Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 205, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1916 — Government Pensions for Its Employes Unnecessary if Fair Salaries Are Paid [ARTICLE]

Government Pensions for Its Employes Unnecessary if Fair Salaries Are Paid

By ERNEST DEBERTHAUSER

One can hardly reflect on the proposition to pension schoolteachers and government employees without feeling that there is something with a situation that would even suggest it. The salary they receive is either fair or it is not fair. If it is fair, then let them save and look out for themselves. If it is not fair, it is incumbent on the nation and the states to set about equalizing things by paring down the pay of higlf-salaried officials and adding it to that of those who are underpaid. In doing the fair thing, let the national government begin with the village post office. Dfetach it from side lines, put it on a salary basis and pay the postmaster a salary sufficiently decent to enable him to live comfortably and lay up a modest competency,for old age. Let the states do likewise with the schoolmaster and the school* ma’am. Then let all talk of pensioning them cease. Let them save, as we all must save, if they want a prop to lean on when their working days are over. +■.