The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
Civil Retired List.

There Is uncommon encouragement to
the government clerk in that passage in
the annual report of the Secretary Of
War in support OF some provision a
for the retirement on annuities Of en-
ployes who have become superannuated
in the service. thus following the prae-
tice which many railroads and other
large business enterprises have found it
advisable 10 adopt" Mr.. Dickinson
quotes pertinent illusions 10 this project
contained in the various annual reports
Of bureau chiefs and military department
commanders. including the Chief Of En-
gineers, Paymaster General, Inspector
General, Quartermaster General. Com
mssary General, and the Surgeon Cen
eral. and concludes this portion of an
interesting document with an extract
from statement made some years ago
by Mai. Gen. F. C. Ainsworth. now Ad-
jutant General Of the army. before the
House Committee on Reform in the Civil
Service.
The Ainsworth paper is an able con-
tribution TO the literature on the retire
ment of government employees. The
argument which the Adiutant General
made in behalf of some sure provision
Cor the support of government clerks
and their families in old age is convin-
cling. and it is useful at this time of the
agitation of the subject to have Gen.
AinswOrth's comments reproduced.
\ retired list for the army was estab-
lished in 1861, prior to which year no Of
fieer had a life tenure of his commits
sion. which is precisely the situation in
the civil service to-day, with clerks,
grown old in faithful service, subject TO
dismissal without warning, and with no
provision for them in their incapacity.
There is. assuredly. as much reason for
taking care of the faithful government
clerk as for the commissioned officer and
enlisted man of the mintary-nayaI es-
adjustment In the case of those eligible
to retirement, the government benefits
by the greater security and the freedom
from anxiety as to the future. The civil
employe, as Gen. Ainsworth has re-
marked, enters the service with no such
! assurance. and the government has no
such guaranty of good behavior and de-
vouon to duty on his part. If he have
thought for the future he is as likely
as not TO find it necessary to be on the
alert for private employment which will
enable him to abandon the public service.
1t is Gen. Ainsworth's theory-and it is
one likely to be borne out If the inquiry
could be made-that comparatively few
of the young men now entering the civi
service do so with the definite intention
of remaining therein permanently. Many
of them may linger beyond the date they
have promised themselves they will
retire from government employ, but it is
certain that the prospect of dismissal in
old age is a encouragement OF any fixed
purpose Of permanent government con-
nection. The following remarks by Gen.
AinswOrth hit the nail squarely on the
head:
"Will any one deny that it is most de-
sirabe 10 bring all branches of the public
service up to the high level of the judi
ciary, the army, and the navy, and does
any one doubt that a very considerable
increase in expenditures for the attain
ment of this end would be an excellent
investment? But ] think il can be shown
that all this can he brotlght q bont l,,r a
comparatively small increase in expendi-
ture and at cost that will be far less
than the friends to say nothing Of the
enemies. of a civil retired list have ever
estimated
While retirement for disability incurred
in service and line of duty, regardless Of
age or length OF service. was Justly pro-
vided for IN the army and navy retire
ment laws, because o. the hazardous ma
ture OF the duties that officers are often