Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-12-06
SUPERANNUATED
TO Be RETIRED
Pension Commissioner Ware
Stirs Up a Tie npest in
Washington.
HAS 500 USELESS CLERKS
"One Hundred Young Men Could Do
Their Work." Says Mr.. Ware
Would Pension Old Men
Promotion of a "RebeI."

Washington, Nov. 2S. Eugene f.
Ware, the pension commissioner, has
raised a subject which has caused
more speculation among Washington
ians tina all the rumors about extra
sessions and tariff revisions and other
legislative possibilities. The pension
commissioner has recommended the
passage Of a law retiring on a civil PEN
sion 500 superannuated clerks in this
department and the employment OF 100
active young men in their places. These
100 young men would do more and bet
ter work, the commissioner from KAN
sas has declared, than the 500.
One-half of Washington is composed
Of superannuated clerks or the friends
and relatives of them. Last winter an
inquiry was made and in the depart
ments under the civil service were
found several oc~tOgenarians. The num-
Der, over 20 is large and over 60 the
names are legion. Commissioners Ware
has called attention to a condition
which was well known, but had been
ignored. The government service IS
rapidly filing with the superannuated.
There is no way to retire them and they
will not resign. The only remedy the
commissioner can see is to put them on
a pension list and employ one-fifth the
number Of younger persons.
Employees Discuss Question.
James A. Garfield, jr., the new civil
service commissioner, discussed the
history and development of the civil
service Monday night, and his audience
was composed of government employees.
He drifted into the recommendation OF
Pension Commissioner Ware and in
vited questions from his audience. No
more of the lecture was delivered. The
meeting would have lasted until day.
light If the chairman had not declared
the discussion ended and refused to let
any further questions be put. The dis
cussion brought out the fact that the
pension commissions has raised a
tempest in a teapot by promoting an
sX-Confederate soldier.
Ii referring to Mr.. Wares attitude
the civil service commissioner said:
There is incentive for every man to
10 his best. Commissioners Ware is en-
deavoring to bring this condition about
in the pension office. He is not only
promoting deserving clerks, but he Is
reducing incompetent ones. This law
is working both ways. Mr.. Ware told
me that he had promoted an eX-con-
federate soldier for merit. The men in
The Office complained that a "reb"
should not have received the distinc-
ton and Mr.. Ware summoned his as
sistants. He wanted TO know about 1t,
and told them he was being deluged
with complaints. He didn't know the
Jerk was an eX-confederate when he
promoted him.
The Most Efficient Clerk.
You told us to send you the name
Of the most efficient clerk said an
assistant, and he is the best n there
S in the Office
Hes the man / want said Com
missioner Ware, and later he sent for
he fortunate employee and told him he
admired him for being on the confed-
rate side Of the conflict more than he
lid a mar who stayed at home and
fought on neither side"
Mr.. Garfield thought the question of
superannuated clerks was one to be
carefully considered. He thought the
plan Of Commissioner Ware was too
broad and sweeping.