New-York tribune., 1905-02-12

that he is In Office. He leaves the axe TO be
welded by his successor. In discharging a man
the head of a department arouses only enni-
ties Few If any viii thank him for such
ton. Consequently the old men stay on and on
to the continued detriment Of tho service. But
II there was system by which the superan-
nuated ernploye might leave the city's employ
ment and still draw half pay. as is proposed
in the bill at Albany, the chief would not hesi-
tate about calling up man and saying:
You've worked long and faithfully IN tho
service. but, as you know you can't do the
work you used to do it's your duty to step
out and make way for a younger man. You've
got your pension to fall back on. and it viii
take care Of you.'
i don't think that a pension system for all
our civil servants would cost the city any mora
than the way the superannuates are now paid
Il these Old men could be retired they would
ONly draw part pay. At the present time they
get 1uH pay. They would also make way for
s Souns men, Who would work for much smaller
TS' waseS' ana ana nave the energy and ambition which
- O+'u Ia@'ure prompt and efficient service. I
ud!c say that the salary OF the Old man after
retirement, plus the salary of the Young nan
th .Iae would succeed him. would be little more
.ileII tle Iull salary OF the veteran before re-
uFeInent. Consequently. at much the same
Cost, with q pension system. the city would have
an incompetent dOtard.
10 safeguard the city further against being
puruehed by pensiOning its sUperannuates. the
pIdH mas been evolved Of making the retirernent
AuiIu as nearly self supporting as possible I
understand that II the employees who desired to
90 pehsloned IN their old age gay a certain
amount or their salaries into z common fund
month by month the city VIII have to meet a
very small deficit
Some have said there is a danger that
employees VIII retire on pensions 10 take up
"ork OUTSIDE. / do not think so. The clerical
enpIoye OF the city does not obtain training
Whleh hts INN for employment in private life
he mas dead routine OF duties, which usually
taxes all the spirit out OF him. he is likely to
become hack. He travels only q narrow path
he cannot be classed with the head of a de-
partment. who has a wide view Of men and az
ralrs. who makes friendships III high circles
and who is thus well fitted to accept afterwari
a position in some large Industrial enterprise.
1t Is true that policemen often retire after
serving the requisite number of years and OBJ
tain work outside which brings them in two sal
aries. But this is because OF . peculiar educa-
ton Which the policeman obtains that prepares
him for certain kinds Of employment The DO
Hceman is more likely to be strOnS OF body and
vigorous of health at the age Of retirement be-
cause he has passed most OF his life out OF
doors. He has established a wide acquaintance
with the members OF the criminal world and
accordingly he makes an excellent dOOrkeeper
for bank. Some also become private detec-
tives and patrOlmen- But the clerk who has
worked TO pensiCning age for the city viii
have TO look far for employment that viii rec
ompense the curtailmeut in his salary which re-
tirement would make necessary. He would
rather stay where he is as long as he can