Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-12-09
Americas, Ga, December 0, 1909.
SEEKS TO PENSION OLD G0VfNN-
MEN[ EMPLOYEES.

Most of the industrial organizations,
and many of the we'll conducted rail-
ways of this country, are coming to
the conclusion that system of PEN.
sions for old employees and the substi-
tuition therefor of younger and moro
energetic servants, promotes both
economy and efficiency of administra-
ton.
am aware that there is a strong
feeling in both houses of congress,
and possibly in the country, against
the establishment of civil pensions,
and that this has naturally grown out
of the heavy burden of military pen
sions, which it has always been the
policy of our government to assume
but l am strongly convinced that no
other practical solution of the diff
culties presented by the superannua-
ton of civil servants can be found
than that of a system of civil pen
SionS.-EXtract from Pres. Taft's mes
sage.
Are the American people ready for
the old age pension system? Inaug-
urated, we believe, in Germany, taken
up in England, is it now to come
acrossacross the Atlantic and be
made feature of the governmental
and industrial system of the United
States?
Naturally the first place where
those favoring the institution of old
age pensions would seek for its in
PRODUCTION would be the government
service. In measure it already pre-
walls. Army and navy officers are re-
tired at a certain age on proportion
of their pay Judges of the Supreme
Court also are in position to retire 1T
certain age on a liberal stipend.
Perhaps this may also be true of GER
tain other employees of the Federal
government. But the number already
provided for with what are practically
old age pensions is very small com
pared to the enormous number of en-
ployes engaged in carrying on the
business of the nation. Some of the
railroad corporations, and a few of
the great manufacturing concerns,
have also adopted system of pension
ing employees after thirty years of
service, or If disabled in the discharge
of duty in manner for which they
are not personally responsible. But
these, too, constitute but a minor frac-
tion of the whole.
The country will probably be some
what slow to endorse the presidents
ideaof a general introduction of the
pension system to the civil lists. The
employees of the government are we'll
paid. 1t is a safe assertion that 90
per cent. of them receive larger SAL
aries, and more regularly, than if they
were earning their livelihood outside
of the government service Why,
then, should they not do as the mill
lions of men not drawing their living
from the national treasury do, provide
for their old age by a system of per-
sonal economies and saving while in
the enjoyment of health and able man
hood? Naturally the introduction Of
the pension system will tend to dis
courage rather than encourage the
saving habit. The man who knows
that when decrepitude creeps upon
him the government will continue 20
hand him a monthly pay envelope, is
not very apt to restrain his inclination
to spend all he makes while in the
possession of his full earning power.
Already the expenses of the govern
ment are extremely onerous The in
clination seems to be to steadily in
crease them, to pile burden upon bur-
den. This latest idea of civil PEN
sion system, under which every man
who works for Uncle Sam will receive
a pension after he gets old, or dis
abled, is a step that should certainly
not be taken without the most care
full consideration. This country knows
what pension systems soon run up to-.
Forty years after the war it is paying
out in pensions to Union soldiers more
money than Germany pays to keep the
greatest army of the world in exis-
tence. A civil pension system forty
years from now will mean untold mil
lions of expenditures every year to
men who have been paid good salaries
right along but have refused or neg
lected to do what others outside of the
magic pale have done, provide for the
contingencies that old age brings out
of their regular earnings.