Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-01
CIVIL Pens0l,s


perannuated employees OF the govern.
nent on pensions. Senator Curtis. OF
Kansas is sponsor for tho bill There
are thousands OF clerks on the pay rolls
OF the government, who are inefficient
because Of age and innrmity. They
have been in the service for years and
are dependent on their salary for q
living. There are now something like
$500 OF these employees over the SS-year
age limit which is proposed in the bill
as the time for retirement It Is dg-
;ured tina, these men could be retired on
a pension of $50 per month. and their
places either abolished or filed with
more capable and younger men at a
saving 10 the government, OF something
like $500 900 per year. Surely this is a
real problem. These aged people must
be cared FOR. But these people only
present one horn OF the old age d.
Ilem!na-
The question at once arises. why
should an aged employe OF the govern
ment be granted an annual stipend
from The federal treasury while the
a ged man no. in the government SER
vice IS required 70 60 % the poor house
Over in England il IS proposed 70 PEN
sion al old people who nave passed the
age where they are no longer able 10
care Tor themselves. Here is this coun-
try, the railway and some other in
dustris, corporations are providing PEN
sions for superrnua,es. But AFTER
che government has provided for IT'S
pora-ions have taken care Of theirs.
i there will Sill remain an inaumerapI
most 20 be dealt with by the cities
! counties states and by individuals or
organized charity. And when al this is
done We are after a., but treating
symptoms Of what really constitutes
soc:a! disea ashland % mouth living Or
/ neg,ee.ing 70 provide for -tla inevitable
rainy day Pensions do not go 10 the
roo, % the trouble.
I Perhaps -.,e Curttss pension bill So
1 justified by the existing conditions. for
il is a condition and no. theory that
confronts the government in this mat
.e-s But Il IS high time that We began
ID cas-. about for remedies which will
go 70 the roo. OF the disease. The So
cialists are -ady win a panacea but
-aei- remedy has 10 cures 10 il. credit.
New zeauand is dealing with the prob
len, ana the plans which they are OPP
Grazing are attracting the attention OF
students =. government al! over the
world. Bu- -he New Zealang plan is a.
yet bu, an experiment.
Canada seems 10 have hit upon the
bes, plan % al. Size pensions nobody
bu- offers everyone opportunity 10 pro-
vida for old age under the government
annuity schme. Under the Canadian
system the man Of So years Of age may
retire on an annuity OF $500 year II
ne has t+gaa at 20 and paid toward his
annuity in small instruments sum OF
abou. $1,000 by the time ne has reached
IS. L IS simply bank account com
poudad a. per cent which ne can not
touch except by reason OF complete
stability in which event he may
receive back ali he has paid
iateres, OF which mis- heirs may
draw with the same interest rate added
II even. % his death. The Canada n
plan makes every individual his own
| ~ a
Of the careiessness cultivated by the
pension plan and creates no classes TO
be assured 5000 a year incomes which
they have no- earned and which they
nave earned and spent their earnings.
The government pays fair wages for
fair hours. A goyernu ent job is eager
y sought as one 20 be preferred. Why
, shouldn't the sove-nm ent ernploye pro-
vide for himself by rfrietiness as other
, workers must do? A military pension
: is a badge OF honor for It was earned.
: Men who rtsked their lives and jeop-
paid in currency worth anywhere from
20 10 so cents On the dollar, are in a
class my themselves. But the man who
; s holding JOB under the government
} from which ne can not be ousted e1-
1 cept for cause or competency thru a
/. lifetime Of service would appear 70 be
t the last one to select for the special
E favor Of $50 month pension
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