Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-21
Sympathy Expressed for Those
Dropped From the WASH
mgton Post Office Rolls.
DUTY OF GOVERNMENT
TO PROVIDE FOR CLERKS
Legislation for Superannuated EN-
ployes Regarded as Probable-Com-
ment on Present System.

cen old soldiers who recently lost their
jobs in the Washington post office was
expressed today by members of the Sem
ate. democrats and republicans alike.
Senators insisted that it was the duty OF
the government to make some provision
for the care of the old soldiers.
Senator Kern of Indiana, democratic
leader Of the Senate. said that as an en-
ployer of labor the government must be
held responsible for superannuated en-
ployes.
1T is inhuman to turn off some Of the
old employees Of the government" said
Senator Kern. land leave them to go to
the workhouse or die. ! wouldn't turn
an old horse out to die
Senator Kern said he believed some
plan should be devised to pension the
superannuated employees now in govern
n1ent service But he added that he
thought the present system entirely
wrong. and that no life appointments
should be made. but all appointments to
the civil service should be for a term of
years, say five years. In this way, he
said. men and women would not be apt
to remain in the service, as they do now,
until they have lost all ambition and
could not make a living if they were
doors.
Unable to Save Money.
Il have seen young men from my own
state grow old in the civil service of the
government in Washington" said Sem
ator Kern, 'and 1 consider it great mis-
take. These men have been unable to
save money on the salaries paid them.
out of the service they will have no
means of supporting themselves
Senator Kern said that case that ap-
pealed to him even more than did those
of the eighteen old soldiers had been
brought to his attention through the re-
tirement from the Washington post Of
ice OF an aged woman from his state.
This old lady has a sister whom she
has been supporting on the money she
made as an employe of the post office "
said Senator Kern. He said that she
had been forced to resign for the good
of the service and that now she and
her sister were practically destitute. He
said that he had taken up the case with
Postmaster General Burleson and other
officials. and that he thought some posi-
ton would be found for her.
Views of Senator Cummins.
Senator Cummins of Iowa. formerly
chairman of the Senate committee on
civil service. and at present member
of that committee. said that he thought
some special provision should be made
10 pension all old soldiers who had been
honorably discharged and who had
actually seen service for their country.
He Is the author of the civil service re-
tirement bill. which was formerly re-
ported to the Senate from the commit
tee.
Senator Cummins believes that the re-
tirement system should rest upon basis
of contributions on the part Of the\en-
ployes of the government themselves,
and that the government should only
appropriate such money as was neces-
sary to begin the operation Of the sys-
tenn, and to care for some of the old
employees who are not able and have not
the time to contribute anything to re-
tirement fund.
Senator Pomerene OF Ohio. present
chairman of the civil service committee.
said that he preferred not to discuss the
cases of the eighteen old soldiers recent
ly dismissed from the post office because
he did not know the details OF the cases.
He said that under the condition OF the
legislative calendar it was impossible TO
attempt any legislation looking to a re-
tirement system for the civil service en-
ployes of the government at this time.
Others Interested.
Senators Gallinger. New Hampshire.
and Shively. Indiana, expressed their
sympathy with the old soldiers and de-
clared that something should be done
to care for such cases. Senator Shively
said that he probably would make some
INQUIRIES regarding the matter.
"Of course. old soldiers are like other
people" said Senator Shively. land they
must grow old and their efficiency de-
crease But something should be done
for them.