The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-28

Secretary OF Commerce and Labor
NageI comes TO the rescve Of civil serv-
ice employees who are opposed to the Gil
lett bill for retirement under a con-
tributory plan.
The Secretary finds himself unable TO
agree with Secretary Macveagb. who IS
for the GilIett measure Mr. Nagel
strongly urges that only a straight civil
pension plan would be tUstifiable, unless
salaries are decidedly TO be increased
He points out that salaries are now low.
and to deduct anything from them, in
order 10 make up the retirement fund.
would increase -he present hardship on
employees.
Secretary Nagei has been a careful in
vestigator Of the working and efficiency
conditions in the civil service, and he
fatty declares that almost any plan
which would retire superannuated en-
DlOyes would be. from the standpoint Of
the Government. acceptable as a means
Of relieving the unfortunate conditions
which now exist throughout the service.
but the heavy draft on comparatively
low salaries under coutributOry system
would b. a hardship and might work
an injus5iceato the employees"
Secretary's Views.
Secretary Eagel's contribution 20 this
discussion follows:
Probably no question dealing with
| the personnel Of the service has been so
! seriously considered during the past
year as. that relating to superannuation-
Most civilized countries now provide
/ equitable means for the retirement Of
their employees, as DO many OF the
| state and municipal governments, as
well as corporations and large indus
/ tries, Of this country.
The problem was encountered and
/ dealt with IN the United States army
/ and navy fifty years ago. It is nov
/ critically present and awaiting solution
/ II the civil department Of the Govern
/ menL While many unacQUainted with
/ actual conditions have frequently ap-
I preached the subject IN a Styi~it OF
/ hunanltarianisIn, most OF those iI, and
/ out Of the service now lock upon super
4 annuation as an unavOidabls CCntin-
/ gency which must be met by the ap-
I plicatlOn Of modern ideas and strictly
/ business PRINCIPLES
Until tLis is done department Off
( Gals viii continue 20 bear the burden
l Of an inefficient force rather than
place themselves On record e remov-
Ing, @ even reducing q public servant
! who has become incapacftated while
! In the faithful performance Of duty.
/ Therefore, while humanitarian reasons
-
I visa bility, and in fact the duty Of pro
( viding q system OF retirement. II Is now
1 being recognized quite generally tina;
/ the CONDITIONS are such as TO more than
E justify II from a strictly ecOuomiCal
point Ct yIeE.- The retirement Of AGED
i and supeTannuated employees under some
/ liberal system would likely result +, a
/ positive financial saving by creating o1-
/ pOTtunity for the employment OF yOunE 2
I men who are able TO do t.o to three
/ times as much work for the salaries
4 paid
Would Provide for Workers
1T. is. therefore. important that the
/ subject have serious attention. 10 the
[ end that the GoveTnLlentmay be con-
Quoted in the most economical manner
+ and at the same time provision be made
for faithful servants who have devoted
/ their entire lives 70 the transaction OF
I the pubic business
! Reports recently submitted by tho
/ bureau officers show that there are 10
/ employees IN the department sixty-fivg
! years Of age or over, whom they would
I be willing TO recommend for retirement
} II some suitable system Of providing
I an annual income were In force The
aggregate salaries Of these employs