The Washington times., 1917-12-25
Rstir~aeat EsaeatIsL

-Rstirsmsnt lsgislatiOn Is abso-
Iutely essential for the establishment
and maintsnGnes Of any established
system Of compensation by an en-
ployer a. large - the United States.
Statistics have revealed the fact that
it costs . great deal more to replace
a trained man than it does to give
him a promotion which win keep him
In the service. But Uncle Sam does
not regard this feature Nor does
he regard. yet, seriously, the fact that
IL IL cheaper to retire = supsran-
nuated man at half or thrss-auArtsrs
pay than It IL to continue him at full
ray. It has been eonelusively proven
that a retirement system will actually
save money for the United States, and
in addition will add great percent
laEe OF efficiency to the service.
The money-Erubbing corporations
IhaVe practically all recognized these
two principles of finance, but As US
ual-what Is. everybody's business is
nobody's businass-Uncle Sam has not
paid any heed to the condition exist
ing. He continues to imagine II is
economy to pay low salaries and not
count the cost OF replacing employees
whom he trains for some one else nor
the cost or inconvenience OF paying
full salaries to incapaeitated EN-
ployes who have devoted their lives
to his service.
Very fortunately though for the su-
lperannuates, the human equation en-
ters into the matter here and, despite
the harsh and inhuman law that only
competent employees shall be retained,
those charged with the duty Of hiring
and firing for Uncle Sam for the
most part possess a bit OF +Justice
tempered with mercy" spirit. and do
not consider a man incapacitated until
he is actually unable to report at his
Job each DAY This spirit, however
has flown from the towers Of the
Postoffice Department. where men
and women are daily being cast adrifi
as worthless because they have worn
themselves out in the service for
small salaries. We are hoping. along
with thousands OF others. that the
feudal spirit characterizing PostmGs-
; ter General Burleson's regime will
soon be dead. and we believe II will
from the press notices we receive
daily.
Fortunately. there has already
been collected a vast amount OF data
,, for the purpose OF computing the cost
Of the retirement system. Much of
this can be used in the reclassihca-
ton work. We are now assured that
reports on this subject as well az
upon the cost OF various retirement
measures, will be ready to submit "a
Congress Immediately after the hoh-
days.
Bill TO BE Drafted sOOn.
? Because OF the lack OF sufficient
t up-to-date data as to the different
, classes and grades OF employees anc
/ wages, II has been heretofore impos
! sible to draft a general reclassifcs'
tion law. But as soon as the reports
D are available a bill will be drafted
E and It's passages urged upon Con
{ gress with all possible force.
"one Of the principal features OF th'
{ bill will be a provision for sutomati
promotions yearly. based upon merit
There will also be a section devote'
to the creation OF a court OF appeals
!, The demand for automatic promotion
will be based upon the truism that al
4 employe must he worth more as h
gains In experience. or advised VIII.
he is not worth more
This reclassihcation Is but the firs
r step toward a gradual upbuilding o
IL the civil service. so that II will one
a a career worthy OF the best efforts o