New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-05
Chairman Union Committee Andrew Carnegie r. l.
Sherman Marks Give The Tribune Their Ideas to
Municpalty's Duty in This Respect Toward Employees

has been riecemeal i'm its character. 1t
does not recognize the needs OF all Of those
whose work is of hazardous nature and
provide for a retiring pension in all cases.
The street cleaners, for instance, are on
the firing line. Theirs Is d dangerous occu-
nation. They must he out in all kinds Of
weather. sometimes work for excessive
hours. and they are constantly in danger
Of absorbing disease germs. In some places
cleaners are especially exposed 10 disease.
Such for instance. are the approaches 10
bridges where all sorts Of germs arc de-
posted by the throngs surgjng back and
forth through the bridge portals. We
ought 30 put I'm such places pneumatic
cleaning systems. There is no reason why
the bridge approaches. the municipal build
ings ana even street surfaces should not
Ice cleanscd in this fashion. The dirt would
be sucked UP into Dramatically sealed re-
ceptacles in which II would he retained
until destroyed. In tho case Of tho street
tho plant could "a placed on wheels and
opera ed. say. 10y a Casolere engine or stor-
ago batteries the reccptaclo- being replaced
a rapidly as Allied
There arc other hazards N the street
cleaning service also. such a. tho danger of
being run over by q carelossly driven
vehicle or an electric car. his caller eug-
costod
Yes II member of the street cleaning
force Is injured m that way and inrs paci-
tated for earning p living as result he
has no compensation for his sacrifice in the
citvs service"
- suit for damages is hts only method.
I suppose
''I think tn4t oven then his only redress
- q suit against the owner Of tho vehicle
IN many caeee the owner may not be
identified or possibly he IS not financially
able 10 make any compensation In any
case IL ie 4 long time before damages can
b. obtained In the mean Vim" tho earning
power Of tho man has been destroyed. The
work Of an inspector of ;he Health De
partment contains an element ~ hazard
which Is not recognized AZ iresent. II an
Inspector should 20 into tenement house,
get scarlet fever and die from the disease
bis widow would perhaps bc left entirely
unprovided for. That IS a risk which the
city expects certain of its employee 10
take.
There should he n recognition of the
hazard as distinct from the old age pen
sion. Roth. however. should be included
within a plan Tor pension system. The
old age retiring pension should be- alike In
an lis departments. II should be based on
two things-a given minimum age and d
given period ~ continuous service. Say.
ten wears Note that ! say the service
should bc continuous n we find that In
certain departments the standard II soy
vice requires n special physical or ontal
ftrain. nen this fact should he recognized
through the advancement 81 the retiring
age. l.: man say. n fireman, IS injured
his pension should begin - once. His WORK
should b" done under especially favorable
circumstances such as setting forward his
term OF retirement Men should not he
obliged 10 give anything from their sal
aries in order To- meet the risk 81 acct
dent. As in the case OF Industry society
should bear the whole burden Of accident
in its service. New York city through rs
taxes should foot this biz
Would You apply that principle to the
OLD age pensions. or would YOU expect tho
benedciaries to contribute asked the
caller
recommend that the beneHc,a-its pay some
thing themselves, as Is now done 10y men
in the Police Department tor instance
Under the present system Of pensions
in the Police and Fire departments are
there not men on the pension rolls who are
sim efficient, sufficiently 30 at any rate. TO