Evening star., 1917-12-26
SYSTEM
FOR CIVIL SERVICE
Need Increased by War Time
Demands, Says Commits
sion's Annual Report.
VIRTUAL PENSIONS NOW

Increased demands upon the person
mel of the civil service by the war
have given emphasis to the need or a
retirement system, according to the
annual report of the Civil Service Com
mission made to the President today
by Commissioners McIlhenny, Gallo
way and Craven.
at is too costly to continue the ageo
and infirm in positions requiring alert
ness and vigor, especially where they
have supervision of other employees
and retirement system IS possible
which would be alike in the interest OF
the government and of the worker,
says the report.
Virtual Pension System Exists.
while inefficiency is just cause for
removal, appointing officers naturally
hesitate to dismiss old employees who
have become incapacitated after render-
ing long and efficient service, and a
virtual pension system thus exists
The commission does not faVor a
system of straight civil pensions.
Temporary or permanent injuries re-
already provided for out of the public
Treasury in the compensation act OF
September Z, 1916, which extends to
personal injuries sustained while In
the performance of duty and applies to
all civilian employees of the govern
ment, the report states.
For System of Retiring Annuities.
THE commission fayors general
system of retiring annuities, based upon
length of service, the annuity to be
provided by deductions from the sal
aries of employees invested under the
supervision of the government, the in
terest on which will be sufficient to
provide the annuity to be paid
"A retirement system adds the re-
port, would give stability to the serv-
ice, create an inducement to capable
improved administrative methods, and
make possible Standardization of SAL
aries and other needed reforms.
The benefits to the service from an
justify a direct contribution from the
public Treasury to create an annuity
for superannuated employees in the
service at the time the system is es-
tablished."
Higher Entrance Salaries Urged.
Higher entrance salaries for govern
states:
Very much OF the commissions work
goes for naught by reason of the large
number OF declinations of appointment
hcient. The resulting delays seriously
retard the work Of the departments
and add to the dificuItfess Of the com :
mission In promptly y~szppayfmE7 7uuHff--
creasing1y difacuit to secure eiirfbies
with the education and training neces-
sary for proficient service at the usual
entrance salaries from 5000 to 1000.
The departments all recognize
this administrative embarrassment and
agree that 81, 900 should be the mini
mum entrance salary for stenographers
and typewriters and clerical employees.
Remedy Is Up to Congress.
This is matter which Congress
alone can remedy. as appropriation
acts usually prescribe the salaries to
be paid and the classification of sal
aries remains unchanged since 1853
Notwithstanding the very great in
crease in the demands of the service,
the cost Of living and the rate of pay
in outside business
Concerning Standardization of gov
ernment salaries. The report of the
civil service commissioners has this to
say:
''The increase in the number OF en-
ployes, due to the war, has been ac-
companed by an increase in disparity
in salaries paid for the same kind Of
work Where employees in one depart
ment receive larger salaries than en-
p1oyes IN another department for the
same class of work, discomfort results
and pressure is exerted to secure trans
fer A Standardization of salaries
should be the first extensive step in
any emective movement to improve the
personnel of the service. The chaotic
condition of compensation makes it
difficult to secure an equitable system
of promotion. Congress recently di-
rected the bureau of efficiency to make
an investigation of conditions in state
municipal, and private employments
with view to a Standardization a nd
classification of salaries, and when this
has been done 1t is hoped that legisIa-
ton will be enacted to provide for an
arrangement of salaries on harmonious
lines"