The Washington times., 1910-01-17

now thar the proposition has reached a
stage where success for any reasonable
scheme Is IN sight, Il IS worse than
foolish for q feW individuals. entirely
out Of touch (aDd apparently out Of
sympathy with the state Of the public
and official mind here in washington
10 attempt 10 foisI their own views
on Congress and knock the whole bUsl-
ness In the head.
What Argument Is
Those who are advocating the
straight Coverument-pay-it-au scheme
for the pensiOntng Of the superannuated
employees Of the service. protest against
the idea OF the employees Cvvh0 are also
hoping for an increase in salaries con
trfbuting a regular monthly percentage
payment TO the PROPOSED pLnSiOn fJSld.
on the ground that & would tend 10 kin
the movement Tor increased remunera-
ton
They argue that we would stuIify
our position in thus attempting 10 OBJ
tain a plan whereby q portion Of our
already TOO meaEer salaries IS 10 Re
Withheld Tor the formation and carry
ing out Of pension system based on a
prO Tata contribution They say with
Ierv1d emphasis and every indication Of
holy horror, that IL would knock TO
srn1Lhereens all possibility Of our ever
obtaining any increase IN pay-1oC7vIJl-
standing the assurance from the PresI-
dent and a large circle OF official
washington that reasonable increase
IS IN all justice due in the clerical sal
ares and that strong official agitation
ana Tecomrueudauons shan be put forth
With such an outcome In view
No Time to Quarrel
For one I believe that this IS 10
time for chickering's as 10 the mode Of
lloroI lure necessary 10 secure q pension
or rr--eueur system. OF whether this
plan or that one is most desirable. It
behOOves those IN authority In the Re
tirement Association 10 recognize the
fact that no pension legislation which
demands fEa- the Government Dav IL
All has the reuotest chance now or in
InA future Of being enacted Such a
system is unfair and undesirable and
the fact thar the President, Congress-
and most Of the Government officials
located here are opposed TO L should
open the eyes Of some Of those eurnrr-
siasts who have been iutr-sted with
the interests OF the membership OF the
Retirement Association, 10 a realiza-
don that further agitation Of such a
forlorn hope VIII only serve to c0usigu
waste basket
a straight civil pension list would
De an imposition on the Government
ana the taxpayers and would tend 10
XIII every spark OF thrift In the Gov
eruEneDL eDplCEes who would thereby
De C1lclallT encouraged TO make alb
solulely no attempt TO provide for the
fuCure-Safe IN the knowledge that when
he IS down and O5-5 md has CutIIved
SliS uSeIulLeSS in the service q maternal
5oEeLllLllss.3y 5l,l% % VII come 70 Ms relief each
month Win the necessary funds TO pro
vide tor his wants on his trip down
the NIL OF lie t would be q strain
on the treasury of the nation as X
has been on England. now staggering
under the burden OF one OF The great
est OF national debts ENGLAND has
the straight civil pension list, as IN
cersJand u and u would be only a
question OF time before such a system
would be a drain too hard for even
the fat income Of Uncle Sam 10 with
stand.
Increase In Salary
- decent increase IN t1.s salaries OF
the employees (say from 10 70 70 per
cent?. and a fair and reasonable com
pulsory payment out Of each employees
monthly salary TO maintain q pension
for old age and faithful service IS what
Is needed and IS the only thing that
any sel1-resQectLug Government en-
Dloye desires or expects 10 secure With !
lhe assurance t1at their fun share, /
with Interest, would be returned 10 ev-
cry employe who left the service be- /
fore reaching the eligible period for
retirement Z does not seem 10 me thar
such an enforced monthly saving from
each clerks salary could be considered a /
great hardship
''Pregident -r2ft, his official advisers
and large following in Congress real /
lie that conditions in the service are
not altOgeLhC- as they should be
"A TeClassi1iCatiCu o. the many D0rf-
ttons IN the departmental service in or
der 10 enable those doing the same class
or Work 20 receive equal grading and
pay a reasonable increase In salaries TO
enable rs 10 keep up with the onward
and upward march Of the prices Of the
necessities Of life and an equitable Sy-S-
tenn for retiring from the service those
who BY reason OF old age and long
service have Cutlived their oDn1-rrfuf-
ties eWheTe-theSe-are the greatest
needs IN the service at present
Congress Seems Willing.
There is no doubt in my mind b1rt
that Congress would make q reasonable
lump sum appropriation 70 put into ef-
feet and operation some good pension
system that would be seIf-sustainine
when once under way.
Now that Congress IS Interested and
willing TO aid q retirement 1n0veuenrt
founded on an equitable and business
Ike basis II I'll becomes a few asserrfyr
though no doubt Uel meaning. mem
beTs OF the retirement association 10
throw bricks IN the machine. or 10
adopt as slogan n straiEht-penSforl-
or-nOthing' yell It win mean nothing
as sure as fate, and IL would seem
that self-p-otection would induce these
% get together on some plan that prom I
tses chance 70 win out
The forge IS Elowing-the iron IS AT
a white heat. now IS the time TO strike
Where IS the man Of the h0ur2
CHARLES T. LEMON