davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
OPPOSED TO EVERY
FORM OF PATERNALISM
Observation-Disclosures Dis
cusses One Phase Of
Civil Pensions.
are two great dangers

Ut HERE are two great dangers
to De avoided in the establish
4 ment Of any system for the
retirement Of civil service employees said
Representative Allen L. McDernott, Of
the Seventh New Jersey district. "One
is that no matter If your initial plan be
the providing Of the pension fund by
means Of a tax on the employees. such
viii prove the opening wedge for an
out-and-out pension; the other is that IL
will result in an additional separation
OF the people into classes.
1.-THE tendency OF our Government
is to a paternal form, wherein every
body in the State Is pensioned. pre-
sumo this condition Of affairs will come
In time, but I am nevertheless opposed
to it do not believe in the classifica-
tions Of the people in any manner, espec-
tally into those who are employees OF
the Government. and those who are not.
I see no reason why those IN private
life should be called upon to support
those who are fortunate enough to Sc
cure Government positions. This class
of employees has shorter hours and bet
ter wages than those outside the Gov
eminent, as Is evinced by the desire to
secure such positions They ought to
be able to make timely provision for
their own care, 50 that, when their eff
cheney was reduced TO MI, they might
be prepared 70 stand the consequences
which come to those in other service
whose period Of usefulness has passed.
What becomes Of the compositor or the
bookkeeper in a private commercial
establishment. who has grown too old
TO be useful? Are Government en-
ployes any more worthy Of being spe-
cially cared for at the expense Of other
classes?
THE retirement on pensions provided
for from the salaries OF the prospective
pensioners Is all right. If 1t can re kept
on that basis. Such would be che plan
1 would advocate, the contributions to
be voluntary on those now in the SER
vice. but compulsory OF all who shall
enter after the passage Of the act.
was instrumental in establishing such
a system among the school teachers of
New Jersey. some six years ago. when
was a member Of the State Legislature
There was much opposition, even among
the teachers, but the system is now in
good orking order ana quite pros.
porous. The trouble is that such a
method. employed in the Government
service would result first and soon In
the addition Of the amount Of such de-
auctions to the salary paid. which would
be the same as a direct tax on the
people. The next step, 10 an out-anG-
out pension. would be a short one. And
this started. where will you stop?
This is a delicate question. and one
not lightly 20 be answered. One should
devote much study to the matter be-
fore taking a definite stand Frankly.
however it Is coming, whether you ana
I approve or not. Any measure which
benefits a considerable class at the ex-
pense o. the General Government is sure
to grow in popularity, especially where
the burden falls not heavily on the in>
dividual. The average voter Is appeal
ed TO by sentiment, and never for a
moment realizes that II Is he who is
footing the bills"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
JUDGE A BELIEVER
In THE PRINCIPLE
r UDGE WILLIAM L. CHAMBERS

JUDGE WILLIAM L. CHAMBERS
Of the Spanish Treaty Claims
- Commission, said:
Yes, ! believe in the principle of civil
service pension. but have not thought
about the matter or investigated the
subject sufficiently TO suggest any def
mite scheme for working out a just sys-
TEN. Whether a fixed annuity for the re-
mainder Of life, after a given number OF
years Of faithful service, should be Civ
en- by the Government as a reward pure
and simple, or an amount graduated
upon the average paid while in the serv-
ice arising from a sinking fund accumu-
lated by percentage reservations out OF
the salaries Of employees from the date
Of entering the service, 1 am unprepared
10 say
But whatever scheme is adopted it
ought to be absolutely free Of the char
ity idea. The pension should be predi-
Gated upon faithful service for a mini
mum number OF years Of employment,
to which the cd servant shall be as
much entitled by right as he was to the
monthly stipend when actually IL &c
harness"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
SHOULD NOT SUFFER
In THEIR OLD AGH
Clerk Young, Of the Supreme
Court Against Cruelty Of
the Present System.
Z 81 R. YoUNe. c1erk a. tns d.

