The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-20

AS to the extent to which superan-
nuation affects the efficiency of the ser
vice, We do not believe that it is greater
/ than that to be found in business in
situations where continued employment
Is desirable. Upon the other hand. we
/ believe that the efficiency and value Of
the clerks services greatly Increase
with length Of So vice, and that this ad-
vantage to the Government more than
| OFFSETS the disadvantage which results
from old age
we therefore believe that the only
Just and equitable method of dealing
with approximation in the service Is by
providing system of retirement which
shall recognize and give due considera-
ton to. long and faithful service and to
the humanitarian clements involved.
Prior TO the work which has been
zone by the executive committee of this
association there had been various
measures suggested to Congress for the
retirement Of employees upon annuities
! equal TO a part of their salaries. which
were TO be paid from a fund to be pro-
Vided by assessments upon all salaries
Of those who might become beneficiaries
, Inc rate Of assessment usually provided
for was per cent.
The question whether such a rate of
assessment would be sufficient to sus-
tain plan which would furnish the de-
sired features had never been deter
mined. and remained undetermined nm
I'll competent actuaries employed bv
this association determined from the
data collected and submitted by US that
such rate was much too low
Ihere nave been suggestions that
such evil as may exist from superannua
ton In the service might be met by
providing for appointment to service for
fixed period of years, thus allow
ing the dropping Of the superannuated
through refusal to reappoint. we de-
sire 70 suggest reasons why such a plan
would not solve the problem with en-
tire Justice TO the employee and would
further be disastrous to the best in
terests of the public service.
The efficacy Of such a plan would lie
In the fact that, If strictly enforced. the
superannuated would not be reappointed
TO new term Of service Therefore II
the faithful employee remained long in
the service and gave his life's best EFFORT
20 it, securing reappOintment until ne
should be nearing advanced age. he
would reach the point ultimately where
he would fail Of reappointment because
of such age. This would be exactly
equivalent TO dismissal from the serv-
ice without consideration for his past
and efficiency
THE fact that II would be accom- /
pHshed through this instrumentality 1
rather than direct order OF dismissal
would not change the nature of the act /
AS TO the effect Of such a plan Of !
employment upon the service, we sug-
gest that II would necessarily be de
moralizing- The necessity for repeated /
would apply to all. |
whether superannuated or not. There is
no incentive to faithful and undivided /
allegiance to the subject OF the en-
ployment so strong as the knowledge
)r the certainty Of the employment dur
ng good behavior and efficient service;
Z this certainty is diminished those ele-
nents which make the employee most
valuable are in like degree diminished.
The knowledge that an appointment
10 service was for a few years only
WITH possibility Of reappointment from
-lIne 70 time would, as a rule, attract
Dniy those whose purposes were transit
.oIy ana whose object was to make a
convenience merely Of the pubIfc sarv-
ce, and incline those in the service vs-bo
we're proyident and ambitious and inde-
pendent IN disposition to ever keen ia
lew me opportunities offered outside
ne service ana 10 separate themselves
rom II at - first favorable opportn-
MY; consequently, the public service :
would lose by = fan In the general aver
.ge Of ability IN its employees and Nv
he loss Of its best servants -
Neither Is a rotation which would {
nus result beneficial There are no ,
reater or more important Interests tIarI
hose handled by the Government THE /
etails OF all these interests and tbefr / {
are are handled by the employees. Tbis {
york is not mere routine which NAV ho
one as wei by one as another. II Of
en- requires good judgment, fair skill J
nowledge. Therefore. length of $500 - /
dds greatly to the efficiency and gem :
raj value Of the employee :