The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-20
WHY NOT A CIVIL PENSION LIST:
New Departure Here, but "a Satisfac-
tory System i'm England.
Boston Transcript

Secretary Cages scheme of an honorable
service rolf for clerks over seventy years
of age and their reduction to an annual sal
airy of $500 is a recognition of a condition
that sooner or later must receive the prac-
teal and humane consideration of the gov
ernment and why not now? Congressman
Moody is opposed to the proposition as in
it's nature the first step toward the estab-
lishment of civil pension list. Mr.. Moody
has been making an admirable record in
Congress- and Massachusetts, is justly proud
of him. He has shown high integrity and
independence; tact and common sense to a
degree that gives him an enviable promi-
nence. He has the qualities of a leader
and a safe one at that; but with the highest
respect for him and confidence in his judg-
ment, we cannot in this particular case
he may be correct in his opinion that the
adoption of Secretary Cages plan for the
departments generally would be first step
toward a civil pension list, it does not fol-
low that that might not be very just ana
proper conclusion of the whole matter.
We are as opposed as any one can be to
the turning over of the service of the gov
eminent to indiscrminate charitable pur-
poses. The whole pension business needs
revision If the present rank swindling
which pervades it could be weeded out and
only the deserving cases provided for it
would be a gratifying surprise to the coun-
try to see the reduction that would follow.
1t would be so considerable as to provide
for a carefully regulated civil pension list
and still leave us better off than we are
to-day.
Like all proposed new departures the idea
challenges more or less violent opposition.
But such a step would not only be an act
of justice. but we believe would improve
the material of our civil service The per-
sonnet of that service is now made up of
two classes. those who come and go with
different administrations and are appointed
because of political or other prominence. and
those who make service in the departments
life business. The salaries paid clerks in
government positions are not large, at
least as a rule. They leave little or no sur
plus after the demands of decent liveli-
hood are met. and men have spent twenty,
thirty, forty years or more, doing the work
for which these salaries are paid, and have
nothing but gray hairs and failing powers
to show for them.
out in this service are entitled to something
better than to be thrust out penniless upon
a cold world as soon as they cease to be
useful. When they have spent the best por
ton of their lives doing a certain thing and
reach declining years, they cannot adapt
still retain a reasonable amount of health
and strength. That they have been reason
ably faithful if their service covers a long
term of years. is fairly certain. else the
sitting of changing administrations would
have taken their places for fresh favorites.
OF course a pension list of that character
shond he most carefully conditioned It
should be based on service covering MANY
wears. Such an ARRANGEMENT would be an
inducement to good work and to fidelity and
bone and frequently the brains of our public
service on q little higher level than a gov
eminent mule that is turned out to die when
10 longer able to be q hurden-bearer. In
the civil service of Great Britain and other
leading and enlightened countries we find
advisable here. yet we believe they find
their account in it.