Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-23
RETIREMENT BILL
REACHES SENATE
Mr.. Sterling, in Report, Says
Committee Sees Urgent
Need for Passage.
MORE WORKERS INCLUDED

Senator Sterling today reported
from the committee on civil service
the bill introduced by him providing
for the retirement of employees of the
civil service.
The committee amended the bill by
including in it's provisions employees
of the Panama Canal Zone above the
grade of laborer. superintendent of
national cemeteries and employees
under the superintendent of the
United States Capitol and grounds.
Text of Report.
/, The report follows.
Your committee is of the opinion
that there is urgent need for some
just and equitable civil service re-
tirement legislation says the report.
The main purposes to be accomplish
ed by such legislation are:
I'D Greater efficiency and economy
in the government service, and
"t2l A moderate provision for the
material welfare of those who. by
inability to longer render full or eff
ficient service. are obliged to retire.
1T has long been patent that in the
various administrative branches of the
government employees have been re-
tanned long after they had. by reason
of age and bodily infirmity. ceased to
be efficient. The law having made no
provision for their support in whole or
in part during their declining years.
the heads of departments and bureaus
have through sympathy kept many
aged employees in the nominal service
of the government and their names on
the pay roll. The real work of the
position, in such cases. has devolved
on other and younger employees. This,
of course, has resulted in loss to the
government, and it would appear that
in some cases the equivalent of the two
salaries has been, OF is, being paid
for that service for which the compen-
sation should have been but one salary.
OF course, work done by those whose
faculties are impaired by reason Of age
is not, as rule, efficiently done, and
the government in this respect sus-
tains loss difficult to estimate.
"system Is Vicious One"
"The system is vicious one. both
from the standpoint of economy and
efficiency To the extent that the en-
which his position commands, is I'M
able to perform fully or efficiently the
work of the average person in like
position, such employe is pensioner
of the government, and, as above 1ntl-
mated, the attention of your commit
tee has been called to many cases
where the service rendered by the
employee was 40 slight that he is prac-
tically a pensionerAto the full amount;
OF his salary.
while such employees are thus PEN
sioners. the system which permits
them to be such is not pension sys-
tenn. The compensation received over
and above the value of the service
rendered is not measured or certain:
the employe. meanwhile. is haraSSed
by the thought that he is subject to
dismissal or with the fear that the
sympathy which has so far retained
him in the service may yield to the
pressure in behalf of other applicants
who. by reason of civil service ex-
animation or otherwise, are deemed
eligible.
System Is Unjust"
THE system is unjust to the head
of a department or bureau charged
with the responsibility of the efficient
and economic management OF the
business of such department or bu-
reau Few would say that the human
sympathy which retains the aged en-
pioye after his usefulness is gone in
whole or in part is not without COM
mendation, and yet the public de-
mands, and rightfully. that the pub
lie business be conducted both eco
nomicaliy and efficiently. Again and
again have heads of departments rec
commended that a lew be enacted
which would require retirement at a
given age and at the same time make
such just provision for the material
needs of the retired employee as will
secure him against actual want.
ANY system which permits the pub
lie business to be carried on without
fulfilling this requirement. is unjust
TO the public. Further. it is unjust
to the employees. He has given the
best part of his life to the service of
the government and, in most cases,
on a salary out of which he is unable
to provide anything like competency
for his old age. Meanwhile, the gov
eminent has been the beneficiary of
his continuous service during all his
capable years and. as matter of SIM
pie justice and humanity, should con-
tribute. not all that may be required,
but something to his support when he
can no longer serve.
Refers to Civil Service Report.
I'm confederation of the foregoing,
9 q