The Washington times., 1919-01-24
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A favorable legislative situation
exists today for the passage by Con-
sress Of a bill for the retirement Of
superannuated Government employees
on . basis Of Government co-opera-
ton with the employees in furnishing
tne funds necessary to success, es-
pecially in the money necessary for
me nrst few years OF retirements.
The House Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce, which.
oy unanimous vote, ordered a IA
Vorable report on the Mcclellan
keatng bill, with unimportant
changes, is expected to lay its report
before the House some time today.
Think Victory In Sight.
The fact that the committee. or NJ
least all members present. voted for
the bill 10 considered by both Senator
Mckellar and Representative Kaat-
ing whose names father the measura
As most encouraging and bonefnI
These two men, who have nut IN manD
nours and days promoting this leg
1siation, today believed that victorv
IN sIsnt II votes can be had in both
bodies Of Congress.
Representative Sims, chairman OF
the House COMMITTEES. Renresa,.o
tive keating, and many Congressmen
VINO nave the best interests of the
government and the clerks at heart
VIII endeaVor to obtain a special ruIe
Tor consideration of the bill in the
house. Advocates of the bill are be-
neVed to be in a large majority in the
House, from canvass of the situa
tlon oy Messrs. Sims, Heating and
others.
Commoa-sense Measure,
Il have genuine hope of this bill
going through at this session." said
Mr.. Keating to The Times. 'It is
such a common-sense proposition that
II viii commend itself beyond Ques-
ton. The Government is vitaIly in
teFested in the efficiency that will be
derived from the substitution OF young
clerks for aged employees who cannot
De turned out after years OF faithful
duties well performed They must be
taken care of.
at is certainly not amiss for me to
say that The Washington Times has
done splendid work in keeping the
truth before Congress"
Senator McKellar, who said TODAY
that his heart was never before SO
strongly for any measure, was as
hopeful as Mr.. Keating that he will
obtain favorable action by the SEN
ate.
watching for 0penfng.
He Is daily watching for an OPEN
ing in that body to bring forward
his motion to reconsider the vote by
which Senator Pomerene's amend
ment to the McKellar bill was adopt
ed 1t will be remembered that when
the McKellar bill was before the Sem
ate, Senator Pomerene offered an
amendment requiring the clerks to
contribute all the money necessary
to operate retirement. His amend
ment would take from the already
poorly paid clerks s per cent of their
salaries with which to retire those
now at retirement age and others In
the future; admittedly an unfair bur-
den with salaries low and living costs
exceedingly high.
The Pomerene amendment was
adopted by a vote OF 81 to 20. Sen
ator McKellar gave notice of his in
tention to move a Reconsideration.
Feel Differently Now.
The Tennessee Senator has careful
ly canvassed the Senate since its
first action, the vote on which was
not q large one. and Is absolutely
confident that the Senate would now
vote for the McKellar-Keating bill.
A number OF Senators who voted for
the Pomerene amendment now see the
subject in a different light, and many
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