The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-27
More Than 100000 Federal
Workers Have Endorsed
This Plan.
PRIVATE CONCERNS
FIND IT BENEFICIAL
Increased Efficiency Said 10 Result
From Safety of
Future.
CONTINUED from First Page)

alike to the Government and the en-
pIoye.
Fourth-It is founded on principles Of
sound justice and broad humanitarian
ISM AS business proposition retire
ment on these lines is indorsed by the
financial officers OF every instft tuition
which has put II TO a test, and although
the cry Of cost Is raised II has been
readily proved that IN the end Il Is less
expensive than the GiIlett bill plan with
us added measure 70 increase salaries 5
per cent
Fifth-The Army, Navy, Marine CORPS,
Revenue Cutter Service and L.ife-SaF-
ing Service Of the United States now
have retirement on a direct pension
sIler thirty years
Relative 70 the first reason given, il
may be stated that Germany has re-
tired its civil employees On this basis for
. years, and England has retired it's
civil employees on the same basis for
100 years One-third Of the municipaii-
ties in the United States now provide
outright pensions for policemen. hremen
and school teachers
Railroad Pensions.
Fifty per cent OF the men now en-
pIoyed On the railroads OF our country
are peEsioned after faithful service,
without deduction from their salary.
We hear much Of the conservation OF
natural resources, and property, but the
men and women OF nation are It's
greatest resources Conserve them and
all things else VIII follow Bismarck
saw this when he Instituted old age pro-
vision IN Germany. And today travellers
II Germany see no haEgard faces, be-
cause their declining years are provided
for 10 a certainty
Just 100 years ago England inaug7lT-
3ted its retirement movement. and IN 2
occasion may wei De followed in this
CoU2try. FOR the service in England is
possibly as perfect as can be devised
~ rr= l. =
peI feCtion is the liberal pension for su-
perannuated employees All this Is &C
complished not only with cost 70 the
government but al q positive gain
This has been proved IN the case OF
the Pennsylvania railroad When that
wise corporation first granted 500, 90 for
experimentation purposes, the more
JlTuid OF the directors were appalled,. 50
much 50 IN fact. that q resolution was
passed that II should be the maximum.
allowance. But 10 their surprise, they
found that the dividends increased on
aecr aInt Of the increased efficiency IN
Ger the stimulus Of anticipated pTovi-
sion for retirement, and today that COM
pany has increased its provision for this
PURPOSE TO s5Oo,0 600 per annum-
Twenty-Five railroads have followed its
example, besides many other business
establishments, including the establish
mcnt OF a retirement provision by the
United states steel Corporation
Allowance From Reserve Fund.
The allowance in every instance has
been from the reserve fund OF the cor
pOratioa, and without any deduction
from the wages OF the employees. On
the contrary, on the Pennsylvania sys-
teEns the average wages has increased
. per cent since the establishment Of
the retirement system. & positive proof
that pension system does not initiate
against increase in salaries.
Indeed, the same IS true IN the United
States for the nay OF the army and
navy and Supreme Court justices has
been increased although they receive
pensions, while the salaries Of the civil
employees have remained stationary, al
though they are without them So that
the rule seems 70 work the other way
In closing. I desire 10 present the
Views OF Nal Gen F c Ainsworth,
adfutaut general OF the United States
army. as given before the Committee
on Reform in Civil Service OF the House
OF Representatives Following is his
statement IN part
1t goes without saying that whenever
an enploye OF the civil establishment
by reason Of age OF any other cause. be-
comes unable TO render a Teasona bic re-
turn In service for the salary paid him.
Il Is the plain duty OF his bureau chief
ard the head Of ais department. TO cause
bis reduction in grade or his discharge
from service But IL Is difficult to bring
ones self 70 recommend OF order the re-
ductIon or dismissal n his old age or
an employe who has rendered many
-
who probably has no means Of support
other than his salary, and with whom
no fault can be found other than that
hS has become worn out in the public
seEvics- In such a case sentimental con-
sideraIons usually prevail, the call Of
duty is neglected and the old employe
retains his position virtually as a pen
sioner, while the duties which he should
perform are neglected OF are discharged
by another, often al an Inadequate COM
PSusatiOn.
Benefit TO Military Service.
why should any OF US shudder at the
Gsre mention Of a civil pension or re-
tired list. ard speak Of IL with bated
breath as a thing Of horror and a posi-
bic source OF unspeakabIe evI2 Can any
Intelligent man deny that a retired list,
which mas been OF such great benefit 10
the military and naval service, viii not
be Of equal benefit 10 the civil seryice2
! am free 10 confess that am convinced
that, leaving ali sentimental cOnsidera-
ton out Of the account. It IS decidedly
IN the interest Of the Government 10
make provision for at least its worn
out civil servants by establishing q civil
pension list on substantially the same
footing as that OF superannuated officers
aid enlisted men OF the army and navy
The commission Of the army or navy
officer is a valuable life estate, the con
tfnued enjoyment Of which depends
upon his faithful and efficient discharge
OF his duties and OF his maintenance %
the character OF an honorable man
Thus he Is under the very heaviest
bonds for good behavior, and motives
OF self-interest alone are sufficient 10
keep him Up 70 high moral and pro-
fesstOnal level. Free from anxiety as 70
his future. he devotes his lie 70 the
career upon which he has embarked ana
manifests no disposition. as he feels no
necessity, 20 divert his energies into
other channels or 10 seek IN other Occu-
patiOns a more secure livelihood
But the civil empIOye enters the seTy-
ice with no such assurance as 10 his
future. and the Government has no such
guaranty OF good behavior and devotion
10 duty on his part Dismissal has no
ierrors FOR him beyond that OF the pres
ent loss Of his salary, q loss which he
knows he VIII suffer in future. at time
when the avenues 70 al other employ
meuC VIII be barred 10 him, no matter
how long or how faithfully he may have
labOreIt IN the public service He knows
that upon himself alone rests the re-
snonsih lily Of providing a support for
himself and family in his declining
years and consequently he is always
on the alert for private employment