The Washington herald., 1916-05-20
PENSION PLAN
IS ATTACKED
Senator Pomerene Advocates
Contributory System at
Civil Service Banquet.
ENDS CONVENTION
Representative Chandler Says U. S. Is
Only Great Nation Not Treating
Employees Fairly.

Senator AtIe Pomerene, Of Ohio, told
the delegates to the United States Civil
Service Retirement Association at their
annual banquet at the Ebbitt last night
with unexpected frankness why he favors
contributory retirement plan and is
unalterably opposed to a straight pen
sion plan.
After a number of speakers, including
members of Congress, had won ringing
applause by declaring themselves in
favor OF a retirement law OF some kind,
Senator Pomerene arose, and, after tell
ing the delegates that he probably would
say some things they would not like,
proceeded to analyze the retirement
question.
ut has been said that you have labored
here all your lives for the government.
That is true, and the government owes
you something for that. But doesn't the
government deserve some credit for CIV
ing you employment all these years?"
Senator Pomerene took up the question
from the viewpoint of the general public
outside the service-the people back
home" who hold Congress to account for
the laws they pass He pointed out how
the general public would feel II Congress
passed a straight pension plan for gov
eminent employees.
Against Straight Plan.
L have for many years been in favor
OF retirement law" said the Senator.
with emphasis on the "a But / am not
in favor Of a straight pension plan. l
am in favor Of a contributory plan
In closing he told them that the longer
they fought for the straight pension plan
the longer would 1t be before they would
get retirement law OF any kind.
II believe the United States Is the only
great civilized country in the world that
has not pensioned its superanuated en-
ployes," said Representative Walter NJ.
Chandler, OF New York "Our great re-
public cannot afford longer to lag be-
hind in this form OF social justice, at
least to help in old age those who have
refused other forms OF employment to
dedicate their life-work to their govern
ment."
Representative Addison T Smith and
Conrad II. Syme, District corporation
counsel. both declared that Congress
should enact civil service retirement
law because it would save money for the
government
Banquet Closes Sessions.
The banquet marked the close Of the
two-day convention of the association
Louis F. Post, Assistant Secretary Of
Labor, was toastmsster. Others who
spoke were Senator Thomas Sterling, Of
oOuNl DdhOId' anu buNln BranOenDurE,
president OF the Washington Board of
Trade.
Those present were: Rev. Forrest J.
Prettyman, chaplain Of the Senate, and
Representatives Martin B. Madden. Will
lam S. Bennet. Edward <esting, Porter
II. Dale, Fl. T. Helgesen. c. D. Carter,
Addison T. Smith. CO. LobeCk. Daniel J.
Griffin, John Eagan. r. +. Heaton.
George w. Loft, James A ,HamiII. and
Peter F. Taguc: f. F. Sweet. Joseph
Stewart. Cornelius Ford Merritt o.
Chance, Frederick c. Howe James T.
Newton. John Doyle, John c. Eversman,
Howard A. Banks, H. A. Meyer. U.
Grant Smith, f. ]. Ayers, r. NJ. Reese,
c. f. Stewart. Robert Watson. J. L.
Alverson, Emile Huck. Prof. James How
ard Gore. II. A. Spilman. Thomas F.
Flaherty. Mrs. Thomas F. Flaherty. Miss
Alice Latimer George. George Rhein,
Charles L. Wiegand, Pickens Neagle.
Robert Armour, Alexander H. Semmes
Jacob W. Starr, Herman A. Phillips, Ed
gar c. Snyder. Mrs. Edgar C. Snyder.
Henry II. Classic. Herbert D. Brown,
Mrs. c. OH. Craigie, Goodwin D. Ellis
worth. w. w. Dyar. Mrs. Wisdom D.
Brown. z. R. Magic. and George L. Cain.