Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-25
Public Service and self-Reliance.

The speaker contended that public service
is not calculated to develop self-reliance,
and the day never arrives In the lives of
most clerks when they voluntarily reln-
quish government position for one less
remunerative.
Under the plans I have suggested" said
Secretary Shaw Il disposed to think
business men would look to this perpetual
graduating class as a desirable body from
which TO make selections for positions of
responsibility and trust. One dangerous
tendency in the present service Is to look
upon ones position as a vested right ter
mfnable only at death. The logic of such
a view tends to anything but thrift If
clerk knew he was going to drop on the
sidewalk at the expiration of six years he
would plan accordingly and save something
from his salary. Some clerks, under exist
ing conditions, do live within their means
and accumulate a competency. | have the
voluntary statement of the financial con-
dtion of 900 clerks in the Treasury De-
partment, exclusive of skilled and tnskilled
laborers and presidential appointees"
The Secretary said Of this number 1850
report an average accumulation of $1,000
each. $50 report an average indebtedness of
$1,000. and 1890 report neither accumulation
nor bebt. The average clerk in Washington
buys on credit and exhausts his semi
monthly salary IN liquidation of accounts
contracted at ruinously high prices l can
not better illustrate the low standard of
domestic credit in Washington than TO cite
the admitted fact that there are organiza-
lions in the city which receive 10 per cent
discount on sales made to any one holding
the organizations order. To make this
clearer. | found upon investigation that I
can buy orders from these organizations
acceptable at the best stores In the city as
the equivalent of cash. and the organiza-
ton gets 10 per cent discount.
He opposed the proposed withholding of
a portion of the stipulated compensation of
clerks from which to pay an annuity or
a gross sum at the time of retirement, and
objected to the government becoming the
guardian of its great family of clerks
In conclusion Secretary Shaw said In the
hope of stimulating frugality he had rec
ment savings bank. Nothing is likely to
come OF II unless you people ask it." he
said. AN annual deposit of 500 year
kept at interest at per cent between the
ages of twenty-one and sixty-one win yield
| $500. This Is competency IN many To-
calities. and actual wealth in some"
The Seeretary's address was frequently
interrupted by hearty applause.
Representative Reeder Present.
Seated on the platform with Secretary
| Shaw were Representative William A.
Reeder of Kansas, who has on six occa-
sions introduced the retirement bill on the
| hoor of Congress-; Miss E. M. Jacobs Sec
| rotary of the association, and a number of
| bureau officials.
| All the members of the cabinet were in
| vited TO attend, but with the exception OF
Mr.. Shaw uone was present. When Mr.
Siaw was introduced and had heard that
the other members OF the cabinet had been
| invited to hear his address he caused con-
| siderable laughter when he turned to the
persons on the stage and said, sntiingiy:
They have all done as would have done
| IL any Of them were gotng to speak
A feature of the evening Wxs musical