Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-14
Efficiency Not Determined BY Age.

Efficiency Not Determined oy Nse'
The recent order of the chief OF the
weather bureau at Washington dis
charging from the service all OF us
employees over sixty years OF age mas
called forth a storm of protest ana
criticism which has made it very evil
dent that Osterism is not yet popular
in this country. The only standard to
be enforced in public or private service
is the standard of efficiency. and by
this standard experience in any given
work is always accorded it's true value
and Importance. There does not ap-
pear to be any logical reason for the
Introduction of obituary "age limits
in any department of human effort.
So long as a man is physically and
mentally able to do his work so long,
in all fairness he should be permitted
to do it. 1t is but natural that In
training men for the duties and re-
sponsibilities of new positions young
men should be preferred, for the great
er length of service that may be ex-
pected from them, after they have
gained experience and efficiency are
in their favor. There is no reason how
ever, why old experienced and compe-
tent men should De forced to fear any
economic dead line" in the matter, of
age, or why they should be thrust
aside while yet in the possession of
their faculties for the mere purpose of
opening up places for new and younger
successors All this may be urged
from a purely business standpoint; but
there are other and even more potent
reasons yet to be urged against abb
trary changes on the score of age. The
man who has faithfully served either
the public or a private enterprise; who
has given to it the best that was in
him during the most productive years of
his life has earned an honest right to
special and kindly consideration. The
concerns that make practice of ex-
tending such consideration to those
who have grown gray in their service,
are the ones who command the love
and confidence of their employees, and
the spirit of loyalty among the workers
in any enterprise is an economic factor
whose importance and value are not
to be lightly disregarded. 1t is folly
to assert that any man has passed the
period of his usefulness at sixty years
of age. Indeed large majority of
and mental vigor when they
have reached the three score mark, and
MANY of them continue to do their best
work up to, and beyond the four score
mark. Ii was only a few days ago that
Ida Lewis-the American Grace Darl
ing-a woman sixty-eight years of age,
jumped into a boat and saved five wo-
men from drowning, thereby adding
that number to the longest list of res
cues that has ever stood to the credit
of any one woman in the history of
this country. Quite recently the great
city of Chicago elected as its Super
intendent of Scnools-one of the most
honorable and responsible positions in
its gift--a woman sixty years of age.
Commenting upon the order of the
chief of the Weather Bureau the In
dianapols News saws:
"A hard and fast rule of this kind is |
not merely in itself unjust, it is unjust |
to the ervtrc that It concerns. Ter Il |
dcprives it often of abilities that can
not be replaced. for they are abilities
that do moi come with youth. but age
1t is certainly to be hoped that this !
unjust order may be rescindod. and |
that the men who have passed the age |
Of sixty in the service of the Weather |
may be retained IN their posi- |
tons as long as they are able to per-
e