New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-16
URGES FAIR PLAY FOR LABOR
Government Should Set Example IL
Pension System, Says Employe


Sir: The United States government ex-
lists primarily, of course. for the purpose
OF establishing Justice and maintaining law
and order within its borders. Aside. how
ever. from its strictly governmental func-
tons. il is charged with other duties and
responsibilities 1t is corporation con-
Quoting business on large scale. ana 1t Is
the greatest Of all employers or labor.
Being thus conspicuous In the fields OF
business and labor. IL ought 10 be an eN-
ample and model TO every one similarly en-
Gagged Such is far from being the case
ANY business firm that was as dilatory' not
to say dishonest, I'm meeting the JUST ue-
mands OF its creditors as the government
Is. would be so generally eNecrated ana
stunned that il would be forced into bank
ruptcy, and when we come to It's treat
ment OF employees its record Is equally dis-
creditable The salaries Of most OF them
we're fixed back in 1884, on low scale
since then the cost Of living has much more
tLan doubled. and Congress recognizing the
fact has trchled it's own compensation out
never a raise for the poor clerks who are
paid less than good mechanics. Almost any
day in Congress. and particularly In Prosi-
Dental campaign years one may hear
fervid pleas for the bettcrment Of labor,
and derco dcnuuciation of the soullcss cor
porations who Cypress IT, but It means
nothing II II did Congress would hasten
to treat the labor II employs at least as
we'll as the corporations do theirs. Tho
corporations not only pay higher wages.
hut they ara very generally not only pro-
yiding for tho sick and those injured I'm
their work without charge, but they are
establishing retirement pensions for their
employees who have been faithful and grown
old I'm their service I'm some instances bear
ing all the expense themselves. and In
others sharing IL evenly. Why should Con-
crcssmen who arc constantly reprovng tho
corporations for their shortcomings he less
considerable and liberal n tho labor en-
ployed by tho government than they are?
Mr.. Glletts bill makes government clerks
bcar the entire expense Of their own re-
Irement. and that without any increase OF
usy. n fagranty unjust proposition. which
were an attempt mad" 10 force Il upon the
employees ~ a mill would lead 10 an inme-
date and wholly justhable strike.
Senator Cummlns, II Iowa, has introduced
n measure which is even worse. he pro
noses that every clerk. without any increase
Of pay. hand over monthly per cent Of his
salary. which It would bo impossible for
many t. do. to he kept in the Treasury at
Interest until such time as he shall become
suporaunuated, when he is TO be paid So
600. II man is able and willing 10 save
per cent OF his salary there are plenty Of
Swings banks where he can put Il without
turning I, over To tho government, and the
,t.lAl Ia
safeguards which the retirement system
provides. and the principal reason for
which every civilized government I'm the
world has established II: that is, that when
a man has worked all his life AT a salary
that has rot admitted of his saving any
thing he shall bc sure for tho rest of the
time after he has become incapaCitated Of
n reasonable support suppose a man who
has been paid $1,000 a year retres at
seventy and Is given $1,000. He cannot
subsist on loss than he has been receiving.
and if he lives past seyenty-hve he becomes
Il paupcr i'm his extreme helplessness. or
he may on receiving it lose it or be cheated
out of it. whereas under the wise. humane
and tested methods Of other governments
he is certainly provided for.
Surely the United States at n time when
so much is being said and done for tho
benefit and uplift OF labor. and at a time
when both parties are processing them
selves devoted to its interests. ought TO
prove its sincerity by treating the labor
for which IT is wholly responsible at least
as justly and generously as not only other
governments. but its own much berated
corporations do. Neither Mr.. Glletts nor
Nh. Cumminss bill approaches such
standard.
congressman may, 10 matter how loudly,
profess their devotion 10 the interests OF
labor on the stump and in nominating con-
ventions. but when II is understood as II
will be- that they refuse TO treat the labor
for whose condition they are solely re-
sponsiblo with anything like justice. II will
all go for what 1t is-wnd and buncombe.
New York. May Is. 1912. EMPLOYE.