The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-15
AT THE HOTELS.

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Discussing pensions for government en-
ployes. Richard F. Wilson, a lawyer, OF
New York, who is at the Arlington. said
last night that he thoroughly agreed with
Henry F. Greene. United States civil SER
vice commissioner, in the matter. Mr.
Greene said that no argument has vet
been called to his attention which has
convinced him that either as a matter OF
justice TO the employees Of the Federal
civil service or as matter Of public pol
icy a pension system ought to be adopt-
ed.
The Federal service. as now consti-
tuted." continued Mr. Wilson. "bas Ger
tain advantages over private emplov-
ment; the compensation is good for the
class OF work done, and the tenure is
rather more certain than IN ordinary nr,-
vate employment For thla reason. vzbile
there are occasional cases OF. hardship 7
cannot see that the ord. nary member
OF the civil service IS not in a better posi-
ton TO protect himself IN his old age
than the ordinary person outside There
fore, a pension does not seem 20 me 20
be required by justice to those employed
by the government.
The amount Of approximation In the
departments has been exaggerated, ac-
cording 20 Mr. Greene" continued Mr..
Wilson, and is not a pressing evil II
the present steady and uniform observ-
anee OF the civil service rules Is con-
tinued It VIII have a tendency 10 d!min-
ish the amount Of approximation. The
appointment by competitive examination
tends 10 draw into the service a younger
and bier class Of men. and to reduce
I'm various ways the number OF employees
too old % do efficient work / do not
think that there is any need Of a pension
system 20 protect the government.
THE substitutes that have been sug-
gested. such as the compulsory taking
out Of an endowment policy by each per-
son on admission 10 the service, would
be very unjust In many cases. and would
be highly unpopular among the men en-
ployed in the departments, aid also any
system OF deduction which would provide
a pension would. I think. be very IN
popular among the younger men in the
service"
E G. Harris. a wholesale merchant OF
Havana, Cuba. who is at the Raleigh.
said last night that so far as he could
discern there were no signs OF a revolu-
ton IN Cuba
"a whole lot OF this revolutionary talk
is merely newspaper gossip" said Mr..
Harris. IT have been ten years in Ha-
vana and I usually see what's coming.
but for the life OF me I fail TO see any
indications Of Al imminent revolution
on the contrary. business Is getting bet
ter every day and while foreigners were
supreme in the Cuban market when I
first established in the island, Americans
are rapidly marching 10 the front and Sc
curing the biggest share OF the Island
trade
Everything is open in Cuba now:
games Of every sort are permitted. There
IS horse racing, bull fighting, cock night
ing. lotteries. and everything OF that sort.
The Cuban people don't see any harm in
diversions OF that kind; they are tempera-
mentally different from Americans, and
we should really not measure them with
the same yardstick we apply to our
selves
Speaking about the Maine in Havana
Harbor, Mr.. Harris said that the Spanish
residents 20 g man IN Cuba would like 20
see the Maine raised Just 70 see whether
they had been charged rightly or wrongly
with the explosion OF that battle ship.
1T seems 10 be the general belief OF the
Spanish residents and many Cubans"
added Mr. Harris, that a different YER
sion OF the accident would develop n the
Maine were raised and a commission OF
experts were appointed 10 examine into
the case"
There is one city in Germany that has
no taxes said George D. Harr, OF Stuff
CART Germany. at the Arlington last
night The name OF this city is very
appropriate too. II is Freudenstadt.
which literally translated means City
Of Joys"
Chemical works, iron foundries, and
other enterprises make the city busy and
| important. Il has a modern fre depart
nent. and is municipality equipped with
up-tO-d2te schools clean streets. and all
the appurtenances Of good government.
| Its revenue is derived from the sale or
/ its franchises and It's wood. Every cor
poration that uses its streets has 70 pay
for the privilege.
1T owns a forest OF 5000 acres" con-
tinUed Herr Harr, 'on which IL cuts tim
Der at a profit OF $ an acre, replacing
every tree felled with a new one. Thus
I the city pays its own expenses without
burdening its citizens.
4 read in one OF your papers to-day
that American army and naval officers
are OF the opinion that war between Eng
land and Germany Is imminent And it
seems to be the opinion OF these gov
eminent officials that England would
make short work OF the German navy
and thereby bring Germany 10 terms in
NJ #fr~na 10 g.
which your officers are taking OF the sit
uation, but IL shows how sadly they are
informed on subjects which are abso-
lutely necessary TO form an opinion OF
this grave character.
I know whereof I speak when I say
that Germanys navy is IN a condition 70
give that OF England a stiff fight. IL
must be understood that Germany's navy
IS new. comparatively speaking: that all
Of her ships are manned. and that they
are proud and brave and eager TO de-
fend the fatherland- Germany is not
afraid OF England and I am satisfied that
England VIII find out TO her sorrow that
she has taken a bigger bite than she
can chew should she take It into her head
10 start troubles with Germany.
Eve are not spelling for a fight IN
Germany. added Mr. Harr. I'VE are a
peace-loving people. and only want an
opportunity 20 attend 20 our own AFFAIRS.
We viii not. however. allow any other
nation 20 dictate TO US what we must do
and what We must nor do. We have out
grown that position IN the rank OF ma
tons long ago"
During last year there were about 500
persons killed and about q 600 Injured on
the street cars. elevated railroads. and
subways In the city OF New York." sid