The Washington herald., 1912-03-25
GOTHAM GRANTS
CIVIL PENSIONS
Annuities Given New York
Employees Since Movement
Was Started Here.
MANY SETBACKs MET.
BY CHARLES DICK.

By CHARLES DICK.
A description has been given of the
civil pension system maintained in a
considerable number Of States and cities
for the relief of teachers and members
OF city police and fire departments. Since
the committee of one hundred insugu-
rated fits movement in Washington TO OBJ
in the classified service. the largest city
in the country has adopted a system
for the relief of its superannuated en-
ployes, and that system is now in opera
tion.
This is a great gain for the cause of
civil service pensions, because New York
City, of all civic organizations in the
United States, stands next 10 the Fed
ersl government itself in the amount OF
Its annual expenditure and the number
OF its employees. The New York City
civil service law went into effect about
the same time as did the civil service
law for Federal employees. in about IS5.
The campaign for civil pensions in New
York City extended over several years
and met with numerous setbacks. Public
sentiment had TO be educated and awak-
ened 10 the necessity of some such leg
islation, but when that state was reached
the fight was won and civil pensions
were in a short time an accomplished
fact.
The effort to obtain Federal legislation
for civil pensions will have the same
history. There will be the same setbacks
and discoursgements, but in the end the
effort will be crowned with success, and
success will come sooner than the pub
lie generally imagines is possible.
The story Of the campaign for civil
pensions in New York City Is told in
very interesting letter to the director of
the committee OF one hundred from Jo-
seph Haag. who has been connected with
the public service of the city of New
York for more than forty-one years. most
of that time in the department of finance
and since 1906 as secretary of the board
of estimates and apportionment. Mr.
Haag is also a m~mber Of the committee
of one hundred.
Same Arguments Used Here.
Tho arguments in favor of and against
the establishment of a retirement sys-
TEN set forth in the pamphlet published
by the committee Of one hundred are sub
stantially the same as were used in the
campaign to establish a retirement sys-
tenn for New York City. In the beginning
the fight was an uphill one II was diff
cult 10 obtain support, and for several
years the bills offered never came out of
the committees TO which they were re-
ferred.
In 1904 the legislature of the State en-
acted a measure based on contributions
and slight assistance from the city, II
necessary, creating a system of retire
ment for those in the civil service not
covered by the several retirement funds
already established for school-teachers,
hremen,s policemen, and attaches Of the
health department but the bill failed TO
receive the approval Of the mayor OF
New York.
In 1896. similar bill was enacted pro-
viding for heavier contributions by en-
ployes, which likewise failed, to receive
executive approval but th= legislature
in that year also passed bill covering
the case Of a single individual in the
employ OF the city for thirty-seven years
who had become totally blind. He held
a very responsible place and was recog-
nized as a model public servant. He was
retired under this bill. receiving an an
nuity of 1850. This was a recognition
of the principle that long and faithful
service was entitled to consideration even
after aga and inGrmities have asserted
Pensions After Thirty Years.
No further steps were taken by those
actively engaged in this work until the
advent of the present executive, William
J. Gaynor. The subject was presented
to him last year, and he expressed his
OF a measure, since enacted.
under which an employe of the city may.
in the discretion OF the board of esti-
mates and apportionment, be retired after
thirty years service in case OF physical
or mental incapac:ty to further perform
duty. at an annuity to be fixed by said
board, not exceeding one-half his aver
age salary for The last three years of
service. The expense is met entirely by
the city.
This measure, for many reasons. oper-
ates to the advantage of the taxpayer as
we'll as to any beneficiary hereunder.
II relieves the head of the department
Of the embarrassment of carrying a su-
employe. Department heads
rarely remove a faithful employe be-
cause OF disability. 1t Is only the COM
petent and faithful that survive so many
years. The unworthy and shiftless do
not After retirement he is replaced with
Younger blood, and the service is thus
The measure should be an
Incentive TO the younger and more ac-
tive to exert their best efforts to obtain
tenure and promotion and also attract to
the service permanently talent which 1t
needs and which now seeks early oppor-
tUnity for private engagement Imagine
the anxiety this measure will in time re-
lieve for many who feed themselves
growing old and incapable Of rendering
the service they once performed Very
few have accumulated sufficient to even
provide for meager existence In their |
old age.
Superannuation is the sequence to civil
service. 1t prevents arbitrary appoint !
ments as well as removals, thus estab- |
Iishing tenure of office. This measure |
adopted for New York will enable the |
city to retire its present superannuated |
employees and keep the service unem- |
barrassed from this source in the future. |
1t is a step in the direction of the |
eventual establishment of a uniform re- |
tirement system based on length OF
service as well as incapacity.
Why would not a similar measure. en-
acted for the Federal service be wise |
step in the same direction?
Maryland College Event.