The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-03
GCR[TARY NAGEL
P[EADS FOR CIVIL
lET|REMENTA ACTION
prtance to Service Urged
Report Combinations
IN Trade Upheld.
TRUSTS NECESSARY,
UT NEED CONTROL
Time ARips Tor Readjustment and
SA4rnsn Law Adequate to
Regulate Combinations.

Regulate Combinations.
Secretary OF Commerce and Labor
Nagel, In his annual report, once more
urges that retirement system on an
adequate annuity be provided for SUPER
ANIMATED employees of the Govethment.
Mr.. Nagel does not fail to see diff
ouities in getting legislation, but he
urges the importance Of doing some-
thing for the aged clerks.
The report has this to say Of retire
tnent:
approximation In the civil service
and the proposed retirement of en-
plcyes who have passed their age Of
greatest usefulness have attracted
much attention. Considerable discussion
OF the subject has appeared in the pub
lilo press, and many Government Of
ncials In reporting on conditions affect
ing the personnel Of their respective
departments or offices have laid more
or leaB strees on the evils of superan-
nuation in the service and the neces-
eity Of providing, as has been done by
q number Of countries and private bust
ness concerns, some equitable scheme
Of retirement of those who arc no lon,.
ger able to render fair degree OF
service, but who would be left without
adequate means Of support II dismissed.
Many difficulties. OF course, may be
expected to attend the passage of any
law looking to the retirement on pay of
superannuated employees in the civil
service, whether such retirement 'is ac-
complished by annuities paid outright
by the Government or whether Il is
made possible by contributions in whole
or IN part BY the employees themselves.
Departments Old Clerks.
Incomplete reports recently received
from the bureaus show that there are
seventy-two employees Of this department
who are more or less superannuated; ;
that the aggregate Of their salaries IL
$7s.sss; and that their average age is
seventy years. Perhaps a greater
amount Of approximation and conse-
Quent loss to the Government may be-
found In the older departments and Of
fees.
its opinion on the subject of superan-
nuanon. It 10 unnecessary to again point
out the advantages and economy that
would result from the retirement, which
practically everyone admits should be
employees Of the Government who have
age"
Personnel and Merit.
Secretary Nagel also discusses the
personnel Of his department with re-
spect to efficiency and promotion on
merit. He says:
The department has about completed
the third inquiry into the efficiency of
its subordinate officers and employees.
In deciding upon this inquiry consider
able weight was given to the fact that
inquiries Of this nature stimulate en-
ployes to increased activity and cause
them to realize that they must give to
70 entitled.
THE primary object of the investiga-
department to obtain efficiency ratings
to serve as a basis In determining the
eligibility of employees for promotion,
the records Of two years ago having
been found to be no longer satisfactory
ut 10 gratifying to note that the num-
Der of employees reported as inefficient
e smaller than In the last investigation
This would d.I seem to indicate that the
Quiry had been far-reaching. .and that,
in the majority of cases, the Increased
efficiency on the part Of employees had
been OF permanent rather than a
temporary character.
Promotion System Value.
''The promotion of employees strictly
on merit Is one of the most important
factors In raising and maintaining the
efficiency Of the service. This depart
ment aims to reward those who perform
the most efficient service and who DOS
sess the qualifications required in the
positions to which promotions are
made.
''The efficiency ratings submitted fnom
time to time by the chiefs of bureaus
and offices are used as the basis In de-
termining who is best entitled to such
promotion; and whenever an employe
not having the highest rating in IFS
class Is recommended the Officer MAKING
the accommodation is required to sub.
mt satisfactory reasons before favor
aple action Is taken.
In connection with the 1878 promo
tons made during the current year. II
was necessary in only thirty-fiye in.
stances to request this additional infor-
Discussion of Trusts.
feature OF the report Of Secretary
Nagei Is his recommendations on the
trust question. He says the mere break.
Ing up OF large combinations by nc
means meets the whole trust question
He thinks the Sherman law has proved
effective, and that a degree of combi.
nation OF capital is necessary, but he
urges that there must be control of
the, great industrial corporations by a
The Secretary favors the development,
of the powers and scope of the Bureau
OF Corporations for ''the positive ad.
ministrative regulation of great indus
trial corporations
Whether the regulation shall bs
through Federal Incorporation or by a
Federal commission he thinks may bt
a secondary consideration, but he be-
Leves the time ripe for action.
In connection with the Immigration
Service Secretary Nagcl recommends
that amendments 70 the immigration
Jaws tend to relieve immigrants of un'
due hardships without letting down tho
bars to undesirables. He proposes larger
discretion to be lodged with officials t.
admit unfortunate members of incoming
families when 1t Is shown they would
be no burden on society. and recon-
mends that examination OF Immigrants
be made before they embark for this
country, and that the time for deporta-
tion of criminals be extended.
Secretary Nagel says AN important In
yestigation into the cost of living IA