7 Ohm r. YOUNG. Clerk II the "a.
preme Court OF the District:
- Tam heartily In favor OF a services
pension for Government employees. After
spending their lives in the service OF
their country. what are we 20 do with
them? Are they to be turned adrift. In
their old age, and let shift for them
selves? Many OF them have large fam
lies. and on the salaries they receivs,
il is only with the closest economy that
they can live respectfully, much less
putting aside sufficient to support them
in their old age The employees who.
however. expect to be provided for in
their old age, should contribute some
thing. no matter how little. to the fund
from which they would receive support
and comfort IN their old age"
In discussing the subject as a reason
for the stand he has taken, Mr.. Young
referred to the fact that al United
States Federal judges are pensioned
after a certain period Of service or when
they arrive at a certain age. Under
the circumstances. he contends, there IS
no good reason why employees in other
departments Of Government service
should not be pensioned after long
service.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
SECRETARY MOODY
HAS AROUSED HIS IRE.

A MOTHER clerk who has read the
N remarks made by Secretary
L n Moody has the following TO say
concerning the Cabinet officers opposi-
ton TO pensions:
Il may be speaking from the bias OF
my position as a clerk who would like
TO see some arrangement. fair to Gov
eminent and employe, for the retire
menz of the old fellows, who nave
spent their lives in the service, and
whose retirement would give me =
chance for promotion but ] maintain
that Idr. Moody speaks with equal II
not greater bias, and / mention these
facts TO qualify, If may be- his otherwise
wcighty opposition to a measure dear
to the hearts of most of our army OF
10000 employees of the classified ser
vice"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
BIG TREES IN MISSOURI.

Fishing River township. in Clay coun-
ty, has some Of the biggest walnut
trees in the country. One of them is
feet in diameter and another feet 8
inches and 90 feet high to its lowest
limbs. Their owner. Mr.. HOwdOrshall.
refused $500 for these two, declaring he
wanted Clay county to have the two
finest walnut trees in the United States.
Another huge tree on Mr.. HOwdor-
shalls place is a burr oak, which is 81
feet and 8 inches in circumference
Kansas City Journal
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13

k(T ought 70 be done, said Com
missioner OF Patents Frederick
1 I Allen. IT suggest no plan or
method. but some provision undoubtedly
should be made for the retirement OF
superannuated employees.
II speak only for my own bureau I
was incorrectly quoted in a morning
paper which made me say, when before
the committee on reform in the civil
service, that my bureau was free from
superannuated clerks. There were a
number reported during the past year
for inefficiency. and these were only
the most fragrant cases, as the policy
OF this bureau is to condone inefh cheney
and incapacity from old age. and we
try to keep the WORKOUT old fellows at
something they can do.
such dead wood is a necessary re-
suit Of the present system With IN
creasing age comes a gradual diminn-
ton OF force and capacity. The time
comes when the clerk or employe is in
capable of Going his work For the
same reason he IS not able to shift for
himself in other fields, and it is an even
chance whether he has provided sufh-
GENTLY for his declining years. What
is to be done? Is he to be thrown out2
THE question is, has a man who has
spent his life in the service Of the
Government-given all his energies to
Its work-transmuted his faculties. as
Il were, into its scrolls and records
has such a one earned the reward Of
insurance against Want2 His record
must rave been good One does not re7
main in the Government service thirty
CT forty years except upon the worthy
performance of his duty. Before long
lie Will have become incapable of earn
Ing his daily bread. Is there no time
at which he should be treated as hav-
ing used up his faculties in the Govern
nIent service?
For my part, I think he Is just as
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
TABLES IN SUPPORT
OF ASSESSMENT PLAN
Chief Clerk Peters. of the NaVU, Submits
Valuable Suggestions for the Raising
of a Pension Fund.

