Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-19
The Civil Retirement Problem.

Commissioner Saltzgaber declares him
self in favor OF civil retirement in the
light Of his compulsory dismissal of q
large number of pension Office clerks due
to the reduction Of the appropriations.
He admits that back home there is a
lack of sentiment for civil pensions, the
farmers particularly failing to under
stand why the government employe
should be pensioned in his old age, and
he suggests, inferentially, that possibly a
way out of the difficulty may be found
in some form Of general old-age pension.
This matter Is to be considered strictly
on its merits as a government business
problem. 1t is not socialistic PROPOSE
ton at all, but situation which directly
affects the welfare Of the public service.
There is no logical connection between
the old-age retirement plan and any of
the schemes of general old-age pensions
that have been adopted in other coun-
tries The United States employs a GER
tain number Of people for the transac-
ton Of Its business, selecting them on a
merit basis, and supposedly retaining
them in service during efficiency and
good behavior. In consequence men and
women grow old in the ranks and to a
clerks with their years. Then they begin
TO wane in physical powers and conse-
quently in their clerical abilities.
strictly selfish policy on the part Of
the government would dictate the drop
ping Of these people as soon as they
show signs Of deterioration, but humane
considerations have heretofore properly
prompted their retention. with down.
ward-sliding scale of salaries, seriously
congesting the ranks and preventing q
satisfactory system of promotions for the
younger employees. In effect. the govern
ment has for q long time been maintain
ing a civil pension list in the retention
Of these veteran clerks on the roll at re-
duced pay, but in circumstances the
least conducive to efficiency in the serv-
ice and without assuring the elder clerks
permanence of employment or compensa-
ton.
The government has lost heavily in the
past by this halfway method Of provid-
ing for the veterans Of its employment
1t has weakened the spirit of its en-
ployes. caused many of the younger work.
ers early in their official careers to cast
about for other employments, using the
government service merely as stepping
stone to something else. 1t has thus
wasted the cumulative effect Of expert
ence and fidelity which assurance of flu
ture provision produces in any business
tablishment
IL the governments interests and a hu-
name consideration for the welfare Of its
employees dictate the adoption of some
form of civil service retirement, a plan
to that effect could be adopted regard
Iess Of what the farmers or others back
home may think or are supposed to
think Of the proposition. II it is right
and businesslike and desirable that the
government should solve this problem as
have large industrial corporations Of this
country, that course should be adopted
in a non-political spirit. without refer
ence to prejudice on the part Of unin-
formed people in the congressional dis
tricts.
Commissioner Saltzgaber has now been
in ONCE long enough to realize the value
of compact. satisfied force of clerks,
unterrified by threats of demotion and
dismissal on the score of advanced
years. His declaration in favor Of some
form Of civil retirement, in the light OF
the wholesale dismissals which he is now
compelled TO order. should be regarded
as an expert view and should strengthen
the cause Of departmental pensions in
Congress.