The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-28

confidently be counted on TO transact the
government business in a more efficient
way. Secretary OF the Treasury Mac
Veagh says on this point that:
The service Is blocked IN many IN
stances by the unwillIngness OF the OF
cials in charge 10 throw out Of place
worthy men and women who have given
the best OF their lives 10 the work Of
the government So that. in a very i'm
perfect and wholly unsatisfactory man
ner. practically a pension system is, and
long has been. in operation"
Secretary Of the Interior Ballinger says:
An Involuntary retirement and sus-
tenance statute, by which ell persons
after arriving at a prescribed age. or
for other reasons, should be required 70
stand an examination before a competent
board as 10 physical and mental ability
with a fund created by national appro-
priat!on-in the first instance and main
tanned by some equitable system or con-
tribution from salaries-would seem 10
me 10 be advisable"
Mr. William F. Woolard. chief clerk
Of the Patent Office. says:
Chief Clerk in Favor.
Am I In favor Of the retirement OF
superannuated government employees? 7
certainly am. There are in the Patent
Office about 100 persons who would be
eligible for retirement under any Of the
plans which have been proposed. Most
Of these clerks have served the Office
well, but have become incapacitated for
further efficient work. mainly through
age. but many through the gradual fall
ure OF their physical and mental powers.
have no objection TO any Of the plans
advanced. but think civil pension list,
supported entirely by the Treasury, an
impossibility at present. ANY efforts in
behalf OF a pension list az this time
would be futile. for the reason that pub
lie sentiment has not yet been created
in a degree which would make the same
acceptable. However, am confident that
a straight civil pension list would be a
matter Of economy for the government.
inasmuch as the retirement OF about 10
per cent OF the older clerks every year
would result in an infusion OF younger
blood into the government service, and
bring It's efficiency TO the highest point.
do not see why the contributory plan
should not be put into operation at once.
II we could retire 100 employees OF the
Patent ONCE. il would mean the i'm
mediate promotion OF about all OF the
persons OF the lower grades. and the
increase in salary for a single year,
which would come to those promoted.
would probably. through this unusual
method, be sufficient 10 pay all assess
ments during their continuance in serv-
ice; otherwise, they would be obliged to
await slow and uncertain promotion I'M
der the present system. with likelihood
Of becoming disabled and disqualified for
promotion. Inasmuch as the government
would be vastly benefited by an i'm
mediate retirement plan, the expense
thereof should be borne by the Treas
ury until It was fairly launched. and
thereafter the persons in the civil serv-
ice should carry the burden themselves.
One hundred people in the Patnet Of
fee are doing clerical work for s72O per
year. Some of these are widows with
children dependent upon them for sup
port These people DO good work and yet
have little opportunity for advancement
as a class. I think thar all appoint
ments TO the clerical force should be
made at $500 per year, and It is asking
too much to require good clerks to work
as those in the Patent ONCE do, ct $50
mar month"