The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-10-03
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON

(From Our Washington Correspondent
The government clerks never let
one forget that they are fighting for
retirement pensions, and while Sena-
ter Heyl urn and others have declared
that there should be a limited period
of service of only a few years, after
which the clerks, profting by their
experience in the government service
should be compelled to step out, and
80 back home. TO use their added
mental equipment in their own COM
munities. yet there is no disposition
manifested among these clerks TO vol
unfairly r%elinquish their positions,
any more than there is among cleo
tive officers in the states and nation.
The civil service is supposed to pro
mote efficiency, and to reward faith
full service with better salaries and
higher positions, and to afford protec-
ton against the loss of position. How
ever government clerks are about the
only class of public servants whose
future is insecure. In all nations of
consequence, except ours, the clerks
of the government are retired on pen
sions and even in this country the
soldiers who fight our battles, the
lremen who fight fires, and the police
men who guard property from thieves
all receive pensions in the big cities.
Within the past ten years the big
corporations have fallen into line,
agreeing that it is a matter of bust
ness economy to place a premium on
long and faithful service and at the
same time automatically eliminate
the deadwood. Most cities provides
pensions for aged teachers in the pub
lie schools, and even the colleges,
which have no funds for such pur-
poses. are now taking advantage of
the pensions offered by the Carnegie
Foundation. Just whether the clerks
will eventually win their struggle APP
pears problematical, although they
have a powerful organization in the
Capital. with former United States
Senator Dick, of Ohio, at their head.
One reason urged against the clerks
is that they are as a rule highly paid,
and a good many people seem to think
should themselves make provision for
old age, without calling further upon
the government for assistance.
England's petulancy regarding the
Panama canal appears to have sub
sided. John Bull evidently thought it
worth while to make a stand for his
shipping interests, acting no doubt on
the old theory hat everything was
possible to be gained, while there was
nothing to lose. American shipping
interests are to have the benefits of
free tolls through the canal, and our
English friends no doubt believe We
are retaining for ourselves nothing
more than we are entitled to.
The Controller of the Currency has
announced that beginning October /,
that national bank examiners will, in
addition to their regular work of ex'
aiming banks, make : practice of
making diligent inquiry into outside
ventures of those in control of the
affairs of banking houses. If the Off
GERS and directors unduly concentrate
the funds Of a bank in their own ven
lures, Murray said, the Controller
feels that, in view of the fact that he
is charged with the duty of protecting
the depositors he is entitled TO know
whether the concerns in which the
funds of a bank are invested, are pay
ing or losing ventures Murray said
that in the examination of all country
banks he would insist that the board
of directors be convened and the eX-
aminer investigate their assets in
their presence and with their help and
cooperation. Previously the meeting
of the board of directors has been
discretionary with the examiner.
II will take a year and a half 10
carry out the plan 10 reduce the s.ze
of United States currency, but it is
to be done. The new money viii be
about one-third smaller than that DOW
in circulation. The design of each
denomination of every bill-Un.ted
States notes, gold and silver Ger if.
Gates, and national bank notes-Till
be of the same general nature. The
new currency will measure 6 by 2la
inches, as compared with the rs by
3.04 inches Of the present notes.
That the policy Of the United States
with reference to Central America
has reached a point where we are to
dominate the republics to the south,
is shown in the announcement Of me
advanced DOSitiOn of our