Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23

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annum. per ceptpm deduction from this
gross amount 9,674260 would amount to
$193, $500 1t would seem that that yearly
income would be more than sufficient to
make retirement optional after thirty years
service. but no one should be forced to re-
tire unless he Were unable to perform his
duties.
The plan is analogous to that which par
and half cents are deducted from the
pay of every soldiere in the regular army
every north. That money is turned into
the treasury. There being about 1000 en-
listed men, this gross sum amounts to
about 49, 500 per aBnum.
Tt was well known that the sense of our
people, as expressed by the legislators, was
employees. but if the plan could be made
sef-supporting that objection would be
eliminated.
Has Strong Support.
at would be indicate to mention them
all, but there have been many pitiful cases
among clerks. An old gentleman who had
served the government as a clerk for forty
eight years, when he became eighty-four
years old was palsied, removed and went
to the almshouse. There have been scores
of similar cases. Under the plan proposed
modest support would be insured to such
for the few years they might live. Sec
rotary with manly feelings would dislike
to remove an old servant thus, but if he
could retire such he would open up series
or promotions and appointments, which
would tend to dignity the service and slim
ulate the younger men. Take an $500
clerk; were he retired it would make four
promotions and an appointment. If there
were no retirement system he and his
friends would resist the removal, and thus
congest the service to that extent.
The writer can assure the government
employees that every member of the cabinet
he
been interviewed, is in favor of the plan;
the whole civil service commission approves
II, and every legislator who has been ap-
proached thus far will indorse it, provided
1t can be shown that it can be made self
supporting that it is not intended as an
entering wedge to take money from the
treasury
Another View.
One clerk writes The Star, drawing On ar
gument from the way farmers sometimes
keep aged horses long after they have
ceased to be useful and also from the Gus
tom of slave owners in the south who took
care of their old and WORKOUT servants
He says:
This exemplary treatment of dumb ami
r!als and slaves has it's counterpart: in the
kindness shown to servants and employees
In all civilized countries. Mercantile COM
panies Of long standing, such as the Brit
ish East India Company frequently nave a
retired list of old employees. Universities
and colleges in this country are following
the example Of the older European institu-
ucns in retiring their professors. Many
Lanks do likewise. and tie Washington Gas
Company continues to pay some of its
cider help after they are no longer able to
Perform their former duties. The fact Is
that wherever the position of the person
employed is permanent, our modern civili-
alton brings forth a retirement as a re-
suit. This is especially shown in the re-
tirement Of the civil and military employees
IT all the countries of Europe, including
Russia, Turkey, in China, Japan and Bra
gil.
Retirement is provided for in our own
army and navy. bur it has not been eX-
tended to the civil service. because hereto
fore, civil positions have been held 20 be-
long TO that particular political party in
power We have beer since 1897 under
the To-the-victor-b belong the spoils' policy
We are now returniIisfsto the merit system,
and so sure as We continue it, some system
of retirement VIII follow. Permanently of
position and retirement of government en-
ployes are mutually bound together. What
ever retardS one criBples the other and
the advocacy of the one which we are now
doing, insures the Pc sranercy of the other
Aside from the bene7t to the government
ard to those Immediately concerned the re-
tirement of clerks Wotfld incident alIy be of
great help to the city of Washington
Clerks would then enter the service with
the intention of remaining. They would
buy homes here; and after being here SO
long. would probably remain after retiring,
and thus ma terially increase the pop,1la-
ton and wealth of the city.
w nat We want nowt Is not particular
system of retirement! bu. any system of
retirement. We should not bicker about
trifies. but have the~thing started. No
body but fool will expect it to be perfect
in starting, but time will show the faults of
the system. and when the faults are dis
covered, they can be remediedl'