The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-25

Editor Times-I would like to
correct the erroneous idea that the
public in general seems to have gath
cred from more or less indirect
statements made by the poStoff1ce
department, namely, that the de-
partment gives the postal employees a
pension, and to increase that pen
sion would be a drain on the treas
ury.
This impression given to the pub
lie paints Uncle Sam as very gen.
erous and thoughtful individual. He
seems to be generous because ''he
gives" the mail clerk and carrier a
pension, and also seems" to be
thoughtful by safeguarding the
overtaxed treasury by not allowing
the small increase in pensions which
justly is due the civil service en-
ploye.
Now the truth about this pension
system of these government en-
ployes is this: The mail clerks and
carriers pay for the pension they
receive by 81 per cent deduc-
tion from their salary. This PEN
sion fund has grown since May,
1920, until now it has reached a
figure which allows surplus sew
eral times the necessary amount to
pay the pensions of those fortunate
enough to live to the pension age.
(The average life of a man who re-
tires from the postal service is never
more than three or four years, after
retiring) This is why the pension
fund grows so fast, and why there
exists such a surplus.
The government could pay these
men at least three-fourths pay for
pensions, which is their own money,
and still have a surplus. Can there
be any one who would have objec-
tons to the mail carrier getting his
own savings after thirty or forty
years of service? Why, then, do the
politicians at the head Of our postal
and legislative departments object
to this fair play? Do they wish to
create a favorable impression with
the voters by indirect statements
which point to the false side Of a
question as being true?
The mail carrier and the clerk are
appreciative of their jobs, especially
in this kind of hard times and are
not biting the hand that feeds
them" but do want a square deal
where their own savings are in
volved, at least to the extent Of the
G. w. SHARKEY.
1921 Ellenberger drive.
Editor Times-For a good many
years a strong advocate of the old
age pension system, and recently I
had the experience of presenting it
to the voters Of Marion county as
legislative candidate on the Demo-
cratic ticket.
I always have viewed pensioning
Of the aged from two angles, the
economic and the humanitarian.
Modern machinery rapidly is TAX
ing the place of man power in in
dustry and vast number Of plants
have set so years as the age limit
for workers, and many as low as 40
years, especially those employing
statesmen, and some do not want
statesmen older than IS.
Under past and present wage lev
els, it is and has been absolutely
impossible for the average wage
Garner to maintain e. family de-
Gently and lay aside enough for old
age.
Thus, after having given thirty to
forty years Of their lives at low
wages, while industry has made
millions, the workers are called in,
given a SIS watch or a little money,
and turned out into the world, bro
ken in spirit and without money
enough to support them thirty days.
They are tossed to the human
scrap pile, forced to make one of
two decisions: first, to 60 to that
haven Of rsA as some politicians