New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-04
AN ~OLD AGE" PENSION FOR YOUNG MEN.

AN "OLD AGE PENSION FOR YOUNG MEN.
The defenders of the Yale bill to pension civil
employees OF the city in effect apologize for it be-
cause 1t is ''such a little one" They explain
that it will apply TO only about six thousand per-
sons and claim that II merely gives the sanction
Of law to an agreement on the part of employees
TO provide for the retirement of their fellow
workers who become incapacitated. They ex-
plain that the city's contribution, as provided by
the BILL is only $4,000 a year, which really
ought not to trouble anybody. seeing that 81 OO0,
600 a year goes TO pensions for policemen, fire.
men and teachers. They fail, however. to point
out some Of the facts which make their analOgies
inappropriate and their arguments invalid.
The policemen and lremen, while in general
we'll paid, perform public service at consider
able personal risk and endure many hardships.
Teachers are VIGOROUSLY underpald in proper
ton TO the character of their preparation and
the quality of their work. All three classes un-
fit themselves 10 a great extent for private en-
plOyment by public service. and once we'll In
the harness have little alternative but cOntinu-
ance until incapacitated. The ordinary govern
ment clerk on the other hand, follows about the
same routine as IL in private employment, ex-
cept that he is better paid and does not work so
hard. His is the typical berth Of the seeker for
"a government job" There is no more reason
why such a man should have pension than why
every employe in a counting house should have
one. There may be only six thousand knocking
al the door to-day, but they are only the enter
ing wedge foT a gigantic system OF civil pen
sions which would tend TO make public Office
property right and put the government in the
hands Of a PrRtorian Guard Of civil servants
quite as dangerous 10 popular liberty as a mill
tary force, and as eYilly influential upon poll
tics through compact organization as the body
Of spOilsmen which by their permanenee Of ten
ure il was sought 70 dIsplace.
But even conceding the propriety OF pensions
for these employees. the Yale bill does not meet
the requirements OF a sound pension measure
II does not wisely provide a fund for those an
capacitated after long service. II is so drawn
as 10 put premium on the retirement of COM
parAtlvely young and vigorous men. as we have
hitherto specifically demonstrated. Men Of
fOrty-hve. in perfect health. on the payment Of
a lump sum OF less than half a single years
annuity. could retire on half pay. and without
half eXerting themselves in private employment
have at their disposal an Income larger than
they now enjoy. The bill is one to give an 'old
/ age" pension 10 young men. as one of its critics
has we'll said. II violates every sound actuarial
principle. and If the trainers believed that $50
O0O year from the city would be enough for
the fund they were wofully deluded The po-
lice fund. which Is much better safeguarded
against depletion. even though the annual con-
iribution Of the benefcaries IS slightly smaller
calls for rapidly growing public contribution. A
serious defect in this scheme Is the opportunity
Il offers for bankIupting the fund before II Is
fairly established Then the city, in spite Of the