Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-02
OLD CLERKS TURNED
OUT BY CIVIL
SERVICE
BITTER REWARD FOR LIFE
SPENT IN NATI0N'S EMPLOY
Wedding Out of Old Timers in
Effort to Reduce Expenses
and Get More Work. Officials
Do Injustice,
Morning Journal Bureau,
613 Munsey Building,

$50 49, Ef
In carrying out the Taft policy OF
greater economy IN the administra-
ton of the governments business, the
members Of the presidents cabinet
have begun "A movement which Is GO
ing TO result in greater hardships foI
the aged clerks In the executive de
partments han have yet been eXper-
fenced by this class of federal work
ers.
Mr.. Taft has been anxious to have
congress enact Il law providing for a
retirement FUND, and thus taking care
OF the men ana women considered too
old to continue in active service. All
hope Of such legislation at this ses-
sion, and probably at the next session
has beer abandoned, and in the var
ious departments the chief clerks are
busy gathering data on the efficiency
OF the clerks and other employees.
The dismissals from 9he treasury
department have already begun, and
they arc to be followed by more
there, and In the p0stoicc department.
other departments viii soon go
through the course Of "~weeding out
old timber.
officials of the postoffice department
decline to say what would be the final
result Of the rigid investigation now
being made OF the efficiency of the
clerks and others. 1t was asserted,
however, that no hasty action will be
taken, and that the data viii be gath
cred with q view to affording ample
Information on which to base a geenral
movement for improving the efficien-
cy of the force ana promoting econ
omv in salaries ana methods.
There will be dismissals n de-
A--. a.. H. 40 NaH- dana - -
ment Of the government this summer
The administration has determined TO
undertake seriously the work of solv-
ing the aged clerk problem. The
shake-ups viii be followed by a de-
termined effort to put through tho
next session Of congress the bill for
The retirement fund.
In addition to the economy policy
as an incentive, II is realized that
some measure of political capital can
be made out of a serious movement
for economy in the government and
for economical methods in purchasing
supplies.
The prominent republicans feel
that they are up against a desperate
fight in the coming congressional cleo
lions, and they desire t. prove they
are beginning to make good on Soua-
Aldrich's statement that $4,000
000, 900 can be saved each year in the
operation of the governments bust
ness.
II may be stern necessity. in policy
with the administrations determine |
lion to put down the operating eN-
pongos of the government, but the
Northiness of the cause lessons not A.,
It all the pitiful aspect Of the dis
nissal of large numbers of aged
The distress among many Of these J
$ keen, and very real. some who !,
nave been recently let out have beer
n the service of the government for
thirty years; they have fallen in
@ a routine; they have leaned upon
he government employment for sup
port. and now that the prop Is with
lrawn, many Of them. dazcd by the
audiences of the blow, know not
which way to turn.
SO many of them are old. While D
hey have been Notwithstanding to
best of their abilitics-the years
passed them by. whitening their !
lair, making their fingers tremulous, ,
heir eyesight dim and now they have
- place to turn.
Many Of them are old soldiers, vet A.,
rams of the war; some Of them .
Wounded and suffering daily, but
tin. up to the time of the recent or F.,
ers for retrcnchment, fondly mag :
ming that they were still able 10 serve
he government for which they
ought. Some OF them are soldiers
idoWs. lonely omc who have half
prgot in the work of the govern
provided. the sacrifices they
lade in giving up their husbands To- J
he nation. Now this in ended. 70 I
for employment on their presen5
lerits and abilities is a hopeless task 4
hey have no place to turn.
There was one Of them about The |
ostofficc department the other day. |
nd she was weeping. About her
ere some of her old associates IN the
work. and they dld their
CT 20 comfr~t her. But idlencs5 had
upon hcr suddenly: deprived of
or daily work. she had, "a last, time
think Of what the few year. thnt
remained might hold for htr. she
ibbed. There Is nothing left iar aie
nothing q
II IS deeply pathetic to see. hauni- A
II the doors to their acc'Istorned nf-
ees. q little congregation Of the dis u
You don't hear much cnin- II
aint from them. they seem To rual- 81
r. that there Is something incXora-
2 about the law that the weak must !"
I, TO the WALL" but they just can't d