The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-21
CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM LEAGUE
Old-Age Pensions Discussed in
Special Report OF Com
mittee.
FEW OLD MEN IN SERVICE
Governments Loss Annually IS
Only ST ,2Oo,ooo-Recommends
Salaries Be Reduced at 65.

WASHINGTON. December 20-The re-
port OF the special commissioner Of the
National civil Service Reform League
Vas made public to-day. II says in part.
There is 81 persistent agitation 10 pro-
vide old-age pensions or retiring allow
ances for the superannuated among the
clfl. employees II the United States. This
Der OF old employees is large. that they
render but small return Tor their sala-
ries That the number OF them IS
increasing, and that H. assumed
growth In number is. somehow due
70 the Introduction of The merit
system. Before discussing the rner~s of
any Of the various remedies so strongly
urged By their advocates let as examine
INTO the alleged facts. To what extent
2oes o!a az exist 10 the public service?
is II lncf easingE How Ear are the civil
service rules responsible for such old age
as there may be? What loss IS caused
10 the government thereby and what eff
feet has the actual operation OF the civil
service law and rules on the increase or
decrease IN the number OF superannuated
IT, government employ
The question is then discussed at length.
ana the following conclusions are drawn.
Conclusions.
~ The retention q employees in the civil
service Of tAe United States is no longer tnan
IL Che service OF the great railroads.
90 only - per cent ~ the employees IN the
executive CIVIL service throughout the country
arr over seventy years Of AK.
CD Tbs number ct these Is not Increasing
a. The tendency OK the civil service law ana
ru.es is o. decrease The number OF old en-
pioyes.
60 The separations are enough TO change
the whole service. on average once In
twelve and one-haf years. BY FAR the ereater
part OF the designations are among The COM
j. 'iuFe appoiniees seeking better places out
80 only sI per cent. o. employees now in the
service who are over sixtv-fve v.ars ~ are
entered through competition bv .xarnfnatfor
90 Those over seventy do three fourths Of
the maximum quantity Of work performed BY
a GFlrIuWH
te) The governments loss from inenlciency
81 JUS Employs no" over sixty year, Of
age. expressed IN salary, equals only g. Co.,.
80 4 civil pension list. on the English basis.
W~uii cost sls0ooe a year for the classified
lo) civil pension systems have been sources
Of great abuse elseV here. and do not receive
popular support In the United States
tAp Ola age provisions. based on funds
dangerous All those yet proposed are quite
sure - be inadequate IN the end and II the
doubtless fl viii be compelled 10 make up the
denc't. ana VIII thus repeat the history Of The
English civil pension list.
G9 Any pension system tends TO make Office
a PPToper'y right o. ne incumbent.
the two following dilemmas
ta) Either il applies only 70 those entering
the service hereafter, or 20 the present force
as We'll IT the former plan is adopted the
government has no advantage over q mutual
lnsulanoe oonPany II me latter, then the
younger men OF the civil service are unjustly
burdened for the benefit Of the older
90 Either u involves a refund upon death
resignation or removal from the service or
Il does not. If the refund IS made the money
required IS obviously more than could be raised
by any reasonable assessment II none is
made. an injustice is done 20 the families who
nay die before the age Of retirement.
90 Thus all Of the workable Assessment
plans involve either a simple system. which
could as well be carried out by a mutual com
pany- OF considerable injustice in their execu-
ton. an Injustice which is sure 70 lead 10 de-
mands upon Congress 10 subsidize the fund
We, therefore. recommend that II any en-
forced provision for superan nuati0n be deemed
advisable, 10 take the Australian form of de-
ferred annuity policy. which candidates Tor
office shall De required 70 take out IN some
company before final appointment AS this
would not apply to those who are at present
In the service, we recommend that record
be kept Of the amount OF work done by EN-
plOyes over sixty-dve years Of age and that
their salary be reduced in proportion to the
amount by which their work falls short Of that
Of thoroughly efficient employe. This would
be at once fair 20 the government and humane
to the Office-hOlders.