New-York tribune., 1910-12-07

cooperation in the movement by the en-
y,ioyes of the government themselves
I urge the continuance Of the appropris-
tion of sIe0. 400 requested for the fiscal year
1917
Ny experience leads me to believe that
while government methods are much critI-
cired, the bad results-if we DO have nsd
results-sre not due 10 lack Of Seai or
willingness on the uari of the civil ser
wants On the contrary. 7 believe that
fne spirit Of willingness 10 work exists
IN the personnel. which. If properly en-
poursged. viii produce results equal TO
those secured in the best managed private
enterprises In handling government ex-
,enditure tho aim is not profit-the aim IS
the maximum of public service al the
rnirimurn Of cost We wish to reduce the
expenditures of the government, and we
wish 20 save money to enable the gov
ernr1ens 70 so into some of the beneficial
projects which we are deherred from TAX
ine up now because ought not to in
crease our expenditures.
A. 4 later date / shall send n Congress
= special message on this general subject
Civil Service Retirement
II i Impossible 70 proceed far IN such an
investigation without perceiving the need
service the superanuuated This can be
done in one Of TWO ways. either by straight
civil pension or by some form of contribu-
tory plan.
Careful study of experiments made by
foreign governments shows that three Sc
-ious objections 70 the civil pension payable
out OF the public treasury may he brought
against Il ny the taxpayer, the administra-
tive officer and the civil employe, respec-
tfve]y- : civil pension Is bound to become
an enormous continuous and increasing
tax on tha public excheGuer; II is demoral-
fzinr - the service since il makes difficult
The dismissal OF incompetent employees after
they have partly earned their pension; and
81 rs diss6vRntageous 10 the main body OF
employees themselves since II is always
taken into account in fixing salaries. ana
only the few who survive and remain in the
service until pensionable age receive the
value of their deferred pay For this reason
after = half century OF experience under q
most liberal pension system, the ciVu ser
wants Of England succeeded. about year
ago. in having the system 80 modified as 70
make Il virtually q contributory plan with
provision for refund of their theoretical
contributions
The experience OF England and other
countries shows that neither can contrib
being what 1t is. which does not make pro
vision for the return Of contributions, with
interest. in case OF death or resignation be-
fore uersiouanle age. Followed 10 Its log
teal conclusion this means that the simplest
sn5 most independent solution of the PROB
lem for both eGnploye and the government
Is 4 compulsory savings arrangement, the
e17plo--e 10 set aside from his salary sum
sufficient with the help Of liberal rate
Of interest from the government, to puT-
chase an adequate annuity for him On re-
1irenent. this accumulation TO he lllaIieh-
ably his and claimable 4 he leaves the
sery-ice before reaching the retirement age
or -. his heirs IN case Of his death. Ihls
Is the principle upon which the Gillett Dill
nou pending Is drawn
The GiIlett bill. however, goes further ana
r7rovidex that the government snail con
tribute TO the pension fund Of those en-
moves who are now so advanced in age that
4heir personal contributions VIII not ne SUI
s.ten+ 70 create their annuities before
reaching the retirement age In my Juos-
-oer- This provision should be amended 50
-hz- the snnrities Of those employees shaii
nc "a III ont Of the salaries appropriated 1or
+,,. r,ositinr1s vacated by retirement ana
that -4e difference he.--een the annultles
,nf,x granted and the salaries may be useo
-he ar7plovrnent Of efficient clerks a. the
lower grades If the bill can be thus amend
cd -e~on1rlend its passage, as i VIII initi-
- --al1,ahIe system and ultimately result
IN ? great saving In the public expenditures