- r. PETERS, Chief Clerk OF the
X Navy Department. in regard to
l.. the civn pension question. an
swered;
"A good clerk employed in a success
ful private firm IS not liable to be
turned adrift after thirty to forty
years Of faithful service. He is more
likely during such a length Of service
to have pushed himself into the firm
as a partner. and to have enough OF
this worlds good 10 warrant his retire
ment from active business If he so de-
sires.
ION the other hand, every year IN
the Government service, after say three
years, adds to a clerks unfitness FOR
the ordinary pursuits Of life, but he be-
comes valuable to the Government, and
through his large experience saves 1t
thousands Of dollars during his en-
ployment.
Pitiable Conditions.
when his usefulness is impaired by
age he Is under present practice and
conditions turned out 20 spend his few
remaining days unhappily subsisting
upon the charity Of relatives or IN O
public institution, or perhaps compelled
20 labor under conditions which destroy
the last spark of pride, and thereby
suffers social ostracism from 80 per
cent OF all former agreeable acQuaint-
ances. To avoid this a retirement list
IS proposed which would open up the
way 10 promote the younger and more
Rctive-thus improving the efficiency or
the civil service.
ANY legislation looking 20 such a
radical change in the present system
must necessarily be 10 some extent ar
bitrary. at least 10 the extent Of pre-
scribing arbitrary conditions as a pre-
lminary 20 q beginning Such condl-
tlons must conform 10 business princi-
practically the elimination Of sentiment
and the taking into account Of actual
cost 10 the Government
System Suggested.
Salaries should be minisnized sys-
tematically through a series Of years.
The maximum retired pay should not
exceed SO per month Clerks should be
assessed not less than 50 per cent Of
the fund from which it is proposed TO
pay those placed on the retired list by
law The following suggestions present
themselves as a preliminary basis upon
which calculations could be made:
Have All applicants as preliminary
20 civl service examinations agree TO
remain I'm the service for q period OF
five years, subject TO discharge for cause
or inaputude AT any time before that
period by the appointing power.
Rules Applied.
81 Require that any person employed
b. the Government ia the classified ser
vice shah receive not more than $500
per annum until he has reached the age
Of tweuty-one years.
80, Require that all other persons, vet
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
OPPOSED TO PAYMENT
OF THE STATE MONEY
Senator Lodge, However, In Doubt Con-
corning the Value Of the Assess
ment of Salary Plan.

against the salaries Of the prospective
benefciaries is another matter, and IS
largely the affair Of the clerks them
selves. AS to a compulsory assessment
system to provide a pension fund. and
as to whether such a system would
prove an opening wedge for a Govern
ment pension. I do not at present wish
to be quoted"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
Figures for a Scale.

THE examination which is suggested
to be held at the end OF five years would
eliminate from tie service persons not
desirable by reason Of tneficiency FOR
any cause. This examination should be
conducted by a board composed Of per
sons who are not in any way connected
with the marking of the regular ell
cheney records OF the persons examined.
Arbitrarily fix the pay OF the retired
list as follows: When average salary for
last five wears is
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
Have the Advantage.

BY their general intelligence and
knowledge they are capable OF passing
a credftable civil service examination.
but the mere fact that they have not
been trained 70 clerical duty places
them at a disadvantage With those
clerks who commence their careers
boys and young men-witE the specific
purpose Of devoting their future 70
clerical and kindred work in the Gov
eminent service. BY methods similar
to those outlined above the Govern
nent receives the benefit Of competent
service in the lower grade clerkShlps
and at the same time is training ana
fitting boys and young men for nlghef
ryrsd- clerks hips-a condition which IS
desirable under an ideal civil service
system
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
MoNIENrARx interview was had

A MONETARY interview was had
n with Senator Lodge Of AIassa-
L Il ohusetts as he was hurrying to
his COMMITTEES room in the Capitol.
4 am unalterably opposed to a Gov
eminent pension for civilian employees.
Of the CLASSIFIED or other service" said
Senator Lodge "a pension system de-
pendent on voluntary assessments
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13

vice. and the general plan or system 10
~ enforced. require expert calculation
an insurance aCtuary."
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13

1.-THE age for retirements. voluntary or
otherwise. the percentage 10 be contrib
Uted by each person in the classified ser
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
Experience Necessary.

