Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-19
THE TAWNEY HILL.

| best to nfase with energy and wake up boys to
J. sHORTIIDGE (Yale). AM. Prn. ap3o-eo33t'
THE TAWNEY BILL.
A Clerk Points Out It's Alleged De-
fects md Suggests Substitute.
| To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
Much has been said pro and con in regard
to the merits and dement's OF the Tawney
| bill. Will you permit criticism by one
who has been in the department upwards
Of thirty years. and would be one Of the
eligibles under this bill? have believed for
| many years that retirement bill would be
| a necessity In the light of civil service re-
| form. and in justice to those who have
served their government long and faithfully
| and l still believe 1t Is only a question OF
time.
No banking institution or commercial
house of any standing would substitute new
and inexperienced clerks In the place of old
and faithful employees. turning them out of
| doors, hut they would gradually be ad-
| vanced to the places Of those who have be-
| come feeble by reason of age-whiie the
| latter would be given lighter work and less
| pay and thus their declining years made
| easy. Can this government afford to be
| less generous to its aged servants than pri-
| waite corporations? Can it afford to take
the best years of a mans existence and
|
| There would certainly be no justice in that.
But 20 return to the Tawney bill To my
| mind 1t Is faulty in several respects First,
there should be no deductions from the
| salary, as 1t would be impracticable to
equalize the amount that should be with
| held from those long in service. Second
| retirement should be voluntary and based
| upon long and faithful service. Objections
| might be offered that If no compulsory
| clause was added. 1t would fail to accom-
| plish what is desired-that some aged in
| efficient clerks might refuse to retire and
| make way for younger and more efficient
| men. But when 1t is borne in mind that
| the heads of departments have the author
ity to reduce to lower grades for ineffi-
cheney, there is no doubt in my mind that
| every sucn person would prefer to retire
| than to remain at a lower salary. The bill
| would thus work out it's own salvation
| Imrd, the salary upon retirement should
| be gradual. according to length of service.
one OF the inequalities of the Tawney bill
| Is the fact that 1t gives the same proportion
of pay upon retirement TO all, whether they
| have been in service twenty or th!rty-iive
| years believe a bill framed upon the fol-
| lowing principles would receive the hearty
| support ami cooperation of every person in
| the classified service and be Endorsed by
| the people just and equitable:
A bill for the voluntary retirement of gov
eminent employees. to be paid from the
| treasury of the United States as d reward
for long and faithful service.
| To take effect upon its passage.
l. All persons who have faithfully served
In constant service for thirty-five years to
| he retired upon application to receive IS
per cent Of average salary.
| z All persons who have served thirty
| years to receive Is per cent OF average
| salary.
s. All persons who have served twenty-five
years to receive ~ per cent of average
| salary.
4. All persons who have served twenty
years to receive so per cent Of average
| salary.
Sec. 2. Time served in the army or navy
| to be counted in computing length of ser
| vice.
Sec. 3. All persons shall be considered in
constant service who have not been out of
| government employ more than one year.
A VETERAN CLERK.
Some Changes Suggested.
| To the Editor of The Evening Star:
| Referring to the Tawney bill to compel
| government clerks to provide pensions for
| themselves, it has been conclusively shown
| that the fund would soon be exhausted IL
the rates Of pension provided In the bill are
to stand and at the same time the contri-
| buttons are to be returned in case of sepa-
| ration from the service before the clerk be-
| comes reasonable The bill must be
| amended to make 1t practicable. 1 propose
| that the retired pay or pension be fixed at
| fifty per ceEtum of the average annual
1
provided in the bill. and that the maximum
be made $500 instead of $500. II clerks
drawing salaries twenty to thirty years
| will not save anything for their old age,
| they should not expect to be supported In
| luxurious idleness by others. If the rates
| of pension are not reduced the bill will not
1 pass Next strike out section 5, which pro-
/ Vides for returning contributions in case of
| DEATH resignation dismissal. No insur-
| alec or annuity organization can do busi-
|
| ment at two, instead OF three per centum
| would be sufficient. The average pensioner
| under the bill would draw out ten times the
amount contributed by him, and the fund
| would soon be exhausted If assessments
were returned.
| Amend section 3, SO that pensioners for
the first ten years would have ten instead
of three per centum withheld from their
| aEnuities.
| The constitutional objections to the bill
are frivolous If the courts should sustain
| any such objection, 1t would be an easy
matter to get around it. Clerks certainly
have no vested rights to future salary The
law could provide for a reduction of sala-
ries. the residue of the appropriation to be
deposited to the credit Of the retirement
| fund. No one would be compelled to ac-
| cept an appointment at the reduced salary.
4 These pensions should be paid from the
| public treasury. but IL that is impossible
the majority of clerks are willing to be
| taxed for this purpose as policemen and
| private soldiers are.
| 1t has been intimated that clerks are
afraid to express their opinions on the re-
| tirement bill. 1 am not acquainted with
| any who are so pusillanimous.- The retire.
ment bill is not political issue. Very few
people outside Of Washington will ever hear
| of 1t. 1 do not think that the most rabid
| political spokesman would desire to inter-
fere with the weak brother who is afraid to
| sign a patition for or against the retirement
| ILL., A full and candid expression Of opin-
| ion Is very desirable. because the bill ought
| not to pass if a majority or large minority
| of clerks are opposed to it.
| THOMAS w. GILMER
| Treasury Department.