The Connecticut labor press., 1919-12-06
ALLOWANCES FOR
 RETIRED POST
 OFFICE EMPLOYEES
This Country Stands With Turkey
 in Failing. to. Make Pro vision for Them.
HOPE LONG DEFERRED
Burleson Endorses Retirement
 Plan but Censures Activity Toward Organization.

Post office employees have turned their attention from the salary question i'll congress to the subject of retirement allowances for the aged and disabled workers for Uncle Sam. This country stands with Turkey as the only govern ment which fails to provide for em- ployees when they have passed the time when they can discharge the duties formerly required of them. The scrap heap solution of the retirement problem has been discarded by one after another of the governments of the world, until only the Turks and Uncle Sam enjoy that, they have any other interest in their employees than that of supply and demand.
 For the 20 years passed the executive officials of the post office department have recommended the adoption of some scientific plan for the retirement of the superanuated government em- ployees, but although each congress has appeared to be on the point of enacting some up to date legislation on the sub ject, the hopes of the friends of retire ment have been repeatedly ,dished.
 Just before the war broke out they had assurances from persons close to President Wilson that he was committed to the early passage of bill designed to amuly provide for the helpless and indigent workers who were forced through sickness to be burden on their friends.
 The fight for the measure was con- sidered closed at that time but the war upset the plans and the nations atten- tion was focused upon preserving its existence.
 Since the end of the war the leaders in national politics have been in com plete agreement that the bill was in- evitable and only few of the old fogies who opposed the idea in the past have taken a stand against it.
 Their opposition is generally regard ed as instinctive rather than based on any reason or logic.
 There are about 10 of the employees i'll the government building who would be entitled to the benefits of the pro posed bill at this time Senator Nickel lar has introduced the measure and he is sanguine of the passage at the pres ent session. He bases his confidence on the present state of public opinion rela- tive to the faithful workers of all cor porations to say nothing of the ideals expected of the most enlightened gov ernment in the world.
 The annual report of the postmaster general issued to the present session of congress urges enthusiastically the adoption by congress of plan to retire those employees whose years III the gov ernment service has 1essened their effic- iency.
 While endorsing this measure MT. Burleson opposes organization of gov ernment employees whose actions seem fO +n &o ment on the subject is as follows:
 MT. Bur1eson again asked repeal of legislation permitting afhliation of or ganizations of postal employees with labor organizations which sanction re- course to the strike or boycott to en- force their demands
 'I again call the attention of con- gress to the impropriety of government employees owing allegiance to any or ganization which might stand between them and the government and to the actual menace to government authority which is involved in such affiliation," MT. Burleson said.
 ''The avowed purpose of labor or ganizations is not alone to advance the social and economic welfare of mem bers of their order but to exercise a coercive influence upon the employer to compel submission to their demands. The strike and the boycott are weapons designed to be used in attack or in re< sistance. The government of the United States is not to be attacked or resisted by any citizen of the 1adn. Surely no such special privilege is reserved to those who, through the nature of their employment are sworn to serve the government itself an1 owe to it the spe- cial allegiance of service duty.
 'Whatever interest labor may claim in the products of its toll, it can not be claimed for government employees that they acquire larger interest or greater power in the government than that of other citizens, because of the character of their employment.
 "Government employees should be permitted to organize for their social and general welfare, to appear before committees of congress, and to furnish concerning the postal serv- ice of which they may have knowledge"