New-York tribune., 1910-12-08
nR. T4FTN CUIL SERVICE sue
GESTTONS

/ nR. T4FTS CTJL SERVICE SUG-
GESTTONS.
President Tafr's suggestion in his
message that first. second aud third
class postmasteTs should be put i'll the
Civil Service classified list j. mis- most
striking reference to Civil Service re
form and IT shows what thorough
Civil Service reformer he Is It is
the firsr time 50 far rs we are aware
that any President has suggested e1-
tending the classified Civil Service
list to offices of such Importance.
Legally the change is feasible. Post
masters OF no grade are menu1ued IN
the Constitution as among the officers
with regard to whose appointment the
advice and consent Of the Senate
are required The Senate by q change
in the Iaw might pur all postmaster
ships in the rank of inferior offices with
recard 10 the filing of which its con-
sent would not be required To ask
his. however. as Mr.. Taft says in his
message. iS to ak from the Senate
considerable concession Of its power
The Senate has always been jea>-ls OF
its influence over appointments. and we
fear it i a long way from being ready
ta make this concession. which would
make the poStotfice. Ike the consular
service a career free from the viclsSi-
rudeS Of politics
Mr.. Taft touches upOn a more lmme-
diare and practicable matter which Civil
Service reformers everywhere are study
inc in what he mas to say about the
need II a system for penSionin2 super
ANIMATED civil employees The necessity
of providing some machinery for taking
crr Of The public service those civil ser
wants that have ourlived their useful
ness is felt by any one who approa ehes
the problem Of increasing governmental
efficiency and effecting economies Mr.
Taft dismisSes a civil pension system as
fnpracticable on account of its cost and
because
II Is deruoraIizinz TO the service since
il makes difficult the dismissal Of lneon1-
petent employees after they have parity
earned their pension.
And he reaches the conclusion that
there should be = compulsory S}v1HGS
arrangement. the empIoye 10 SET aside
from his SaIarE e sum sufficient with
..rbe heln Of q liberal raIe OF interest
from the government to purchase an
-adeauare annuity for him on retire
'-ment. this accumulation 10 he ina1en-
.9blv his and claimable If he leaves the
service before reaching the retirement
age or by MS heirs in case OF his
death
This Is exacrly the conclusion reached
hv The New York State Civil Service
Commission in us last annual report
Il recommended q Civil Service "I1sur-
ance system 4 year ago. saying:
arv insurance system. It Is believed.
S-ouId hc so organized that every lndi-
vfdua1 would have his own particular IN
s1rrance. paid for by himself and no On"
else. excent the state in the case ~ en- !
moves already advanced in service. and (
every insurance policy should nave at
all times an adequate surrender value +
So that uo question could arise rs 20
-l~rna-rv right in office. or II the pension .
-rrF contributed 70 aE an em1ioEe
which would he sacrificed 8y sei}e.ra tlon .
from tl7e service. Il j. absolutely essen .
-5aT t. the discipline of the public service
that heads of DEPARTMENTS Shouid nave /
= BE fullest right ar removal ioF T~<1i-tit- .
able cause without the necessity OF
r9evine in court q case of positive mai F.
feasance ANY property right in fund !
attached 10 the public service would tend /
,r.reasonahlv to hamper the exercise or /
that power. and TO put the admlDIstra-
rfou of the public service ar the mercy .
Of organized public servants
The idea that such au insurance or I
annuity arrangement should have "a /
surrender value has appealed 10 AIr- /
Taft as il must appeal 10 every one who !
considers this subject Of civil pensions. /
onlv thus can the danger Of such gen
-ionS. the difficulty of djsmissing pen
Sioner who has contributed 30 q fund.
fc avoided This danger is peculiarly
great IN this state. where the courts in /
limo to view interests ia such funds
rs vested and involving what is Writ
,aIIy "a property right in office Under
the federal law this legal difficulty OF
removal might nol exist. hU1 a ne less
real one would exist il Tie reluctance
II an adminisrra1o~ - cause an empl0ye
10 lose tbe sum Of his contributions 10 q
PENSION fund Either difficulty the sI.r-
render value would appear 70 ODviate.