The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-25
CIVIL SERVICE ANNUITIEs.


The civil service law was enacted IN
1859. over a quarter Of a century ago. It
IS generally agreed that 4 has had a
marked effect on both the public service
and the employees. The efficiency OF the
service has been vastly increased The
status OF the employe has been greatly
improved He knows now that he has
life employment. II he does his work
well and behaves himself He respects
himself and IS respected, as was never
the case under the old rule Nowhere
now can be found an officer under the
government where clerical appointments
are made in payment OF political favors,
and the appointees dismissed. after q few
morths. so that other politicians may be
similarly rewarded. A small Office IN the
Post-Ofice Department, whose work now
requires about twenty people. IS on rec
ord as having carried sixty people on its
rolls during a period OF two years before
the enactment OF the civil service law.
The civil service law stopped short.
however. in its work. u should have
contained a clause providing for the re-
tirement OF those who become super
animated in the service, for without that
the fun benefits OF the merit system can
never be realized. II did provide for the
dismissal OF the inefficient. but such pro
vision has not proved 20 De sufficient
where ineficiency IS the result 81 Old
aee. That part OF the law Is practically
a dead letter. for executive officials are
too tender-hearted 10 dismiss from efice
those whose only fault Is their advanced
years The condition OF approximation Is
greatest IN the city Of Washington. where
one out Of every fourteen employees IS
over sixty-five years Of age. In the Land
Once. the Pension Office. the Treasury.
the aged and inhrm are especially In evi-
dence, many Of them being past eighty
years OF age. II has been estimated that
sE employe past sixty-fve years Of axe
only renders three-Quarters service ana
that the annual cost 20 the government
% keeping The aged IN Office rather than
filling their places with younger en-
ployes IS about 800 GO in the District Of
Columbia and about $4,000 for the en-
tire service. In other words. the United
States government has practically a eivl
pension 70 the extent OF the sum paid
the sUperannuated IN excess Of what their
services are worth.
Tho subject OF experimentation has been
egitated persistertly by an organization
or employees known as the Civil Service
Retirement Association LEGISLATION has
been urged by the Civil Service Com
mission and by various department heads.
The movement has made little progress
hitherto for lack Of a definite urogrsmue
Plan after plan or retirement has been
suggested Many OF them have been
considered by the Committee on Reform
n the Civil Service OF the House. bur al
have been open 70 serious objection
either as providing civil pensions. or as
imposing some form OF assessment that
proved ineQuitable, as between different
classes OF employees. Al last. however
bin has been introduced IN Congress.
embodying a plan which meets with the
approval OF many Congressman. as well
as the executive heads OF the govern
ment Il was favOrably reported 20 the
House-the first time such a measure has
ever received that honor-by Representa-
tive Gillett. chairman OF the Committee
on Reform IN the Civil Service. IN the
last session A similar bin. with some
important changes. Is 10 be introduces IN
the Senate by M Perkins. At the sar,e
time. a report on the subject by Herbert
D. Brown. the author OF the Plan. viii
be published
Mr.. Brown knows from close observs-
ton and experience the needs OF the SIT
uation- Before he became an examiner
IN the Bureau Of Corporations. he was
in the Insurance business IN Buffalo. HIS
interest IN actual problems led him 70
study OF the various plans that ha5
been proposed for the relief Of superanuu-
alton in the civil service Finding them
all either unsOund or Negotiable as either
civil pension or 7at-rate assessment
plans, he worked out a scheme on the
savings bank idea. which provides for re-
trement on annuities bought with the
savings OF the employees. The Keen Com
mission took Up Mr.. Browns plan and
made a favorable report on II which
was sent TO Congress, about a wear AGO
by President Roosevelt. IN specisl
message. The Civil Service Committees
O. the Senate and the House being de-
srous OF obtaining more data IN regard
TO the personnel OF the service. and the
cost Of inaugurating the proposed plan.
requested Secretary Straus TO have 17o
necessary estimates made. under the d.
rection Of Mr.. Brown, IN the Bureau OF
the Census
The work is now completed. and the
friends OF the retirement plan are hopfnr
that favorable action may be obtained
In the Senate this spring. Heretofore.
the civil service law has been Ike
beautiful entrance into a fine building
which had no exit The back door had
been forgotten Mr. Brown has shown
how a doorway may be cut, and il is
hoped that Congress VIII accept his plan
and give relief 70 the old who are MINING
for escape and 10 the young who are long
ing for more elbow room and higher seats
II is expected that the plan win receive
the Endorsement OF President Taft. as he
has expressed himself in favor Of a retire
ment measure.