The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-09-06
TAFT FOR CIVIL
SERVICE PENSION
TAvoRS sUHYoEcED" xHD, WITH
HRNlGEHT GWA1IHG ExPEHsE.
Tsils rostofflos Enpsoyss That Palt1ful
Servant uesdnf Pear DtsohArGs
Under Ms Administration

BOSTON. Mass. Sept 5.-Prestdsnt
Tart Tuesday night contracted conditions
thAt confronted a President IN the days
OF the spoils system with the System OF
appointment under the civil service. at
tackled the Democratic house OF repre-
sentatives for attempting to limit the
tenure or government employees, and de-
claTed that, 80 long as he had the power,
no faithful government clerk need fear
discharge unless the United States has
provided a system OF civil service pen
eions TO keep him from want in old age
The President spoke in Faneuil Hall to
several hundred postoffice employees now
Job OF President IN these days is not a
thing OF Joy when appointments are con-
sidered. but the times OF Lincoln. Ell add
ed. must have been perfect hell"
More than anything else he has encoun-
tered IN the White House. Mr. Taft said.
the filling OF vacancies thai are not I'M
der the civil service has proved irksome
and distasteful TO him. and three times
he has urged congress in special mes
sages to extend the blanket OF the civil
service TO all government employees.
three hours before his train left for
Washington "Wednesday night. to speak
20 the clerks. He limped into Faneuil
Hall with his right foot in bandsges and
wearing on ~ loose slipper instead OF
n shoe. The foot was injured several
days ago while Mr.. Taft was playing
Sgain He was able To stand without aid
and did not use a cane in walking. II Is
expected that he will be able to go out
on the links again when he returns to
Tat cn..r.d.
Mr.. Taft was wildly cheered when he
entered Faneuil Hall Congressman
Greene. OF Massachusetts,, had preceded
him and had praised the President for
his veto OF the Legislative. executive and
judicial appropriation bill when IL con-
years the tenure OF civil service EN-
pioyes.
The President began by praising the
faithful. skillful, Intelligent employees
% the government who have built up the
machine OF government In l25 years. so
that no matter>what President or cabi-
net officer. OF bureau chief leaves Wash
ington for vacation. the public business
goes on and the government wheels still
turn He said he had personally observ-
ed that machine in operation for many
years. and knew its faults and its good
points.
The charge has been made" he de-
clared. with a bang of his fist on the
speakers table, that government EN-
ployes are overpaid That Is not true. I
know OF hundreds OF men a. Washington
who are not compensated within five
times. or even ten times OF what they
would have received under modern con-
ditiOns In other lines I do not mean to
say that ] favor an advance In salaries
OF five or ten times what they get now.
but the government should assure these
men OF psrmanencs OF tenure. and that
trey will be taken care OF In their old
age"
The speaker explained that once he
favored a system OF strsight-out pen
sions for government employees. After
observation OF the working Of this sys-
tom abroad. however. he had come TO the
conclusion that IL WIS not the best. and
that IL made for smaller salaries and
less rapid advancement of the worthy.
Tor Enforced" Pensions.
And now" he continued. Il believe In
system that might be called an en-
forced system OF pensions. where the
government pays part and the employees
contribute at we'll"
Mr.. Taft gave his reasons for the veto
OF the legislative ball lie said that not
only did he oppose IL because u was I'M
| fair, but because II would have accom-
| piished nothing. but made the life OF
| congressrnen ana Presidents concerned
| In reappointmenta unbeatable.
| The bill would have accomplished
/ nothing good" he said 1t would Just
be like beating the devil around the
] bush"
with a picture Of how many appoint.
Z ments were made IN the days before evn
/ service. the President concluded his ad.
4 dress
1T must have been perfect hell in
I those days" he enid. Il speak with en-.
I connected with the government that a.
I interfercs with the administration Of the
b office a. the applications and pressure
/ that are brought % bear TO ri thosf
offices that are not now under the civil
! service"
Before boarding his private car FOR
| Washington. Mr. TAFT was "a guest nj
dinner ~ Congressman Weeks. OF Mass.
I achusetts