be given to sepior-
ity. but not to this extent.
Change in Conditions.
"The scale of salaries now paid tc
Goevrnment employees was fixed when
conditions in the departments did not
anywhere nearly approximate conditions
now. In the oldcn days nll OF the clerks
considered themselves to a degree Of.
ficials or officers of the Government
honored by being connected with Gov
eminent work and thew received sal
aries sufficient TO enable Them to live
up TO this self-respect. The economic
CHANGES have lowered the value of such
salaries until now, man who receives
great difficulty exist with his family.
but he has no money TO spend for pleas
ure nor enjoyment nor to lay aside for
the education of his children or for his
own old age.
THE increases Of pay are so largo
that they must necessarily be very In
frequent. BY this long hiatus between
promotions the employees are often
forced to lose hope, ambition and inter-
est In life and then the promotion new
or Genes as his work deteriorates,
IF the increases were smaller and
more frequent the esprit d'corps would
be much better. the employees would ba
encouraged more often by promotions.
and the officials would be enabled To
regulate more in accordance with value
OF work the salaries paid.
"a number of the newer departments
have adopted this method Of more fire.
quent and smaller increases in pay and
they now, get the most satisfactory work
and employees"