Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-08
RETIRING TIE CT ERIK S
More Views on the Pending Tawney
Bill.
l "Young'' Clerk Who Regards Its
Provisions as Cnjust-A Word
for the "Ola" Clerk. $3.50
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

remotest possibility Of it's resurrection.
This bill is an outrage against the majority
of the clerks, and, if adopted. will rob-
them of sum which they can i'll afford to
lose. Is 1t right or fair that a clerk should
be forced to give up in this highway rob-
berry fashion an amount of three per cen,
tum, more or less, of his salary, in order
that the INDECENT may be supported? Be
cause some persons are spendthrifts and
have spent all their money in riotOus
fast living, or. in other words. have lived
teyond their income, is 1t right that we
should be called upon to support them? I
say no. l for one am able to take care OF
my earnings l don't ask support from any
one, neither do l want to be compelled to
support INDECENT persons who are poor be-
cause they have lived TOO highly, or be-
cause they have spent too much money on
cigars, the races, general dissipation, or
wherever their money has gone. If per-
son who has been receiving good salary
for thirty years has not saved up enough
money to provide for his old age, whose
fault is 1t but his own?
The only good feature which have heard
proclaimed in favor of this bill Is that 'it
will cause a large number of retirements
and vacancies in the ranks. rendering pro-
motors more frequent If it Is generally
observed that persons over seventy years of
age, Whereabouts, are not able to per-
form their governmental duties in a salts
fac tory manner why cannot this matter be
more equitably provided for by passing a
law providing that no person over a certain
age tsixty-five or seventy years. should be
allowed to remain in the civil service or in
the employ of the government, and then
every one would know that he had to go
when that time came. and would have am
pie time to provide for their own future
living. Vacancies would then be made in
the ranks and promotions follow the same
is provided for in this hated Tawney
till The careful. saving clerks, taken as
a whole, are generally the best servants
in the department or elsewhere, and they
" ould be able to provide their own future
sustenance, and the INDECENT would suffer
only what they deserve. Shame / say upon
those persons who would impose upon the
defenselesS clerks by framing laws COM
reliing the clerks to help support the spend
thrifts, and shame upon the spendthrifts
who would endeavor to have such bill
passed for their behalf. The saving clerks
don't want to be treated as 'paupers,
and to be thought of as one OF those per-
sons who are not able to take care of their
money, but who have to place themselves
III der the wing of a paternal government
who will provide for their old age.
If this bin has got to go through. then let
each of the beneficiay'ies- to-be put in alike.
Let every clerk wno3has been in office pay
the same amount into this treasury, the
young or new clerks viii in all probability
have to put in before they reap any of its
benefits Let the clerks all pay in their
back dues Let every clerk pay in :; per
centum of his back salaries in order that he
may have put in an equal amount 10 what
over before they become entitled to any Of
it's benefits.
l have conferred with large number Of
clerks in the department an which l am To-
Gated and every one of them have spoken
to concerning this bill is strongly opposed
to it, with the exception of the odd clerks"
who are in the line for early retirement, and
they, naturally, are loud In its praises. be-
cause 1t means to them an early TelinQuSh
ment of their office duties. with a princeiy
salary attached to their retirement papers.
But let this bill pro6tfde that every bene-
fciary shall put in an amount equal TO ) per
centum of their salaries received during the
term they have been in the service of the
government. and who, then. do you think
would oppose this bill but these Old clerks
who are now crying out in its favor?
l anu a young clerk, and my term in the
civil service has but just commenced. and l
know what this means to me. Basiag my
salary at Sl,2OO. | will have to fork over
a yearly sum of $36 for Charity" and in
the thirty years l will have to give up pro
vded l am retained in the service that
length of time-long enough to become a
crued intereSt-S3j a year, S; a month, for
"charity.' to persons nine out of every ten
of whom do not or will not deserve it,
Objection was made to political assess
ments' which were made in the various
departments some years ago. Is not this
just as bad as political assessment? Bene-
fits were derived from them just surely
AS the founders Of this bill tell US will be
assured if this bill becomes law.
Changes and retirements were made. and
promotions followed to their SUCCESSORS.
The pension clerk suggests that the
clerks should circulate petitions through
their various departments. This Is i'm
practical, as the clerks as general rule,
do not dare to force or endeavor to force
petition through their departments
less it is made in the name Of or has the
sanction of the head officials. Our only
course then is to beSeech our beloved Star
to place herself on record in our behalf.
q hoe IN fha
friend of the righteous time and time
again, no matter how powerful the foe
that assailed them. and has come out vic
torious, and with her aid at the present
time we will he relieved Of the oppression
which this bill Is designed to force upon US
il 1t becomes law.
/ A vote taken upon this bill would, feel
certain, show a strong division line drawn
between the young and the old clerks, rem
dering their votes respectively against and
for the bill The young clerks know that
this bill, if passed, would mean yearly
hole of 3 per centum in their salaries,
while the old clerks who have drawn their
salaries without any such infringement
would continue to be supported by the new
| clerks This is Enthusiastically taxation
without representation-it is obtaining
sessments under false pretenses, and the
allurements held out by its advocates are
without practical benefits, and are to be so
dearly secured they should be unreservedly
scorned. Its proclaimed benefits could be
more eQuitably justly and wisely obtained
| by making compulsory retirements at
certain age, the same as GU: Constitution
| provides that no person shall be eligible for
| the presidency after a certain age. Why
not apply the grand pri lciples of Con-
stitution to the civil service and make age
retirements compulsory and have them
| strictly enforced, but let no blood money"
| be openly purloined from the salaries of
the clerks without their consent.
| NEW GOVERNMENT CLERK.
Word for the Old Clerk.
| To the Editor of The Evening Star:
During the somewhat varied vicissitudes
through which the movement for retire.
ment of clerks has been merrily capering
| l have been an interested but silent OBJ
| server. When The Evening Star first
brought to light the fact'tha benevolent
Mr. c. had apparently become interested
in the fortunes Of government clerks, 1t
| nearly took my breath. ''Can such things
be- and overcome Us like "A summers cloud,
| without our special w'onier?'
| Had the gentlemaRs solicitude been re-
| ported in favor of those splendid gentle
men who are provided by Uncle Samuel, at
| MS expense, with the necessary equipment
for public service, both IN education and
sustenance. those dear creatures who are
| bedecked with glittering geM gaws of I'M
| earned glory, whose presence is essential
| as component part of that sweet cream