The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-20
VIEW OF THE PROBLEM
FROM ALL STANDDOINTS
United STATES Civil Service Association
Makes an Exhaustive Investigation
Into the Retirement Question.

w WITHOUT exception the most
NM exhaustive study OF the civil
Y V pension question made re-
Gently is that the United States Civil
Service Retirement Association compile
ted a few days ago. This association
has been working to obtain some SORT
Of pensions for civil service employees
long time. and in this campaign the
executive committee and officers nave
collected a mass of figures, facts and
opinions of great value. This data is
given practically in full in The Times.
While it is supposed to be impartial it
supports unconsciously the pension
proposition The association, after de-
scribing its organization and purposes
says:
The reason that led to the organiza-
ton OF this association was the fact
that numerous bills had been brought
before Congress as a remedy for the
evil OF superannuation. known TO exist
in the civil service. through the creation
of a fund for the retirement of the aged
and incapacitated servants of the Gov
eminent by means of deductions 70 be
made from salaries.
s@Fhe main idea OF these bills was ac-
ceptabIe 20 a large majority, but 1t was
once seen that nearly all were lacking
IN some essential feature. and, more
than all, that they were undigested af-
fairs and open TO the suspicion that
they would not work out as a financia;
proposition on the premises set forth.
ITO obtain facts and figures and work
out the problem in a business way was
the object Of the association. and to
that end it has devoted a great amount
OF time and labor. 1t inspired the Sen
Faf, al for -fafr
gtatistics as 70 age, salaries, and length
OF service OF classified employees in
Washington.
'~Yher copies C these tabuIated
statements were obtained from the de-
partments and bureaus, It was found
that the Senate resolution had been in
terpreted IN various ways. and the fig
ures were not in shape to be used in
the calculations which the executive
committee desired to have made. 1t
was at once determined to obtain the
figures in another way.
cards were printed at the expense Of |
the association. and through the cour- |
tesy Of the heads Of departments they /
were placed in the hands Of the classi- /
fed employees. in a short time 15.Si6 /
cards were IN the possession OF the /
committee OF the labor and time re- /
CURED to assert them and tabulate the /
data given thereon IT IS not necessary 4
to speak
THE exhibits presented in The Times
give some idea Of the task. The prob
lem. as il Is viewed by US. IS not one
merely as TO whether employees grow old
IN the service as they do elsewhere and
become in a measure less efficient after
reaching advanced age. but what con-
sideration is due them after reaching
Il. - D
have devoted their lives TO the service
and have relinquished all other oppor-
tunities.
I'VE therefore believe that the two
interests, namely, that Of the Govern
ment and that OF the employe. should
be considered together and not separ-
ately. and that no plan TO relieve the
service OF superannuated employees
should have consideration which does
not equitably provide for the future of
the crnpIoye. We believe that the ser
vice which he gives the Government is
OF an efficient character and that his
fidelity and ability are al least as stanch
and high as those shown by employees
III the great enterprises Of the bust
ness world.
IF. therefore. the Government may
Ind an advantage In dispensing with
his services when he reaches an ad- !
yanced age. he is entitled 20 as much
as is given by such great
business corporations TO their superan- [
luated faithful employees. g
The principle Of providing an equit-
lble and humanitarian plan of retire z
nent has been adopted by large NUM- !
,er OF the great business corporations q
4 the country. and is yearly growing ia =
dEoI. We believe that the Government k
Mould not be slower than they 10 q
ecognize this. :