The Washington times., 1917-11-14

duce Congress to make the proposed
increases statutory, SO that the clerk
will know where they stand and thai
they may obtain permanently the in
creases denied them for fifty years.
Comptroller Warwick, of the Treas
ury, 10 one of the prominent officials
who feels that the increases should
be 10 and 20 per cent and made per
manent He comes In close contact
daily with the work Of Government
clerks and their financial needs
In view OF the probability that there
will be some opposition in Congress
to continuing or increasing the
bonuses to clerks on the ground that
the Government 10 spending billions
In war and must economize in every
direction, the aid OF the President
would be most welcome.
Retirement CoIamIttee At wSrs.
A joint committee from the civil
service retirement. organizations has
been. at work for some time to lay
its arguments before the President.
The committee consists of DR.. Lew
ellyn Jordan, OF the Treasury; John
S. Beach, Of the Pension Office, and
Charles ]. Goodman, OF the Navy
Yard. The committee was especially
desirous OF securing the cooperation
OF Secretary Mckdoo Assistant Sec
retery Sweet, of the Department OF
Commerce, and Miss Julia Lathrop,
Of the Children's Bureau OF the De-
partment OF Labor. Secretary Nc
Adoo has favored retirement for su-
perannuated clerks In his annual re-
ports, and Mr.. Sweet has done much
a.
gressional committees and elsewhere.
This joint committee has laid be-
fore all Cabinet officers a respectful
request that II POSSIBLE they urge
retirement in their annual reports.
The majority OF Cabinet officers are
on record for proper legislation. Mr..
McAdoo's achievements in obtaining
many big legislative enactments
causes supporters OF civil service re-
tirement to hope to attach him to
their fight in an active and persist
ent way. .-r,
Pension Bill Framed.
Despite wars claims upon Congress
there will be laid before that body
shortly after conveninE far-reaohing
pension legislation which will pro-
pose that the burdens OF such a sys-
tenn be divided somewhat equally be-
tween. the clerks themselves and the
Government One OF the bills, now
nearing completion, will be in line
with the desires OF the Senate on the
subject and will be accompanied by
the most convincing. array OF facts
and figureB- ever presented to Com
gress. The comparatively small cost
to the Government at the beginning
of retirement law would more than
be made up in the efficiency Of the fresh
blood that would be brought into
play. the report will show.
President Wilson has not started upon
his annual message. When he gets ready
he will retire to his library and spend
hours there until he has completed his
labors. No line has been obtained upon
the forthcoming document 1t Is pre-
sumed IN some quarters that the PresI-
dent may see At In his first speech TO
Congress to review the war situation
fully, leaving recommendations upon
minor subjects TO be made later. II war
should be the topic OF his first address |
then the questions upon which clerks are |
would go over until the PresI- |
dent desires to incorporate them with |
other matters in a special message.
There would be great jubilation' among |
employees II the President |
should boldly champion their claims In |
! speech to Congress, but they will also |
appreciate his help IL given In any man
ner. Often the President takes up sub
Iects OF this kind directly with the chair
men OF the appropriate Congressional
committees. and accomplishes much.