The Washington times., 1913-11-17
CIVIL SERVICE NEEDS.

men and political parties toward the civil service
realizes that Democrats in general are less dis
posed than Republicans to adopt such measures
pensioning, retirement, and merit systems to regu
late promotions within the Government service. Th
outlook for attaining these greatly needed aids t
efficiency is not so good as it was before the Demo
Gratis came into power.
| Yet it may be doubted if conditions are so UT
| favorable may appear at first blush. For man
years the Democrats have been largely exclude
from the Government service in the higher positions
and quite naturally they have persisted in the feel
ing that it was political pension system. In truth
aside the small minority of executive places
it has in late years been nothing of the kind Poltc
has had nothing to do with the application of meri
and efficiency tests. But the smaller number o
places that have been maintained as political per
quisites have been so much more prominent, tina
the unfortunate impression has gained lodgment
that the civil service, under Republican adminstra
ton, was political adjunct Therefore, Democrat
have developed general hostility to the whole sys
TEN, and the suggestion of doing things for tht
civil service workers has come to be regarded a:
merely move to strengthen the Republican hole
on the jobs, and to make the jobs better for t.le
Republican holders.
This is most unfortunate attitude for grea
party to entertain To the extent that there is JUST
fcation for it, it proves that there has been buncombe
and nsincerity in the civil service system. There has
been something of these elements but not nearly sc
much as the average Democratic politician believes
Democrats, as a class, do not take kindly to the
theory of pensoning aged employees. That, again, is
not remarkable. The Democratic South has had nc
especial reason to demonstrate enthusiasm over q
military pension system that it found pouring out
f. C.
people who lived mainly in the North and West. So
the very word pension came to have grating sound
in the average Southern ear, and no very pleasant
ring in any Democratic ear.
All of which is no discredit to the Democrats or
to the Southern people. They are human; but no
more human than the people on the other side of
these questions.
These prejudices, whose origin is obvious and
whose persistence is perfectly natural none the
less unfortunate because of their effect on the DOM
nant parys attitude toward the civil service. Two
years ago it seemed altogether probable that broad
and intelligent scheme of civil service reorganiza-
ton might be executed by the Government 1t SEEM
ed likely include plans for retiring aged employees
with incomes sufficient to insure their comfort; CIV
ing their places to younger and more efficient people,
who would not only give larger value for their wages
but also would be inspired by the prospect Of quick
er promotion to try to deserve that promotion.
With the change in party domination the out
look for these important reforms has been less PROM
sing Therefore, the more need for special exer-
ton in order to make the now ruling powers appre-
ciate that there is real need for these progressive
policies.
This is strictly practical question. plan of
civil service retirements and age pensions would
help take the civil service out of politics. 1t would
increase efficiency. 1t would make the Govern
ments work cost less rather than more. These
facts have need to be pressed upon the people who
are now responsible.
The celebration of retirement day by the Ma
tona Association of Civil Service Employees, in
New York, was move toward directing attention to
these problems. Congressman Hamill of New .Jer-
sey, author of an excellent civil service retirement
bill, talked to the meeting. So did George W. Per-
kins, of the Steel Corporation and the Harvester
Corporation, both of which have adopted pension
and retirement plans for purely business reasons;
so did Frank A. Vanderbilt president of the National
City Bank, which also has model system of the
same kind.
The great civil service army is entitled at least
to as good treatment big corporate employers pro-
vide for their workers. The Government ought to
lead, not to follow in such works of social welfare
and economic efficiency. The governments do thus
lead, in other countries. Their experiences have
borne out the demand so strongly pressed here, for
like systems in this country. Many American cities,
and particularly our public school systems to very
large extent, have inaugurated pension plans. The
National Government is suffering the evils which
inevitably must flow from rejection of such intelli-
gent methods. 1t is time for progressive-minded
Democrats, clothed with the responsibility for
initiating such measures, to give attention to them.
1t will prove to be both good business and excellent
politics -