Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-18
Retirement of Clerks.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Several bills have been offered to provide
for retiring department clerks. Their ap-
pearance, with warm backing, and yet cool.
conservative argument from wise heads, is
striking enough, indeed.
The bills are part of a movement wholly
proper and such as could only have been
expected. / know men in the departments
who have borne the heat and burden of the
day for over thirty years. Many of them
came from the most promising paths of
literature and learning. They did not fore
see the dropping into the long rut and the
utter impossibility of breaking the chains
of long habit. They settled down to the one
thing and have unlearned most of what they
knew tEat is not required at the government
desk Had they not given themselves to
these clerkships, many of them would now,
in green old age, have been covered with
honors professional and scientific. in the
nobleSt walks of life.
The time is past when the popular idea of
a government department clerkship that
IL is a sinecure, where ease and laZiness
barely get up energy enough to sign the pay
roll, can hold water. 1t is a deluson only
cherished now by 4 few provincials But
VIII 1t be commensurate with the merits of
the question or the dignity of a government
such as ours, TO begin with the gingerly
provision for retirement of clerks only after
thirty years service, and that only by TAX
ing up a contribution from the clerks?
Must the government pass the hat?" Our
Nation spell it with a big IN" since the
fresldents message on the Venezuelan
question: is yet in its infancy. 1t is the
qufescent giant which is to get up and shake
Itself ere long. The trumpet blast is in the
air. VIII the Nation, so liberal with its
recognition of military service by the
abundant provision for pensions descend to
a parsimonious policy with its civil sery-
ants?
A strong and liberal provision for retir-
ing the clerks of the executive departments
at Washington is the legitimate sequence in
the very theory of civil service
Doubtless the civil service commission will
warmly indorse A liberal measure and will
commend it earnestly to the President Mr.
Cleveland himself will be found the very
strongest supporter of a comprehensive and
abundant provision
There ought to be provision for retiring
the department clerks:
First Optional retirement after seventeen
years continuous service, IL the clerk Is
totally disabled for the performance of
manual labor by lameness of legs or arms
or by incurable disease of eyes or heart; age
not under fifty years.
Second. At expiration of twan,v ya,r.,
service for ex-Union soldiers al their option
now pensioned at third grade, who will sur
render their pension certificate and relin-
qulsh claim for artificial limbs, ETC.
Third. At expira ton of thirty wears conn
pulsory retirement, whether apparently dis
abIed or not, If seventy years old.
Inc rate OF pay in each case should be Is
per cent of the highest pay the clerk has
for period of one year drawn.
Surely this great government can do this,
Whether 1t Is best to provide a fund"
with which to do this will not assume to
say. But cannot see that because a few
out of the large number of clerks happen
to be so thriving with their money and can
make such handsome per cent out of it
they should oppose small deduction for
this fund. 1t is fair enough in some re-
spects, though l hardly believe the govern
ment will descend to it.
CONSERVATIVE.