Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-11
GARRISON FAVORS
CLERKS PENSIONS
Secretary,of War lndorses Re-
=
tirement System in First
Annual Report.
COMPULSORY SAVINGS
THOUGHT BETTER PLAN
Not Believed Any Method Will Be
Provided in Near Future Which
Calls for Larger Appropriation.

A strong Endorsement Of the principle
of retirement for superannuated en-
ployes of the government is feature
of the first annual report of Secretary
Garrison OF the War Department
Conferences with the bureau chiefs
of this department and study Of the
subject generally" says Secretary Gar
rison, lied me to the conclusion that
some provision for retirement of faith
full employees for approximation at a
prescribed age will work to the advan-
tage of the government in the civil
service, and is demanded If this service
is to be administered on better business
principles, as now recognized in the case
Of large private business organiza tions.
THE Gillett bills, the Austin bill, the
economy and efficiency commission bill.
and the War Department plan all provide
in effect for a compulsory savings form
Of retirement instead of a straight pen
sion provided entirely by the government.
Favors Retirement System.
Il feel quite sure that it is practicable
to save the government money and to
benefit the government service by estab-
fishing a retirement system. l do not
believe, however, that there is any possi-
bility of such system being provided
for in the near future by any measure
from the Federal Treasury than would
be required to pay the annuities for
those now in the service-that is, the en-
tire annuity Of all those who are now
of the annuity of all others now in the
service who shall remain therein until
they reach seventy years of age; and l
think it wise that the maximum annuity
of which the government pays any part
should be fixed at One-half the annual
lar for Wi lar
of $1,000 or less, and at $500 for those
whose annual salary exceeds $1,000.
"All persons who accept employment
under the federal civil service after the
passage of retirement act should do
so under provisions of law which would
compel the accumulation of a fund de-
rived from monthly deductions from their
salaries that would make it humanely
them at seventy years of age. or be.ore
that age should superannuation or other
disability require it.
Objection to Straight Pension.
"Mr Hamill has introduced and strong
Iy advocates u bill, which was referred
to the committee on reform in the evil
service on May Is, 1913, which provides
for a straight pension. Objections have
been urged against a straight pension
paid for entirely by the government that
in practice it has operated unsatisfac-
torily in countries where It has been tried
and that it has tendency to defeat the
primary interest of the government in
the matter, which is to produce a condi-
ton under which an employe OF long
and faithful service may without inhu-
manity be removed when he reaches a
condition of incapac.ty to render effective
service.
Under the contributory plan an en-
ploye after considerable length OF
service would receive periodically from
the fund accumulated by his contribu-
tions a sum sufficient TO keep him from,
actual want, whereas under the straight
pension plan he cannot derive any bene-
tit from the pension until he reaches
the prescribed age. In other words. under
the straight pension plan there would be
almost the same situation that con-
fronts us now, namely, the retention i'm
the service, through considerations Of hu-
manity, of persons who have become In
capacitated for efficient service"