Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-11
RETIREMENT LAW
IS URGED At ONCE
Senate Committee Told Gov
eminent Is Losing by Delay
ing Clerks Pensions.
NEEDED ESPECIALLY NOW

Representatives Of various civil serv-
ice retirement associations and fedora
tions and of labor organizations gath
cred today at the Senate Office building
to urge upon the Senate committee on
civil service the necessity Of immediate
enactment Of retirement and pension
law for the superannuated employees of
the government.
They contended that it is necessary.
particularly at this time, to enact such
legislation to bring the government de-
partments to their highest state of eff
cheney during the war.
The hearing before the committee was
arranged by the joint retirement COM
mlttee M. OF the naval gun factory at the
| washington navy yard, of which Robert
H. Alcorn is chairman.
Others. in addition to Mr. Alcorn, who
appeared to be heard included Daniel
Goldschmidt Of New York. president Of
the United States Civil Service Retire
] ment Association: H. NJ McLarin.
president of the Federal Employees
Union; DR.. Lewellyn Jordan, secretary
OF the United States Civil Service Re-
tirement Association; Thomas F. Fla
herty. secretary-treasurer Of the Ma
| tienal Federation of Post Office En-
ployes; Arthur E. Holden, legislative
representative of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor: John S. Beach. chair
man OF the retirement committee Of the
Federal Employees Union; n. P. Atlas,
president of District A., international
Machinists' Union; NJ. T. Finan. secre-
tary OF the Letter Carriers Union: J.
Lodge of Machinists.
While various bills and methods of
| retiring and pensioning the euperan-
nuated civil service employees were ad-
vocated today, all the witnesses urged
that Congress act without further de-
| lay.
Figures were presented showing that
| OF the 100000 civil service employees
| OF the government throughout the
| country about 5000 are now at or
above the retirement age. which is set
| at sfxty-f1ve for the more active posi-
tions and seventy for strictly clerical
positions.
Passage Of Keating Bill Urged.
| The joint committee Of the naval gun
| factory asked the committee to take up
| and pass the so-called keating bill,
which has been introduced in the House
This bill provides optional retirement
after stxty-flve years at a rate depend
ent upon the number Of years of serv-
Ice up to 50 per cent Of the salary after
thirty years OF service. 1t also provides
retirement after sixty years OF age If
an employe is incapacitated through su-
perannuatton.
1t places a maximum of 5000 on the
annuity to be granted and a minimum
| Of $240. and expressly provides only for
| those who may become eligible for re-
| tirement prior to July 1, 1919, on the
ground that the retirement only Of the
| present superannuates is an urgent
war measure and that the solution Of
other phases of the question can be
deferred to later time.
Mr.. Goldschmidt, addressing the COM
mittee. said his organization would be
| content to leave to the judgment Of
Congress the form Of a bin to relieve
| the civil service employees and only
| asked consideration of such measure
| and action as soon as possible. He said
It is not the fault Of the workers that
they have to seek this relief
| President Wilson is ready to sign a
bill as soon as Congress can agree upon
law" said Mr.. Goldschmidt.
i He made an earnest appeal for the half
| million "sons and daughters of the Senate"
who are doing their bit, speeding UP the
war by working in all branches Of the
civil department. He spoke In passing of
the fact that employees of the postal de-
partment are deprived of the benefits of
the and 10 per cent increase in sal
aries and said it would be Impossible for
the clerks In all the departments to stand
an outright contributory system. because
they can hardly get along as 1t is. He
thought the government should contribute
also to the retirement fund.
Old Clerks Impede Progress.
J. w. Mcconnell. an employe of tho
naval gun factory. will plead for the
immediate passage Of a bill to take
1 care OF the superannuated clerks. who
are impeding progress in the densrt
| ments. and leave for future considers
ton a general pension and retirement
system. He said the Industrial work
ers could not support an assessm ent
| system.
Edward Murphy Of the Post Office
| Department advocated for the postal
| service alone system providing for
| compulsory assessment of postal en-
| ployes of / per cent OF their salaries to
| create a pension and retirement fund
He said their actuaries had estimated
that this would be sufficient to take
| care of all retired by age or disability.
DR.. Jordan expressed the opinion that
such plan could not be workable In
1t would expedite legislation upon the
| subject II all the bills. now divided
| among various committees, could be
placed in one Jurisdiction.
MI, Mr.: Hoider said his organization be-
follow the example of other civilized
nations and establish some kind of a
approximation system, call 1t what
| tney might.
Says Government Is Loser.
He said that as things are going now
the government is the loser, and losing in
two ways, first through the inefficiency
Of the superannuated and second the lack
of stimulus to the younger clerks, who are
held back by their way being blocked by
the aged and infirm.
| He suggested the administration of a
law might be left either to the pension
bureau or to the new board Of compensa
ton. Just now getting into operation. His
| experience told him that the administra-
ton was best accomplished by the small
| est possible board.
| Senator McKellar manifested much
interest In the hearing and asked wit
nesses frequent questions in elabora-
| ton Of their argument
/ Mrs. Ruth Havens. for forty-two
| years in the government service made
| a strong appeal for fair treatment of
women in the matter Of salaries and
pensions.
The committee will resume the hear
ing tomorrow morning at $3.50 o'clock.
i Berlin Limits Winter Coal Supply.