Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-02
The Dismissed Clerks.

Nobody is disposed to question the
wisdom or right Of the United States
government in adopting labor-saving de-
vices in the departments, and thereby
lessening the need of human assistance.
1t is the rule in business to work with
the most effective and economical meth
DDS, and the government should not be
immune from the application Of such a
principle. But in being businesslike on
one side the government need not be
cruel. Indeed, it Is the best Of good
business to combine humane and econom-
ic methods.
Nor is 1t Illogical or unfair for the
government, in choosing those who are
to be eliminated from the service as
more effective means are provided for
doing certain kinds Of work, to select the
least efficient. That is good business. 1t
is a misfortune that in most cases such
a choice will fall upon the aged. But
the United States government should not
be singularly alone in its refusal to grant
to age the consideration that is accorded
it in virtually all the we'll managed pri-
vate institutions Of the. country.
The pitiable spectacle now presented of
scores of elderly men and women turned
out of the government service to make
room for adding machines and other
mechanical aids to rapid routine labor re-
fleets seriously upon the United States.
1t stamps it as Indifferent to the suf-
ferings of those whom it has enlisted
in it's offices and held in service for
many years. The responsibility for this
situation does not rest upon the admin
istrative officials, who are held account
able for results in the offices. They
have no choice but to organize their
forces along the lines Of the greatest
efficiency aud the utmost economy. They
recognize with practically no exceptions
that the United States is losing annually
by the lack Of a system Of civil retire.
ments which will enable them from time
to time to clear the ranks of the less
efficient without imposing unbearable
hardships upon individuals.
Congress cannot claim that it has had
no warning Of the situation which now
presents itself. 1t has been importuned
for many years to devise some method
of providing for the decent retirement of
the elder clerks, upon conditions just
both to the workers and to the govern
ment. 1t has postponed the consideration
Of this question from session to session
because Of a mistaken notion that the
proposal was solely in the interest OF
the clerks themselves Meanwhile, it
has voted itself large increase Of SAL
airy, ignoring at tue same time the rep
reservations of administrative officials
to the effect that increases In the clerical
salary sca,es were essential to maintain
the standards of efficiency in the public
service.
Now has come this spectacle Of men
and women turned out without hope of
reinstatement, without resources, with.
out the means of earning a livelihood.
There is yet time for Congress to pre-
vent this great injustice. 1t can. before
adjournment, before the dismissals finally
take eject, enact an emergency measure
just to both sides. VIII it neglect its
duty and it's opportunity and go on rec
ord as totally Indifferent to the sufferings
OF those who are the victims of an incon-
siderate and shortsighted legislative policy
III the past?