Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-04
Civil Retirement.

1t is unjust to the government and to
the government workers to suggest that
the proposition to place the latter upon
q civil-retirement basis Is justified on the
score that they are serving the coun-
try in the sense of soldiers VINO are
enlisted for an emergency. The Presi-
dents recommendation to the end OF IN
creasing the efficiency in the government
service by offering to the department
clerks the prospect of retirement is Daseo
upon a broader business principle 1t IS
not to be urged that any appreciate
proportion of the government clerks en-
ter the service for sentimental reasons
or patriotism. Indeed. the retirement
plan rests for it's justification upon the
very opposite proposition-that these men
and women look upon the government
service as career. To the extent that
that career is assured, given efficiency
and good conduct, they will render better
service to the government.
Few clerks in commercial life enter
upon their services through motives or
enthusiasm or loyalty to any particular
line of occupation. The majority accept
the most promising opportunities to earn
a livelihood. After they have entered
the service it is the business of the en-
ployer to encourage them to remain oy
holding out the prospect OF promotion
and of ultimate honorable retirement
upon a competence, granted as some
thing earned by long and faithful serv-
ice. The establishment that neglects this
principle works against its own interests.
The retirement principle insures enthus-
iasm after the service has begun by at
fording to every loyal worker the oppor-
tunity to make for himself a career of
honor and usefulness.
The government loses whenever an. eff
iicient clerk. recognizing the futility Of
continuance. resigns to accept employ
ment under private auspices. 1t should
he the deliberate policy of the United
States to hold in service all who are eff
ticient not merely by shielding them
from the menace of dismissal for par
tisan reasons, but by setting up the
standard which obtains in the best man.
aged private corporations of these times
and assuring to all workers OF compe-
tence decent provision for their old
age.
Retirement plans have worked we'll in
commercial lines. in large corporations,
railroad companies and other enterprises
where the value Of the dollar is as keenly
recognized as In the government service.
1t IL not to be imagined that different
results will how from the establishment
of the civil-retirement principle in the
public service departments. If a feeling
prevails in Congress that the depart
ments are not run on business principles
one of the surest means Of grating
those principles upon the service Is to
apply to them the same rules of old age
provision for faithful workers that have
gone SO successfully into effect in pri-
vate lines.
If Congress Will but regard this, propo-
sition selfishly from the business point
of view it must see the advantage to be
derived from we'll considered. wisely
administered system Of civil retirements
that will insure a wholesome current of
promotion. will afford an opportunity TO
relieve the service humanely from time to
time of the veterans who have become
incapacitated by age. and will give the
entire service the stamp of permanence
that will draw into it more efficient
class Of workers even than at present.