Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-24
OFFICIALS URGE
RETIREMENT BILL
Chief Clerks of Federal De-
partment Advocate the
LehIbach Measure.
PLEA FOR OLD EMPLOYEES

government departments. who have
given long years of their lives in eff
ficiept service to the government and
who are now hanging on desperately
to jobs they are no longer able to
fill, in order that. though objects of
pity. they may not become objects of
charity. in the hope that Uncle Sam
will some day grant a pension sys-
tenn that Gill keep them out of the
poorhouse. was described today to
the House committee on reform in the
civil service.
Chief clerks of the Interior, Treas
TRY and Navy departments in testify
ing at the hearing in support of the
Lehlbach bill for a civil service re-
tirement system. which carries the in
dorsement of the joint civil service
retirement committee. gave the spe-
cific illustrations of how the wheels
of federal service are being clogged
with those who can no longer do effi-
Client work. but who should not heart
lessly be thrust away from the posi-
tions in which they have given emf
nently satisfactory service for more
than a quarter of a century.
The presentation of witnesses was
conducted by Robert H. Alcorn, chair
man of the joint civil service retire
ment committee, who expects to make
n statement summarizing the attitude
and hope of the government employees
at the close of the hearing.
Testimony of Witnesses.
f ]. Ayers. chief clerk of the In
terror Department. which has 5000
employees in the District and $4,000
throughout the country. told how the
government work is being impeded by
those who are cl:nging to their jobs
while physically and mentally in
capacitated. because the small salaries
they receive mean their very existence.
He pointed out that in the order de-
partment the veteran employees never
had very large salaries and had been
able to save nothing for their old age.
They are now begging to be kept on
the rolls. he said. because they are
hoping desperately that Congress will
some time authorize a pension system.
He estimated that possibly from
three to four hundred in the Interior
Department are now waiting to be
retired. Their work is not efficient and
potency. he said. In reply to ques-
tons. he estimated that Is per cent
of new blood could perform the same
work more efficiently, and that thus
the government is now indirectly
paying pension to about 800 en-
ployes.
Mr. Ayers urged that Congress
either should do something in the way
absolutely. positively plain to these
old employees that they need never
expect a pension from Congress-. A
report has been made annually to
Congress on the superannuated en-
ployes, Mr.. Ayers explained
Mr.. Myers Urges Relief.
Paul F. Myers. chief clerk of the
Treasury Department. urged that
some measure of relief for the fed
eral employees who have spent years
in the government service. who now
are on the rolls and who are in
pitiable condition, should be put
through He said that this is only
humane cause. He specifically point
ed to five cases in the Treasury De-
partment where such veteran work.
ers are retained on the roll and which
have been reported annually to Con-
gress. They are absolutely inefficient.
he said, but they are being paid their
salaries because otherwise they would
not have enough to live on. They
are hoping and praying that some
time Congress will relieve them.
tration. he said. a pension provision
should be enacted so that young blood
could be brought in and to the work
better for less money. In reply to
questions from the committee he esti-
mated that there are 1000 in the
Treasury Department eligible for re-
tirement properly. and with adequate
allowance to keep them comfortable.
He estimated the Treasury Depart
ment is paying a pension now. indi-
employees in this department in Wash
fngton, he said.
System Endorsed by Mr.. Glass.
Chairman Lehlbach put into the
record the strong support Of Secretary
Glass to the proposed retirement sys-
tenn. and Chief Clerk Myers said that
all of the secretaries for a number of
years have urged a retirement BILL
and recommended. annually. in their
reports to Congress that some such
provision should be made for old and
faithful workers. He estimated that
probably 90 per cent of the veterans
now doing work inefficiently are re-
ceiving low salaries, from $1,000 to
$1,000. and that most of them have de-
pendents. so that they have been tied
down to their jobs, and were not free
TO better themselves In outside en-
ployment at times when that might
have been possible. He said a great
majority of the superannuated are in
the subclerical and minor clerk
grades. and that quite a few have been
reduced in responsibility and in SAL
AIRY on account of age.
w. NJ Collins, industrial secretary
of the Railway Mail Association. also
supported the retirement bill in behalf
OF the government workers whom he
represents.
Secretary Daniels Endorsement.
F. S. Curtis. chief clerk OF tn. NAVY
Department, put into the record a strong
Endorsement by Secretary Daniels. who
has urged a retirement and annuity sys-
tenn ever since he has been in ONCE
There are now in the Navy Depart
ment, Mr.. Curtis said. 5000 civilian en-
ployes. OF which number comparativeiv
few. not over 200. are ready for retire.
ment- In reply to questions he said that
approximately 100 younger men could
do the work that these 200 are doing
government is thus Indirectly paving
pensions because these 200 employees
have given long years of very excellent
service. and that il is purely a matter
of charity to keep them on the rolls
long as there is any hope that be-
fore long Congress will acthorize a
pension system.
The proposed retirement bill he
said. Is matter of great value to the
entire government service. He sug-
Eested that II this retirement bill does
not go through some scheme should
he instituted as each man enters the
government service 30 that he can
buy an annuity for himself for his old
compulsory age OF retirement, and
suggested automatic unconditional re
tirement at sixty-fve.
Speaks for Rural Mail Carriers,
W. D. Brown. speaking for $4,000
men In the rural mail carrier service.
whom he has represented for more
than ten years. urged that the civil
service law should be changed SO
haa