The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-25

putting q few thousand positions into
the classified service, protected by
law. BY the end Of the year about
$4,000 places were under the opera
ton Of the new law. The passage Of
the act was largely stimulated by the
assassination in 1881 Of President
Garfield by . disappointed office
seeker.
In the past, one Of the criticisms
leveled at the government service was
the retention Of superannuated en-
ployes, whose period Of usefulness
had long since been served. While 1t
Is doubtful whether all Of the criti-
cism made on this ground was war
ranted, since q contrast Of the gov
eminent service with that Of large
railway system showed that the rail-
road company had on its payroll a
greater proportion Of superannuated
employees than the government, the
criticism had . beneficial effect, for
it resulted in the passage In 1920 Of
the civil service retirement law.
Future Of Employees
This law as amended applies to the
classified civil service and to parts Of
the unclassified service. It sets up
system under which az per cent Of
the salary Of the employee is deduct
ed for q fund from which old age
pensions may be paid to retired en-
ployes. The compulsory retirement
ages for government employees are
81 years In the case Of railway pos
tai clerks and some others, IS years
for mechanics and post office clerks
and carriers, and 70 years for the re-
mainder. Two years retirement earl
Ter is optional in each case. The
average retirement annuity IS about
$1,000 year. The maximum. except
In rare instances, Is $1,000. but under
the present law, as time goes on, an
nuities will Be considerably larger in
many cases.
rs it worth while, does It pay to
work in the civil service Of the gov
ernment?" Is question often asked.
All hope abandon We who enter here
would be an appropriate legend for
the portals Of all government office
buildings" said . member of con-
gress. In his view one who enters the
civil service filings away ambition at
the start and IS certain to prove q
failure. To him there seemed In the
government little incentive to initia-
tive, there was q lack in the spirit
Of competition, the service Is devoid
Of the elements that tend to develop
self-reliance, healthy ambition, and
efficient service. In years gone by
there may have been some justiftca-
ton, it Is pointed out, for this pes
simism. It is up to the man or wo,n-
an, Is the answer today.
There is the case of John Hay, who
was q secretary to President Lincoln,
and who became ambassador to Eng
land, and secretary Of state. George
Bruce Cortelyou as q stenographer
attracted the attention Of President
Grover Cleveland, who had him as
signed from the postoffice department
to the White House. Il do not agree
with you In politics" said Cortelyou
to the president. Cleveland said he
did not care . rap about his politics.
Cortelyou became secretary to Presi-
dents Mckinley and Theodore Roose-
velt, and thence was elevated by the
latter to the position Of secretary Of
commerce and labor, was made chair
man Of the Republican national COM
mittee which elected Roosevelt In
1904, was made postmaster general
and then secretary Of the treasury,
and was considered for the nomina-
ton for president by the Republican
party. Frank H. Hitchcock, who was
postmaster general In the Taft cabin
ct, had been q clerk In the depart
ment Of agriculture. Those who enter
as career men in the state depart
ment have arisen to the position Of
ambassador, and to high places in the
department. In the national capital.
Many other instances might be cited
where men and women with ambition
and ability have succeeded In moving
far up through the merit system. 8
the competitive plan Is called. Great
distinction has been won by many,
II not fabulous salaries.
Copyright 1891