New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-05

TCENTLY a special coumittee ~
~ tho Citizens Union. which for
v nearly a wear has been studying the
question Of retirement pensions for civil
~crvice employees Of New York City. made a
report. The committee found that the pres
cnt pension system was particularly unfair
20 the city. giving special and unUarranted
privileges 20 employees in some departments,
particularly the Police and Fire and tcno-
ing toward an increasing cost 10 the CITY.
The report pointed ont that 1t was within
the range Of possibility that '1f continued
or tho present basis. the pension rolls OF
-he Police and Fire departments will In
time reach or exceed the active psyrolls.
Those ~ the Fire Department the re-
port continued. "row amount 10 1913 per
cen, and Of the Police Department 70 l27
re- cent Of the active payroll I'm 1909 the
budget appropriated 100000 for police pen
eious ibis year. We understand. 10000 is
asked for This purpose. and report re-
Gently appeared IN the daily press that
next year tho direct contribution demanded
from tho budget will ne 100000. In con
frsst with this. payments FOO the Depart
rent of Education amount TO IL per cent
Of the active payroll IN industrial enter
prisrs cf a private character. where ON
uloves do not contribute pensions appear
20 average not more than per cent of tho
payroll
The Tribune has invited expressions Of
opinion ON the subject of municipal pen
eions from n number Of persons who have
given the subject attention. Among these
arc Andrew carnegie. Arthur Williams. the
tntendcnt of tho New York Edison com
pany. y TccumSeh sherman, formerly
state 'orumiesoncr 81 Labor and Marcus
" Marks. o. tho National civil. Fedora
rou.
Somehow one does not thipk of tho biz
binding ~ the corner Of Elm and Duane
streets. with IT. towering steel stacks. rs
an Office building Tho passerby glauces IN
through the great doorway on tho ground
Coor, and perhaps ne stops few minutes
10 observe m" quiet and smooth operation
Of tho m ghty dynamoe Of the Edison corr
pany. set up ou edge like so many giant
white cuamellcd watch cases. II is only
biz power plant 10 the casual observer.
81 the southern end of the seventh floor
D. IN apartment Of roomy proportions.
pom the walls hang sketches and Other
PICTURES. some Of them souvenirs OF Jour
uoyings i'm other lands About the sides
Of tho room arc filing cabinets - tasty
design iu dark oak 10 match the wpojwork
and the heavy desks and chairs. ~ Is the
apartment Of a man a. taste.
AZ The desk sits a man OF open countc-
nance and IN tho prime of life. There - a
little iron gray tinCc To his dark hair,
tho slight premature change that one sees
in some men and which gives Ga" impres-
O.. ON mat n IS somehow connected Win GO
task Of carrying burden Of responsible
i,s. Yet a. he rises from his chair and
smiles there is q hEhtncss about his bear
ing that bellies the teltalo hair. Appar'
eutIv the smile and the bearing are a re-
ecc,iop OF "a habit Of optimism, born Of "A
broad outlook and an effort 10 realize an
ideal The man Is Arthur Williams, The
director of the energies Of the Edison pow
.r plants Of the city. and chairman 81 NC
.itI,ene Union committee. The other cty
Ia discussed the pension needs OF the m"-
,.io,,,a1,tv Of New York with representa-
tive of The Tribune.
..,yc have studied the pension systems Of
cerroanv. France and England SAID MI
,vr,sr,s THE FIRST thing we recommend
&C. ,hs, q pension system should b. adopted
=. che CITY and that II should include All
- o,orIoves In al the departments. There
arc AT the present time sixteen depai L
-,.s,,s only I'VE Of which-the Police, Fire
rdnca,ion. Health and F1nance-have any
,,r.,op plan Whatsoever Past 'eg1slsnoh