The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-10

q In your paper OF June objections are
brought against the proposed retirement
plan by the wife OF a department en-
ploye. in which she makes reference TO
me as having been Instrumental in bring
ing forward the plan favorably reported
by the House committee. and says:
'0Wm Mr.. Brown publicly state his
private opinion as to whether he or any
true American wants a self-consiituted
guardian TO dictate the disposal OF his
personal earnings or private affairs?"
No; I do not, theoretically. want TO be
dictated 10 in the matter Of my private
affairs. And yet I submit 20 It. as does
every good citizen, not only willingly, but
gladly.
I do not think the army, the navy,
the police, the poorhouse, the peniten-
tiary, or the madhouse ideal institutions.
but In our present state Of society they
seem to be as necessary as I think
compulsory savings scheme is for civil
employees. and they are generally re-
garded as benehcent Institutions, and We
all pay taxes TO help maintain them.
I have stated, both publicly and pri-
vately. that theoretically, there IS moth
ing to be said in favor OF forcing a man
to save his money-nothing except the
statement that as a member Of society
he is under obligations to so conduct
himself as not TO be a burden on the
rest OF society. Since the possibility
IS recognized Of his making a claim on
society, then society has some right TO
dictate" what his conduct shall be-
I defined my position in this matter, TO
the best Of my ability, two years ago
in an address at the biennial meeting
Of the National Assembly OF Civil Serv-
ice Commissions. held at Chicago. when
] said this:
Personally. feel that the ideal plan OF retire
uent foE cTn service employees would be no retire
meut plan at ell, but system which included two
things: firSt government willing to Fay salsnes
large enough 10 support the employees in dignity and
comfort during their tenure of ofCo and 10 enable
them TO lay by something for tie pTUTerbai rainy
day; and. second body Of employees thrifty
GIM pTUFidGnt End altogether irrerTUachabs as
never to be guilty Of Spending a penny that would
b acceptable az q savings bank. Under those con
diti0ns We should have no problem Of sGperannua-
ton IN the government service: but until that nil
lennium Of Congressional generosity and LEFate thrift
shall dawn the aged clerk must either retire 20 want
| and perhaps charity or else b carried along ia
| Office BY virtual charity 20 the detTiment Of the
| service. IN other words. We are confronted by a
| condition and not theory.
What is the condition which conrronts
| hand, a civil service made inefficient
| or at least below the highest standard of
/ ef1ciency-by reason of the presence of
many aged and infirm employees no
| longer able to do a full days work. That
| is a wrong which effects us all. for We
/ the people, the taxpayers and citizens
/ of this country, constitute the govern
ment. It Is not something that concerns
| only few heads or departments here In
/ Washington or only the leaders OF the
! dominant political party, 1t is a wrong
that bears on every man, woman, and
! child listed by the census-tal1er, and its
| continuance means grave and persistent
| injury to the ideal Of good government
in every hamlet Of the country.
On the other hand. if that abuse is
| corrected by the elimination of all the
! old and unit from the public service.
injustice is done to many faithful public
servants whose only fault is that of old
age. They are thrust out of Office at
the very time when they most need the
certain emoiumeEts Of Office, and one
does not have 10 live long in Washington
TO realize keenly the cruelty and tragedy
| Of such situations
| What scheme can be devised In justice
TO both the public and the public servant
that will solve the problem for both?
There are only two general classes of
plans possible: % Either some form of
civil pension requiring that the retiring
! allowances be paid out of the Federal
Treasury, IN other words out of taxes
collected indirectly by the national gov
eminent from people all over the country,
or % some form Of general fund pro
viding that retiring allowances be paid
for by contributions from the employees
| salaries.
The wife Of the civil employee writing
| 10 The Washington Herald would evil
| IDENTIFY solve the problem by establish
ing q civil pension, for she says: IF it