Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-05
MENACE IS CITED
Return to Spells System Gov.
erning Clerks Is Seen.
HOUSE BILL Is ASSAlLEO
Committee Of 100 Scores Legislative
Appropriation Measure.
UPH0LDS THE CIVIL SERVICE
Proposed Discharge Of Those Above
Sixty-Five Is Termed
Brutal.

Inc speedfest and shortest cut "a
the restoration of the spoils system" is
the proposal of the House COMMITTEES on
appropriations as contained in the
legislative appropriation bill, relating
10 government clerks. in the opinion Of
the committee of 100 which is working
In favor of civil service retirement
system. as expressed by former Sena.
tor Dick. The committees latest bulle-
tin. issued last night, is n broadsids
against the proposed legislation aimed
at government clerks in tho latest of
the appropriation bills to be considered
by the House. 1t says:
B Whatever the purpose OF the nro-
posed legislation relating to govern
ment employees In the classified service
In the District OF Columbia, contained
In the pending Legislative, executive
and judicial bill now under considera-
ton In the House of Representatives.
| the erect OF 1t, II passed. will be to de-
developed after thirty years of le1isia-
ton, executive orders and administra-
ton.
Merit System Works Well.
THE appointment of government en-.
ployes for a term Of Ave years only
and the other provisions OF the pending
bill would be the speediest and shortest
cut to the restoration of the spoils sys-
tenn which obtained in the government
or this country from the time of An
drew jackson until a period of about
thirty years ago. at which time the
country aroused by existing conditions.
insisted on the reform of the civil serv-
Ice. and the results of thirty years per-
sistent and insistent public agitation
a permanent civil service That the
| merit system has worked to the great
advantage OF the government nd one
Will now deny.
Scarcely anything could be suggested
| more brutal and inhuman than the pro-
posed enforced discharge of men in the
government service who are sixty-five
years of age and who have grown old
and decrepit in rendering faithful service
to the government. who have labored
| faithfully and diligently I'm the hope and
confidence that assurance had been given
them under existing law to keep them in
the service as long as strength of BODY
and mind permitted them to do an honest
days work.
Violation of Obligations.
| 1.-The proposed legislation is In viola
ton of every such obligation implied or
otherwise, and would turn out on the
streets large number of public servants
at time in life when new employment
would be difficult to secure at anything
IKE llVlng wage.
Such rule would be unjust to the
government itself. because depriving it
of the service of some men still in the
prime of their usefulness. Illustrations
are numerous, but ii is only necessary to
say that this rule would have separated
DIR. Wiley from the service nearly three
years ago.. That one example illustrates
the absurdity OF the rule.
1t is strange and sad commentary
on what might be termed the ingratitude
OF republics IL this great, rich and pros
porous nation were to be less just and
less considerate of its faithful employees
than every other civilized country all of
which have some system Of retiring and
pensioning their aged and faithful en-
ployes.
Pension Plans Success.
Stripping the proposition entirely OF
any sentiment involved, a careful exami-
nation of the experiment made by other
governments and by corporations who
have adopted a pension plan goes to
show that generous provision for en-
ployes and a system of civil pensions
make both for efficiency and economy.
I'VE appoint men as officers i'm the
army and navy and as judges on the
bench who devote their entire lives TO
that particular service and on reaching a
certain age they are retired with the as
surance of comfortable living for the
rest of their days. These branches of the
government service are the most attrac-
tive of all because of this provision for
retired pay.
why should the government not treat
its civil servants in the same way. and
thus raise that service to the same high
state of efficiency which prevails in the
army and navy and on the bench?''