Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-10

sured income, while the younger ones would
be glad of an opportunity to fill the places
thus vacated. Nearly all of the DIRECTORS
assert that the Junior clerks are opposed to
1t, when the fact is they are almost a unit
In it's favor. not SO much that they expect
to live or remain in the service long enough
to become direct beneficiaries under it, as
Tor the increased chances for promotion
that would be occasioned by the ones who
would go out.
LAS it has been estimated that about 375
clerks would be retired as soon as the act
became operative, many of them in the
higher grades 1t would make a much larger
number of promotions; for every clerk of
class 4. with a salary of 81 800, who retired
there would be at least four promotions.
In many cases more, and one vacancy, as
a class clerk would get the highest place,
one from class go up to class 3, and so
on, clerk from each grade taking one
step up, clear to the end Of the line.
Regular Promotions.
This series of promotions would I'M
doubtedly aggregate thousand, outside of
the regular order. And when /. Is con-
sidered that those who would receive no
immediate benefit, in the shape Of a retire
ment or promotion, would be pushed much
higher In the line and. therefore, much
nearer promotion than they could possibly
be under the present SYSTEM 1t is easy to
understand why the young, we'll as the
old, clerks favor it, For it Is fair to assume
tfat, however many clerks there may be
who are SO we'll fixed and Independent that
they would scorn to accept a pension (as
some of the opposition have asserted), 1t is
a well-demonstrated fact that not a single
instance could be found Of clerk who does
not desire promotion, whether he deserves
1t or not.
1.-The estimate in Saturdays Star by Jos.
Trainor. demonstrating the inadequacy of
the fund proposed, places the pension of
every clerk who retires at 800 per month:
this Is manifestly unfair. as there are many
ynct <1or L.
eligible for retirement. The average month
ly pension would probably not exceed SIS,
and. as 1t Is proposed to pay interest on the
fGnd on hand. as Is done with the Soldiers
Home fund. the amount would probably be
ample. But suppose the Withholding of 2
per cent does not create fund large enough
TO maintain the pensions, 1t may be easily
remedied by increasing the assessments
or 8 per cent would certainly be sufficient,
and no particular hardship would be caused
by retaining such small amount in each
case.
''As promotion usually means an addi-
tlonal 500 annually. and as thousand pro-
motions would probably result under the
act, 1t would appear that it's opponents have
neglected to indulge in any very deep re-
neetlons on the subject, or perhaps they
are not rated high enough in the efficiency
records OF their departments to stand a
chaHce Oh promotion under any circum-
stances.
Question of Saving.
1T is certainly no argument to insist that
a clerk should be able to save enough from
ms munificent salary to be able to retire
with competency, as the varying condi-
IONS that exist among all classes of people
control the lives and fortunes Of govern
ment clerks as well, and they are subject
10 sickness, big doctors. bills, large families
1aise friends, unfortunate Investments and
all the Ills that flesh is heir to, SO that most
OF them remain poor to the end of the chap
ter AMI those who are able to retire with
private fortunes based on savings from their
salaries are the exception. while those who
de SO retire have yet to be discovered
Government employees in the classified
service do not receive large salaries. While
some clerks may receive more for their sery-
ices than they would in commercial pur-
SUITS, and perhaps more than they are
north' tiere are many who could comma nd
better pay on the outside. They come here
with the intention of staying only a year or
Two, stay On year after year. always putting
on the date of their departure, and all tho
time absorbing the enervating poison of
ofiicial life, until they die in the service.
generally from old age. or they are dis
charged when they get too old. to begin life
over again on different lines, when they not
lnfreGuently leave the world and its woes
ny the suicide route. 1t is a notorious ia ct
that government employment units men for
any otaer class of work.