Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-02-08
Proposed Retirement of Clerks.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
It may be of interest to many of your
readers to make the following suggestions
in regard to the proposition to retire clerks
in the departments.
The several propositions have heretofore
been based on an assessment of from two
to five per cent on the salaries and a re-
tirement on pay equal to one-hal1 OF
three fourths of pay computed in various
WAYS The principle seems misleading II
not unjust. while plan of retirement based
upon deduction of not more than TWO uoi-
lars per month from each individual in the
classified service, and an equal amount OF
retirement pay to each person retired
would overcome the serious objections
which might properly be raised against the
other plans.
1t is not known yet what plan will be
put forward by the very efficient commit
tee having the matter now in hand, and
this is not int ended in any way to hamper
them but it may be we'll for all interested
and every one is or should be interested in
the matter-to study the question, and when
he or she may decide what would be the
best plan in her or his judgment, to impress
1t upon others, and thus full expression of
opinion will result, and probably valua Bile
suggestions be made, so that many mis-
takes would be avoided.
1t will require a calm and dispassionate
review and discussion at the best. and it
is hoped that the committee will look upon
all plans carefully and at last decide upon
something just and equitable to all: some
thing that will cause least friction both In
its workings and in the hearts and minds
of those who pay and those who receive.
If all pay alike regardless of worldly goods,
as in assurances and annuities, and all like
wise receive the same blessing and ad-
vantages, then there can be no complaint.
1t Is even more equitable and just, by COM
parison, than taxes, for revenue Is raised
on property which often results In few
men paying all the money required for pub
lie necessities, though they Will not and do
not receive greater benefits than any like
number of their poorer neighbors.
1t is a question, also, whether it would be
best to retire men on a retired pay which
the assessments on the salaries Of those in
could only be paid by drawing on amounts
raised by assessments of those in the lower
salaried positions on account of the greater
number in those positions, notwithstanding
the fact that the rate Of assessment would
be the same in each case and that individ-
ually the high-salaried person would pay
the most money.
The plan proposed does away with that
difficulty. 1t also does away with any OPP
portunities for manipulations as the end of
clerks service approaches.
There are many other features that
should recommend the plan proposed. but
1t may be they will suggest themselves,
and In any event they could not be brought
in a communication of this kind. The re-
tanned pay, it will be observed, will not I'm
any case exceed twenty-four dollars per
year: and 1t is not improbable that less
amount might be required
AS there are upward OF 10oO00 In the cias-
sified service the amount received can easily
be computed: the number to be retired IL
of course problesnatical at this date,
though the committee mentioned may soon
be able to make close estimate of the
number. A.