The evening times., 1896-03-17
LIKELY TO BECOME / lIN
BilI Creating a Fund to Pension
Government Clerks.
PAYMENTToBE BE COMPULSORY
Civil Service Commission Looks With
Favor ON Representative Tia wney's
Measure-Employes to Be Retired
After Long Service and Draw Ont
Investments When Discharged.

Uncle Sam has always been considered
| extremely liberal I'm the matter OF pro-
viding for his public servants and en-
ployes. The latest scheme which the law
makers are considering in this direction
| is to provide a fund for the relief of govern
ment employees who lose their positions and
| to place ON the retired list those who have
number of years.
| Two bills OF this ma ture have been intro
duced and referred to the House Committee
OH Civil Service Reform.
The first, presented by Representative
Tawney, of Minnesota, stipulates that, be-
| ginning with July, 1S96, per cent Of the
| salary of every government empIoye shall
| be withheld to form n permanent fund to be
paid to the employe, with per cent interest
added, at the time of his discharge. 1t
also provides that after the year 1900,
those who have been in the classified serv-
ice for a certain period of time. shall be
retired, and permitted to draw from this
fund, SO created, given percentage of the
salary they may have previously been paid.
A similar bill, introduced by Congressman
Wilson, of Ohio. provides for an appropria-
ton of instead of 2 per cent.
The Civil Service Commissioners, upon
invitation of Chairman Brosius, of the
House Committee, have appeared before
that body for discussion of the measures.
THE PRINCIPAL BENEFIT.
1t is argued on behalf OF such a bill, as
one of its principal benefits, that it would
vastly increase the efficiency Of the service.
By the compulsory retirement OF a certain
number of clerks each year, by the age
limit, an opportunity for speedier pro-
motions would be created, which would
be an incentive to better work. In con-
Dection with this is the fact that at present
the government is now retaining in i'm
portant positions many who are in
capacitated purely from old age, and arc
unable to perform the labor which their
salaries should command.
They are not now displaced as their dis
charge would result in great hardship to
them. Many who have been in office for
4 long term OF years and are untitled for
any other work, and it is said are kept
simply out of pity for their condition.
This is really an honorary position roll
from which the government gets no re-
turn.
1t is said that should this quasi-Efe in.
surance plan be adopted it would obviate
any such circumstances and prove a great
saving in expenses, beside accomplishing
more work.
The idea Of the plan, us stated by Rep
resentative Tawney, Is not that the govern
ment shall be called upon to contribute n
dollar toward such a relief fund, but that
is support shall be dra wn wholly from
81, d...,u ctirn alar
The contributions would, of course, be
compulsory and would apply to all EN-
ployes in the classified service, not only in
the government offices in Washington, but
also to postal clerks, custom house o fficials
and others, numbering in all something
over &c, 900 persons.
The board OF Civil Service Commissioners
are inclined to look with considerable favor
1pon the project. The matter is now in
the hands Of 4 subcommittee and just what
The terms OF the bill will be when reported
has not as yet been decided upon.
President Proctor of the board filed with
the committee a table of statistics relating
20 the subject and showing its results IL
adopted.
No GREAT OPPOSITION.
The ma alority of government clerks are
apparently agreeable to the scheme; in fact.
Representative Tawncy states that there
has been no manifest opposition to the
plan. On the other hand. he has received
numerous letters from those in the service
urging its adoption, among others being
petition signed by nearly all the employees
OF the New York Custom House requesting
The passa &c of such a bill.
The plan is eliminated of all ton,inc fea-
lures. as 1t is provided that as soon as anem-
pioye is discharged he is entitled to with
draw all that has been retained OF bis
salary, with the added interest as stated.
The project Is distinctively cooperative,
as far as all receiving Its benefits are con
cerned. but individual in that every en-
plOye pays and receives in proportion to
his salary.
Mr.. Tawney thinks that the bill will
pass and ultimately provide for about 81
per cent deductions.
Individuals who are not In sympathy
with such measure Oh arge that the enact
ment OF 1t savors too much of patcrnal-
Ism. and they oppose the government be-
coming, as they state, go socialistic in its
nature. They think that after a govern
ment clerk has drawn good salary for a
Ong term Of years he should have enough
laid by to provide for himself in case of dis
charge, and that there Is no obligation
On the part of the government to retain
hose who are unable to perform their
duties.
On the other hand. Its advocates point |
to the case of Miss Harriet P. Dame. who |
was recently discharged from the. Treasury !
Department, claiming that under the plan
proposed such a circumstance could not |
arise, as She would long ago have been |
placed on the retired list.
Much interest is manifested in the ques-
ion among the department clerks. and |
he ultimate result is being eagerly |
awaited.
FOUND DYING IN THE SNOW.
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