BY adopting a method similar to this
the departmental service would have.
when appOintees shall have arrived at
the ages between twenty-five and thir-
t. years. a force OF clerks who have ac-
Quired by experience ability to execute
their work with facility in a satisfac-
tory manner. Under the present sys-
TEN a large percentage Of persons pass
the civil service examinations whose
experience has been IN the line Of cleri-
cal work of an entirely different charac-
ter than that required for the Govern
ment service. That is 10 say. their ex-
perience during the years when they
are active. energetic, and impression
able, and with facility to acquire the
essentials upon which success IN their
chosen profession must be based, are
spent by them as clerks in grocery,
hardware, and dry goods stores, or per
haps as schoolteachers or IN one OF the
learned professions.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13

Grams excepted. appointed IN the classi-
fed service shall be when appointed be-
tween the ages Of twenty-one and TWEEN
ty-hve, and shall not receive more than
$500 per anum for the first year and for
i've years after appointment they shall
not receive an increase of pay Of more
than 500 per annum, at the end OF which
period they shall be required to pass an
examination t0 determine whether their
capabilities. their character. their habits
Of industry, etc. are, such as 10 war
rant their being retained in the classified
service OF the Government
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
System Suggested.
Rules Applied.

81 Require that any person employed
b. the Government Ia the classified ser
vice shall receive not more than $500
per annum until he has reached the age
Of tweuty-one years.
80 Require that all other persons, vet
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
GOVERNMENT ACTION
REALLY NECESSARY
Commissioned Patents Allen Expresses
Such an Opinion in Strong Language
and Suggests a Remedy.

KIT ought to be DONE" said Com
missioner Of Patents Frederick
I Allen. Il suggest no plan or
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13

- T. PETERS, Chief Clerk OF the
X Navy Department in regard to
L. the civil pension question. an
The Washington times., 1904-01-24

Stormington Barncs-I suppose you
have plenty OF billing and cooling to do
in your new play.
Miss Futelites- Yes; plenty Of cooling:
the advance agent attends to the bill-
Ing.
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
BRIGHT MAN.

There wouldn't be 80 many amateur
hunters lost in the woods" said Jenkins.
II they'd only carry pocket compasses."
Why asked Dumley; what good is
compass?''
You can't get lost when you have
one. The needle always points to the
north, and"
But suppose you want TO get to the
east, south, or westT'-Philadelph
Ledger
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
SPoILING THE THRILL.

Suppose women had suffrage"
"Wen?"
suppose they were on an equality
with man so far as the Offices are con-
cerned."
''Weu?"
Suppose in the mi Idle of a thrilling
debate the Speaker of the House had to
stop the proceedings to hunt for her
smelling salts"
"Wen2"
That's aII."-Chicago Post.
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
THE HUMANE COURSE.

The eminent surgeon who had oficiat-
cd IN the ear-grafting case was ex-
pialning the process to an inquiring
friend
VI course he said. II had TO re-
move the ear with a knife 7 Could y a,Jo
found plenty CT men who would Rladiv
nave talked his ear of, but the method
used involved less suffering. ."-Chf-
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
/. MARVELLOUS MEMORY.

Uncle Gabriel, how old are you"
'Ize way ovah hund'd. boss. l MEM
bah when Thomas Jeff'son wuz 'nop-
gerated. He tied his boss to a hitchiD'
post. an den went an hel' up his ham
an WIZ swo' in"
But they say nova days uncle. that
he didn't ride horse that day He went
TO his inauguration IN a carriage"
Yes, boss, l seed i'm do dat too."-
Chicago Tribune
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
THAT BAD BOY.

You appear to have quite a bad cold.
Mr- sunjay," said the hostess sympa-
thetically.
Yes replied the guest. ITS settled
IN my chest and It's exceedingly tight"
%. yes, pa was tellin' US about IT"
broke in the hostess little boy He
Ssld 5S YOU were awful 'tight-chested.' .
Philadelphia Press.
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
LIES TROUBLES.

AT a m. Mrs. Ferguson went to the
loot Of the stairway and called out;
'Georgew
What do you want?'' came the sleepy
response from an upper room.
There's nearly a foot of snow on the
SIDEWALKS, and somebody's got to
For heavens sake, Laura broke in
the angry voice of Mr.. Ferguson, have
you walked me up from blissful dream
OF summer to tell me about dad
dlnged snOwstorm !"-Chicago Tribune.
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
DR.. TO THE DIR.

