The Washington times., 1916-12-07
Baker, in Report, Advocates
Clerks Retirement for Age
And Disability.
CHIEF THING TO BE DONE
Believes Law Would Improve
Service as Industries
Have Profited.

Arguing that the Federal Govern
mont Is and should be a model en-
pIoyer," Secretary OF War Baker in
his annual report today urged law
for the retirement Of superannuated
and disabled civil service Government
employees.
Secretary Baker goes further than
to advocate an age retirement pen
sion law, and urges law authorizing
retirement for disability arising dur
ing service with only a minimum
length OF service requirement. This
would be along the lines of the regu-
lar army which allows retirement
with pay for officers disabled in tho
service.
Should Fellow Industries.
Various industrial and transporta-
tion companies have found Il to
their interest to retire and pension
superannuated employees, Secretary
Baker points out. He believes the
Government should do at least as
much as private employers are doing.
Presenting his reasons for urging a
retirement law, Secretary Bakers re-
.rhe provisions now made by the
Government in tho matter OF COM
pensation. hours OF labor. vacations,
sick leave, and holidays, are all wise.
ly generous both as an example and
as establishing a harmonious and
and empioyc. whicn both conserves
the spirit and health of the employe
and secures for the employer that
willingness and good will out OF
which service OF maximum efficiency
naturally arises.
chief Thing t. be Done
'.rhere seems 10 remain rs the chief
thing yet TO be done this provision for
retirement upon approximation The
law ought not. In my judgment. TO pro-
vide a moro service pension rs has
sometimes been done In municipal and
state services in this country. under
which employees who have served n
stipulated number OF years are nu-
thcriEed 20 retire irrespective OF their
ability still to render competent SER
.The law ought rRthcr. upon a mini
mum service required. 20 authorize re-
tirennent either Tor disability arising in
tho course OF the service or occa stoned
by the service itself. and this retire.
ment should be In tho hands OF COM
pctent authority which would deter
pioye further TO render adequate SER
vice in his place OF employment The
effect OF such n law would be to give
An assurance Of a competent and COM
Portable old age.
wsuld Improve Service.
1T would relieve the empioyc from
the fear Of loss OF occupation and OF
livelihood. would further inspire him to
loyalty to the Government ms an en-
pioyer. thus improving the general
quality OF tho service rendered by Gov
"a Ia l.
ready high. and would permit the re-
placement OF some employees In the
various departments who have long and
faithfully served the Government and
reached venerable but enfeebled years
without having had an opportunity TO
accumulate any competence upon which
their retirement can rest"
Labor Secretary Urges Pension.
Enactment OF AN equitable system
OF employees retirement which will
best subserve the interests OF ef.
ficiency and economy and at the
Same timo insure fasr financial for
service are entitled 10 some consid-
GRAFTON In their declining years, In
strongly recommended by Secretary
OF Labor Wilson In his report TO Con
gress today.
Attention Is drawn to the difficuI.
ties confronting executive officers OF
the Government impelied In the In.
terests OF good administration to dis
pense with the service OF employees
whose efficiency has been impaired
by advancing years.
Views OF Wilson.
ION the one hand they are met
with the fact that the business OF the
could be more efficiently
handled by the replacement OF these
employees with young
e. and more active persons. whereas
on the other there looms mp before
them the specter OF hardship, and in
many cases absolute want, which
would be enforced upon faithful ser
wants II they were thus to be sum
removed from the only means
OF gaining a livelihood for which
through years OF training they are
qualified.
cit Is Inevitable. therefore. that,
until such time as heads Of depart
ments can accomplish this change in
the psrsonnel without visiting undue
hardship upon their subordinAtes,
they WIN be deferred by a considera.
tion OF the humanitarian phase OF tho
matter from taking such action as
the situation seems TO demand"