The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
Chief Clerk Peters, of the NaYU Department,
and Others Submit Plans for Pensions
Deducted From Salaries.
PRACTICAL PENSIONS
FAVORED BY WYNNE
First Assistant Postmaster
General Submits ideas
on the Subject.

r. IRsT ASSISTANT POSTMASTER
r. GENERAL ROBERT ]. wYNNE.
4 who for thirty years was a close
and astute observer Of legislation from
the vantage ground of the press gal
Ierfes at the Capitol, and now second in
authority over the vast army of postal
employees. speaks with this dual qualif-
cation and perfect candor upon the
mooted question propounded by The
Times:
Some plan looking toward the end
aimed at by the friends of a service
retirement pension can be devised along
practicable lines. deserving the approval
Of the Administration and the sanction
Of Congress- said General Wynne-
personally. I see no objection to any
and all agitation along this line. pro-
vided, always, that no attempt is made
to foist upon the taxpayers the burden
Of providing the essential funds.
ITO my mind a mutual insurance
plan. under Government supervision, is
perhaps the only practicable solution
The scheme of a Government pension
Tor civilian employees is entirely IN
American, and I am convinced that
measure c.: such a basis would utterly
fail of passing either House Of Con-
gress. No parallel can be instituted be-
tween the cases Of the civilian erhployN.
no matter how faithful or valuable his
service, and the soldier or sailor, de,
Tending his country's honor at the risk
Of his life This should be realized by
friends of retirement, who must mar
shall their efforts along conservative and
practical lines, If they hope for sue
cess. Even the conditions surrounding
the Revenue Marine Service. which ad-
mittedIv involve risk OF life and limb
are not analogous to those prevailing IN
the nou-hazardous branches Of the pub
lie employ. It Is right and proper that
the Government should make provision
for the pensioning Of revenue veterans.
lust as 1t does for the distinctively mill
tary arm The burden Of retirement
pension for the civilian emDloye. how
ever. should. in my judgment, be borne
by themselves. under some equitable
form Of mutUal taxation.
According to General Wynne, the
PostofHee Department has plan OF its
own with regard to superannuated en-
Moves under the existing eMgencies Of
vail until some retirement plan is adopt
ed. This system is IN accord with the
suggestion made in last Sundays
Times. by. Secretary Of State Hay, Of de-
noting the old fellows to less remunera-
tive and exacting, but comfortable
berths. where they may stin find hon
orable service. and be assured against
want. though perhaps in not 50 con-
genial a line Of employment as that in
which they have passed their days OF
active duty.
1T is rarely. indeed" said Mr. Wynne,
that the Postoffice Department dis
penses entirely with the services Of an
old employee, whose record has been
clean and valuable. To illustrate: Here
is a former clerk, now eighty years or
age. unable to perform the arduoUs
tasks allotted TO him, but deserving of
every consideration. What have we done
with him? Thrown him out? No. Has
he become q dependent? No. There he
sits, performing the duties OF Waterman,
and efficiently. This is but
one instance. There are many others.
as you can see by walking through the
This is admittedly make
shift. but until something better offers
the benehCiaries gladly welcome II as a
means Of preserving their indepen-
dence."
v hat the Postoffice Department will
do for the old clerk when too old TO per-
form even the minor duty of a watch
man. Mr.. Wynne did not discuss.
On leaving the Office Of First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne The Times
reporter found the old Waterman. the
fcrme. clerk, pointed out by Mr.
Wynne. preparing to go home. AS he
assisted the old fellow In putting on his
overcOat the man who had seen more
years Of Government service than the
reporter has of life, with dignified
thanks for the courtesy, said: You're
the Times reporter. aren't you? We old
chaps appreciate the action Of The
Times IN airing the question Of retiring
US fellows. 1 see the gist OF opinion is
IN favor Of such a scheme, and ] hope
these public Endorsements viii result in
some legislative action before we get too
old 70 do ANYTHING"