The Washington herald., 1912-05-12
By CHARLES DICK,
s-.+or Comuitts. Of One Hundred.


II Is about one year since the Commit
tee of One Hundred began active work
TO secure legislation which would relieve
the government Of the problem OF super
annIation in the service. and do II In q
vay which would be fair TO the govern
ment as well as TO its faithful servants
who had grown old IN the service. A
review of what has been accomplished for
this cause in the past year affords the
greatest encouragement that ultimate sue
cess is not far distant. More has been
accomplished in the past year than any
previous year.
The United States has for over half
a century retired its army and navy
officers on three-fourths pay on reaching
the ages Of sixty-four and sixty-tvo.
respectively, and has retired Federal
judges on full pay on reaching the age
OF seventy. The proposition. however TO
make a somewhat similar provision for
employees in the classified civil service
was such a departure from former meth
DDS that it did not awaken an imme-
dIate favorable response on the part Of
the public. II was necessary. therefore.
10 commence a campaign Of agitation
and education to acquaint the people at
large with the real reasons underlying
the demand for this innovation
Railroads Adopt Plan.
The policy OF foreign governments in
pensioning their civil employees did not
appeal strongly to the American public
as a reason for pensioning civil employees
in the service of the United States, be-
cause conditions abroad are entirely diff
ferent from what they are in this coun-
try. Opportunities for acquiring COM
potency are much greater IN this coun-
try than elsewhere. Within the last few
years however a large number Of Amer
lean railroad companies and a steadily
increasing number OF industrial corpo-
ratlons employing thousands OF men.
have put into operation civil pension sys-
TENS. These corporations have adopted
such a policy because they were salts
fed It was to their financial advantage
to do so. notwithstanding its cost.
Every one living in Washington is
more or less familiar with the super
annuation problem as 1t exists in the
government here. and knows personally
of cases Of old clerks who are still
carried on the payroll and draw full
salary for which they are able to rem
der very little return. II Is plain to
very one that the retirement OF such
clerks and filling their places with
younger and able-bodied men and wo-
men would work to great advantage and
saving for the government To turn
these old people out to starve or to
make them dependent upon charity for
a living would be heartless and cruel
Public sentiment is overwhelmingly
against any such course, as was evil
denced by the storm of indignation
aroused by the provision in the legis-
tive. executive, and judicial bill report
ed to the House, which proposed to re-
tire all clerks in the service at Wash
ington at the age OF sixty-five. The
elimination of that provision. which was
done by voluntary withdrawal last week
was one important step gained in the
campaign for civil pensions for superan- !
nuated Federal employees.
Indications Are Favorable.
Two other important events marking |
great progress in the campaign are the |
recent message Of the President favoring |
civil pensions based on the contributory |
plan and the report by the Senate Com
mittee on Civil Service made through |
is chairman, Senator Cummins, of Iowa |
Both are carefully considered measures |
The Presidents message Is based on !
Iha ren0rf of the COF1r1 fssiOp op acnnop,1y |