The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-28
CLERKS DISTRESS
is KEENLY FELT
Continued from Page One.

probably, by the actual scenes Of pathetic
suffering he has Witnessed since the dis
missals began--that he has succeeded IN /
getting President Taf and his fellow
members OF the Cabinet almost as inter
ested as himself At his own instigauon
he has had men who have made a study
OF retirement systems working out hg-
ures which win show how relief can be
given without actual cost to the govern
ment. and which win result not only In
taking care OF those clerks who have
outlived their usefulness. but in greatly
increasing the efficiency Of all depart
ments, so that the work OF the govern
ment viii be better accomplished II is
among the strong probabilities that. large
ly as a result OF the interest awakened
in the matter by the Cabinet officials.
President Taft win present it TO Congress
in special message.
But among the leaders OF the govern
ment clerks It is realized that there is
small hope for anything Ike straight
civil service pension bill. Many OF them
recognize the fact that Il would be in
advisable to present any such request TO
Congress Mr. Herbert D. Brown. actu-
airy In charge OF the bond investigation
being conducted by a commission ap-
pointed by Congress. who has been pre-
pairing a table OF figures showing what a
retirement fund would actually cost the
government. received a letter this morn-
ing from l. G. Power. chairman OF the
Canadian Senate committee on civil serv-
ice who writes:
Advantages Overlooked.
I regret TO see that the United States
civil servants are so strongly IN favor
Of n noncontrlbutory pension system.
Apart from the drain upon the Federal
treasury which It involves. it will, I
think. be found to be on the whole less
to the advantage Of the benefciaries than
a scheme under which they would them
selves contribute"
And IN Canada they have experimental
for some years with various methods for
relief.
Mr.. T l. Weed. chief clerk OF the Post
Office Department. says:
I believe in compulsory retirement from
the service on account Of age and dis
ability, provided such plan as may be
adopted IS sufficiently flexible 10 permit
the retention OF clerks when II IS mani
fest that 70 do so would be beneficial 10
the service.
In order 70 develop and steadily main
tain the highest degree OF efficiency IN
the government service. deem It impor-
tsnt that some plan be devised for reliev-
ing the executive departments OF super
ANIMATED clerks. do not hesitate. how
ever, TO register my emphatic protest
against any plan that contemplates retire
ment on partial pay involving their az
sessment."
Provision for Clerks.
Mr.. Walter ". Ludlow. chief clerk OF
the Treasury Department, says: Il have
not given the matter a great deal Of
thought. but am strongly Of the opinion
that there should be some provision made
for the aged clerk. who having given
the best years OF his life 10 a department
has outlived his usefulness. I don't know
whether 1t Is best for the employees or the
government that there should be a
straight-out pension system or a system
OF a retirement fund largely made up
from the earnings OF the clerks ana sup
plemented from the public funds, But I
feel certain that Congress would not be
inclined 10 pats bill providing FOR pen
sions. OF course. too. I recognize that Il
would be hard for civn servants TO read
Just their lives and expenditures 10 a
contributory retirement fund. Most Of
them live right UP 10 the last penny Of
their salaries. and It would be sure TO
work some hardship II by any bill. look
ing 70 the future good. 10 or even per
cent OF their salaries were taken from
them. It should be remembered that the
salaries Of civil service clerks are Just
what they were fifty years ago. They
have not been raised once"
| Il is evident that much OF the sentiment
in favor Of a straight-out pension fund
is due to the utterances on the subject
| by President Taft. As Secretary OF War
in 1906 testifying before the Committee
on Appropriations. he said:
I have not made a calculation. but OF
course I have considered the thing a
good deal I have not made an exact
/ calculation. but I believe that the bus
/ mess OF the government could be carried
on more economically to-day II you paid
out OF the Treasury OF the United States
TO men who retired at sixty-fve, having
/ had a good record. three-quarters OF
their pay. and substitute for them active.
young men"
Sentiment of President.
And again in his first message TO Con-
gress, President Taft said;
1T must be made possible to eliminate
from the civil service those who are IN
efficient from any cause. and It is indis-
! pensable TO any system Of economy that
provision be made so that their separa-
ton from the service shall b easy end
| inevitable. It is impossible TO make such
provision unless there is adopted a plan
OF civil pensions. 1 am strongly
convinced that no other practical solu-
ton Of the difficulties presented by the
approximation Of civil servants can bs
found than that Of a system OF civil
] pensions