The Washington herald., 1907-06-16
Necessary Funds Could BE Raised
by Assessment OF 20 Cents Per
Scheme Declared to BE Impracti-
cabIe-How Colony Would Grow.

business man able TO secure the service
OF such assistants would show his appre-
citation by much more lavish reward
than any that the United States govern
ment has yet given. Allowing, for the
moment. that this statement is true,
there are other points 10 be considered.
Government employees are forced By the
nature and responsibility Of their occu-
patton 20 reside within easy distance Of
their work.
Neither Treasury, Post-ofIice, nor any
other department can safely leave its in
terests In the hands Of persons who are
liable to be delayed by food or rail. The
system Of fines shos the Importance at
tached by the chiefs Of departments TO
absolute punctuality. Given this ne
cessity, inquiry proves that. during sew
eral years past, real estate values have
greatly increased. not only IN purchasing
prices. but rentals. Provisions must also
be purchased in local markets Oppor-
tunitIss for raising food products, or TAX
Ing advantage Of lower rates in other To-
calities are alike denied.
Cost of Living High.
Placing the average salary at $500
the clerks. whose compulsory residence in
Washington extends over twelve months
Of the year, must find comfortable she.-
ter. food, and clothing under conditions
onerous enough TO tax all their powers
OF these. dress is not the least important
as they are obliged TO present not only a
neat, but stylish appearance, or be sub
ject 70 criticism.
The statement has been reiterated that
a majority Of the clerks are single. and
therefore need less As far as the men
are concerned. this is not true. and re-
cent canvass showed that Of fOrty-nine un-
married women, but five were al liberty
TO devote their salaries 20 their own use
Aged or infrm parents; sisters unfo-fu-
nately married and with children 10 sup
port. brother unsuccessful or invalid,
were all in evidence as pensioners on the
earnings Of these patient laborers. In
more than one instance. silyeT-haired
graudmothers bent over their daily task
10 provide for the dcsolate orphans Of son
or daughter. and one smiling and cherry
faced aunt pleaded guilty 10 six nieces
and nephews. 20 whose assistance three
fourths OF her income was devoted. leav-
ing but one-quarter for her personal
needs. with nothing accrued by fifteen
years Of labor
While Il IS 70 the credit Of the govern
ment that no aged person is discharged
as long as II IS possible 10 use their fee
bic efforts, il IS nevertheless true that the
service suffers by their retefti0n. and
that better results would be attained by
their retirement and the substitution Of
younger and more vigorous men and
women. An injustice growing out 0f this
state OF affairs is the dividing Of the
work Of these enfeebled ones among the
other clerks IN the same office, thereby
adding TO their daily toll the duty Of one
unable 10 perform it, and yet forced by
necessity TO cling 20 the position.
Hard TO Provide Competence.
Under these circumstance. It Is evident
that a very small minority can live and
lay aside any portion of their salary for
pr0tracted illness. or TO provide for fam
ily in case Of death.
The almost prohlbitory rate OF life as
surance in these days-when funds are
squandered on dollar Offices, or 70
enrich dlrectors-renders any but the
scantiest provision for the latter possi-
bic, and the employe Is confronted not
only with the daily task Of making INSULT
Client means cover absolute essentials, but
the ever-present specter Of illness, inevi-
table old age, and possibly early decease.
No wonder that this army OF toilers car
" the anxious countenance known as
clerks faces" 10 their Offices.
The proposition 10 pension this most in
dispensable and important class has met
so far with the same insolent Indifference
shown to the claim for an increase OF
their dues. It IS pitiful that a body Of so
called legislators, who have increased
their own compensation 30 per cent, voted
millions for army and navy uses, appro-
priated 1880 for the firing Of a single
gun-not In defense OF country or right
but for target practice-cannot secure the
comfort. In age, Of those who have given
health. strength, and life 20 the service
Of their country. Past their usefulness, %
let them hide IN Rlmshouse. or poor farm
or drag out n dependent existence upon
friend or relative.
The proposition to assess the salaries
for the foundation Of a pension fund is
untenable. While there are at hand no
statistics for absolute accuracy, Il is rea-
sonable 20 suppose that 200 clerks OF
those now in Office would be unable 10
make adequate provision for comfortable
retirement at sixty years OF age AS no
aged, and. consequently, partially help
less person can live comfortably on less
than 500 per annum-one-hfteenth Of the
amount claimed necessary for a Congress-
man. who has, besides this sum, other
means Of support-the amount TO be
raised for the care OF those aged ones
would be S3.500.0Oo. Add to the clerks al
ready heavy burden the tax necessary
TO raise this sum each year, and It is nc
cause for surprise that the project has
not met with enthusiastic encouragement
The mere mention of a permanent fund
Of which this enormous sum would be
but the annual income, IS so monstrous as
10 place It beyond consideration.
A Plan Outlined.
What, then, IS 70 be- done? There Is nr
evil without a remedy: no need wlthou,
q supply in due time. On q visit to The
Soldiers Home, whose beauty Is one OF
the chief attractions Of the Capital, a re.
mark was made laudatory Of the liberal.
ity Of tho government toward its disabled
veterans. The erect, sold!erly bearing OF
the guide assumed q new dignity as he
replied, I'VE owe nothing 20 the govern
ment. This is our own. Bought, paid for
and supported by the regular army" Il
was stated that this wonderfully lovely
place was purchased and provided for by
the trifling tax of q cents per month, or
each soldiers pay, amounting to slS0,OOC
per annum. Hundreds of acres were Dur.
chased and every essential for comfort.
able living secured.
Granting that the number at the Sol.
diers' Home, 900. Is far below that of tho
estimate Of the proposed clerks home
the same system could be applied 10 the