New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17
CIVIL PENSIONS.

The scheme 10 pension the civil employees OF
this city which went through the legislature
should certainly be vetoed by the Mayor, who
now has the Remsen bill in his hands 1t is a
subject to which all Civil Service refOrmers
should be awake for it is one of the chief dan
gers Of the merit system and assured official
tenures If the American people ever come to
feel that settled Civil Service means a con-
solidated official body which is able TO fasten
itself upon the treasury for life, we shall see a
return 10 rotation in office and the spoils sys-
TEN. The attempts of organizations Of civil en-
ployes TO hold up lawmakers and dictate their
own conditions of labor and TO demand pensions
at public expense are disqUieting. We may
Vet be driven TO the necessity of dscouraging
politicai activity among civil servants as we do
with military and naval men.
The civil employe, especially Of this city, is
not unfavorably situated in comparison with
the private worker Of similar ability. Few
public employees. except in the highest grades.
could earn in private business anywhere near
as much as they receive Clerks and stenog-
raphers have easy hours and large pay com
pared with their fellows outside. If they are
reasonably frugal they can save up for
rainy day" as well as others. Unless we are
going into a grand scheme OF old age pensions
for everybody. there is not the slightest reason
for pensions OF civil servants at public expense.
Whatever merit may attach 10 voluntary asso-
Citations Of public or private employees for In
surance at their own cost there is no merit In
the Remsen bill il is utterly unscientifc and
lacking in the safeguards necessary to a sound
system Of pensions even with the aid Of pub
lie contributions. The system claims to be self
supporting. with only incidental aid from the
city. but the assessments provided Tor are ut
rerly inadequate, and the cost would fan mainly
upon the city. The plan is devised in utter
disregard of actual principles, and is also so
made that the younger employees, If they could
be induced TO join in the scheme, would stand
little chance to get out what they put in.
The bill authorizes the compulsory retire
ment by his superiors Of any participant in the
fund who has served ten years. and allows
any participant TO retire after twenty five years.
The first provision would enable an official to
make places freely at public expense by re-
moving subOrdinates. As the second provision
applies TO men already in the service the chance
for abuse is tremendous. Pensions are TO be
based on the salary at the time OF retirement.
not on the average salary. One can be secured
If Is per cent Of the employees annual salary
has been contributed 10 the retirement fund,
and this may be contributed in a lump sum.
If this bill becomes a law there IS absolutely
nothing to prevent any present employe who
has served an aggregate Of twenty-five years
il need not be continuously-an never received
over $1,000 year from being put into $1,000
place paying down $3.50 in lump sum, and
drawing pension of $500 a year for the rest
Of his life.
No further exposure Of bill which permits
such absolute robbery Of the taxpayers should
be needed The Mayor is a Democrat, profess
ing Jeffersonian principles of equality and sim
plicity Of government. 1t is not to be believed
for moment that he will consent to the build
ing ND Of such system Of government largess
especially when if is so loosely and faulty de-
viSed