Her illness was severe, indeed.
,Ihough now she is much better;
To him she still is DR..
His biil-it simply was immense.
The size Of il quite shocked her.
she vows she will not pay II, SO
She's Dr. TO the DR..
New York Tiynas
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
RECONCILIATION

Mrs. Caffrey-And how is that pretty
young widow? Is she reconciled to her
loss yet?
Mrs. Malaprop-No, she amt exactly
reconciled yet, but they do say shes
got the man picked out.-Tit- Bits.
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
THE AERoNAuT AUD THE STARS.

Said the aeronaut, In his balloon;
Il shall see all the stars very soon"
He was right, for he dropped.
And he saw when he stopped
Three millions of stars and a moon.
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
A TOAST.

Put down that glass;" cried Mrs.
JawsuIn' catching her husband in the
act OF taking wee nip. IF you drink
that liquor III never speak TO you again
as long as l live"
MY defu," said he. as he guIped n
down. here's long life to you.''-Phila-
delphia S-Pess
The Washington times., 1904-01-24
RIGHT TO REJECT

Augustus hear you've been making
bid for Miss Roxana's hand
Angie-I have.
Did you know that her father re-
served the. right to throw out all bid
ders ?-Yonkers Statesman.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-03-22

One evening in November, many
years ago, a country friend brought a
live cock woodcock- to my house in
Byron, Ill. A spent shot had made
his capture possible; in fact, one could
not see that he was hurt in any way
after sharp, scrutinizing search IN
der powerful light on the kitchen ta-
BILE. All at once the beautiful creature
slipped from my hand, and, assuming
the air, misn and ways of a turkey
gobbler in the mating season. proceed
ed to strut about on the table in the
circle of powerful light 1t was one of
the strangest, widest, most beautiful
sights the writer ever beheld After
solid hours performance the little au-
dience decided that no taxidermical
touch should ever desecrate that beau
tiful feathered form, and the bird was
gently slipped into the pocket of an old
hunting coat, carried mile out of
town into the country and turned loose
in the edge Of hundred acre eorn6eld,
inte which he quickly scuttled.-Fo
est and Stream.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-03-22
CAPTAIN KELLY DINED.
Feresters Honor Him and Present
Him With Portrait.

Police Captain John f.. Kelly, Su-
preme Chief Ranger of the Foresters of
America, was dined last night by one
hundred of the order at Columbia Hall,
Greenyille. He was presented with an
oil portrait of himself, painted by Mrs.
Ronani, the well known artist, who re-
sides at No. % Grace street. Mrs.
Ronani was present at the dinner and
presentation. She painted the portrait
from photograph furnished by Grand
Senior Beadle Brivoscki. The portrait
was draped with the American colors
during the dinner.
The Captain, during his speech of ac-
ceptance, reviewed his recent trip tc
California and told of the increase of
membership of the order and declared he
would double the membership before he
left his present office. Speeches were
also made by Grand Chief Ranger E. R.
Guthrie, James F. O'Mealia and others.
Captain Kelly was also presented with
mammoth cigar by Court yarick.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-03-22

Tncater Audieneen.


A theater audience is fickle ana moi
infrequently cruel, but it must be won.
Augustin DAILY had several ways of
testing it. One was to station men in
his employ at convenient points where
they could hear the comments and
judge whether the play was making an
impression. But test upon which he
depended more was to listen himself
at the moment when tLe curtain
went down upon an act. If he saw
people turning to one another eagerly
and making quick comments he knew
that they were being moved, whether
for praise or blame But if the talk
began slowly after the curtain fell
he was perfectly sure that the play
had excited no interest-a worse fate
than blame.
It is . favorite way of players to
pick out some one person in the audi
ence-one with sympathetic coun-
tenance-an to play to him or her,
and to judge by success from the ex-
preston seen there The trouble is
that the people in the front rows are
often the regulars, who feel little emo
ton and show less, and who may be
still unmoyed when the rest of the
audience is In ecstasy If they could
know the distress and the woe they
cause well, then they would not be
the regulars.--New York Mail.