Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-14
COMPULSORY SAVINGS
The Idea of Making Clerks Save Five Per
Cent of Salaries.
The Proposition Would Not De Re-
ceived FavOrably by Many
Clerks.

ing officers in the various executive de-
partments to withhold per cent of clerical
salaries to form fund to be invested In
government bonds drawing aslow rate OF
interest, out of which, when the clerk re-
signs. is discharged, or dies. the amount OF
his savings together with interest thereon
will be paid to him or his heirs, is receiving
considerable discussion among government
employees.
The primary object of this proposition IS
to anticipate and provide for clerks who
may die without having sufficient funds to
pay the expenses of burial, and thus
a burden upon their fellow employees, who
by subscription usually meet the emer-
gency. In most of the departments there
have been organized within year or two
mutual benefit associations, the OBJECT OF
which is by regular and systematic as
sessments to create and preserve a fund
that will be available for funeral expenses.
doctors bills and similar liabilities. Clerks
who have Joined these associations natur
ally critcse the Wilson measure, and say
that they are fully able to save their
money for themselves in their own way
without any assistance from Congress.
Some Would Like 1t.
Others, realizing the infirmity of human
nature, hail the proposition with delight as
one which by compulsion- will lay by for
them a competence that in the course of
ten or fifteen years will amount to enough
to buy a good home.
For instance a clerk who Is receiving
81, 200 year under the proposed law would
have $50 taken out of his salary for him
and converted into government bonds an
nually, and thereafter drawing interest at
not less than per cent. After the first
year the interest itself would draw inter-
est, and at the end of ten years, besides
the $500 which would gradually accumu-
late, there would be a pleasing increment
OF interest amounting to nearly 500. With
larger salary and a longer service even
at the low rate of 3 per cent, many clerks
would find waiting for them, when they
were ready to retire from Office, very
handsome neStegg.
How 1t Looks.
IF protected by legislation, so as to be
absolutely beyond the control of the clerk, -
said Appointment Clerk Holcomb of the In
terror Department today, such a fund
would undoubtedly be wholesome ad-
vantage to the average government en-
ploye. The law should provide that his
savings in the department could not be hy-
pothecated, and that any contract making
the sum to his credit under the law Sc
curity for loan should be null and void
and in no way to the prejudice of other
liabilities which the clerk might incur Nor
should his savings be subject to garnish-
ment. l am not able to say whether or not
this measure would be received by the
clerks in this department with favor. We
have already a benefit association, which
Is constantly increasing in numbers and
| Going excellent work for which there was
need. And to the clerks who have joined
this association, it may seem wholly I'M
called for to require compulsory savings
To large number, of course, the paternal
aspect of this proposition would be repul-
sive and obnoxious. 1t is the system which
Germany is enforcing rigidly upon class
laborers and while much may be said in
Its behalf, 1t may not be very popular"
Uncnlled For.
To Acting Chief Clerk Elmer of the Post
Office Department the scheme seemed Who'll
ly undesirable. He is an old official and is
thoroughly conversant with the habits of
the clerks of the department in saving or
wasting their earnings I'm the first place."
said Mr.. Elmer, this matter of saving may
| be safely left to the clerk himself, in de-
partment service as we'll as in any other
calling in life. If he has the character that
prompts frugality and thrift he will save
his money. Otherwise, he will not If you
could lL.ake this law apply to those who
will not save there might be some excuse
| for it. Those who save their money it,
often making very handsome earnings with
| it Any clerk who desires may save not only
) per cent but even more of his salary. and
invest it where practically it is safe as
| II converted into government bonds and at
| the same time it will bring him not 3 per
l
law compelling any class of citizens to in
vest their money at three per cent or at any
per cent? So far as benefit precautions go,
our department has organization thor
oughly able to meet all emergency expenses
| connected with sickness or death. There
are very few clerks who refuse absolutely
| to join this association, and of these prob
| ably most are thrifty enough to leave mon
| ey to bury them decently.''
| Other Considerations.
| Many clerks, speaking of the scheme said
| they spent all they received for absolute
| expenses. Saving five per cent of their
| salary would amount practically to a re-
| duCtion of their salaries. Others said they
would not object to it if they could, on show
| ing that they absolutely needed their saw
| ings, after certain term of wears, receive
this could be accomplished would be for
| the clerk to resign draw his money, and
| trust to his being reinStated within year
| from his resignation.
| The proposition is somewhat similar to the
| method by which soldiers in the regular
| army compelled to contribute a small
| sun every month out OF their pay for sup
| port of the Soldiers Home In the case of
| the soldier he agrees to this when he en-
| lists; the clerk does not. If Congress passes
| the Wilson scheme clerks who do not wish
| to submit to it could only refuse by resign
| ing. Yet, there seems to be no question of
| the power of Congress to impose this saw
| ings plan upon the clerks. At the civil
| service commission it was said today that
| the Wilson idea is entirely feasible so far
| as making it a condition and part of the
employees contract for service.
|