New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-16
GOOD PURPOSE. AND BAD PRINCIPLE


The reasons which led Mayor Mcclellan 10
sign the bill allowing retirement pensions IN the
Finance Department appealed to the popular
sympathy and sense of justice. whatever OBJ
iections there may have been to the bill on gen.
eral grounds. 1t was conceded by everybody
that a man who had served the city fa1tnrully
for thirty-fve years, had been valuable DOCK
keener in the Chamberlains office and gone
blind in the performance of that duty was en-
titled to some consideration. SO when II APP
peared that the bill was intended solely to bene-
fit this man all opposition to it was withdrawn.
That fact however should not make US ror-
get the faults Of this bill and the need of being
on guard against future dangers should the
Governor take thesame view as the mayor, that
the personal claim of the blind man outwelgheQ
the question of principle The measure is gen
eraI in form for the whole Finance Department
Besides the intended beneficiary, there are at
present four persons employed there, according
TO "The City Record who have served thirty
five years and by this bill could be pensloned on
the certificate Of the Controller or Chamberlain
that they were "incapacitated," a most elastic
term. There are six employees who have served
between thirty and thrty-fFe years, including
one Of the principal hackers of this and the Yale
bill TO pension city employees in general, who
will have completed his thirty-fTe years in Oc-
tober and be able to share in the largess. Then
there are fourteen persons WHO have served over
twenty-five years TO come along in turn within
the scope Of the measure.
We refer to these facts not at all for the sake
of obstructing benevolence to the blind man, but
to suggest that after the bill has served its prl
mary purpose if it becomes law the Finance
Department and the Board of Estimate should
adopt distinct policy of refusing to grant other
pensions undep it, and should take steps to have
It repealed at the next session. Otherwise we
shall have the statute book a general law
under which it is clear that an increasing list
Of pensioners viii be supported Once begin
this and there is no end. Twenty-Five pensioners,
in the Finance Department will be a reason for
pensions for every other department. The
whole matter of Civil Service pensions will thus
be predetermined The blind veteran of the
Chamberlain's office might better have been
cared for by a local ill. Since relief for him
has taken this general form, those responsible
should see that no general harm is done If the
Governor signs the bill, it should be possible
for the Board Of Estimate TO act at once and
have the pension granted in time for the law to
he repealed at the expected special session. If
The advocates of abe measure in good faith
meant merely to Provide for this one man they
can have no possible objection to the repeal
and If everybody concerned asked that it be one
or the topics for the special session il might
= DE expected that the Governor would incude #
III his call and that It would go through as a
matter OF course. If behind this particular he
neVolence there is lurking idea Of other pen
sions on account Of which repeal wouM be on
posed, It would be well for the general rubIio
10 ESloW 1t and be aroused to safeguard tbe
treasury.