The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-29
GOVERNMENT
TOD|SCHARGE
WOMAN AGED
ANDHELPLESS


service, Mrs. Malvina Lee, employed
as a charwoman at the State, War
and Navy building, is to lose her job.
Mrs. Lee is not to be retired on
pension after her long and obvious
faithful service. She was simply
notified that her services were no
longer needed after July l, and she
will leave the Government service
practically without funds in her ad-
vanced age, scarcely fit for employ
ment elsewhere.
Captain Hoover Explains"
In a letter written Miss Gertrude
N McNally, of the National Fedora
ton OF Federal Employees. Capt. F.
W. Hoover, assistant to the superin-
tendent OF the State. War. and Navy
buildings, states Mrs. Lee works
regularly, but is very weak, and due
to her weakness has been assigned
to light work. I think you will agree
with me that 1 would not be justi-
fed in retaining Malvina Lee and dis
charging a more active and conse-
qUently more efficient employe."
The case OF Malvina Lee shows
that there is nothing for the Federal
employees OF her class to look forward
to except the poorhouse," said Luther
c. Stewart, president OF the National
Federation of Federal Employees, this
morning.
1T shows the necessity for the i'm
bill by Congress. Here is a woman
who has given thirty-six years of her
life to the Government. Now that she
is advanced in age she is to be fired
peremptorily without funds. Her pay
has been small, and l understand she
saved nothing from her earnings. It
seems a pity that the Government
should drop en- employe in the manner
Malvina Lee is to be let out of the
service.
Pension Is Urged.
Nowadays, most all firms retire
their faithful employees. Why should
not the Government retire an employe
who has worked constantly for thirty
six years as this woman has? II Is
true she has been employed as a
charwoman, but she is a Government
tulplOE & dllt SllONAN DC BAeNSN vi nv
pension list"
Mr.. Stewart stated that he intend
ed TO take up the case with Senator
Mcclellan, who is fathering the re-
tirement bill now in Congress. Mr..
Stewart pointed out that the case is
one which is a strong argument for
the immediate enactment OF a rc-
tiremeat bill.
When Mr.. Stewart learned that
Mrs Lee was 10 be peremptOTIiy
dropped from the Government ser
vice after the thirty-siN years Of
faithful service, he asked Captain
Hoover TO present the facts in the
case 10 him. Captain Hoover wrote
Mr.. Stewart:
referring to our telephone con-
versation a few days ago concerning
the case OF Malvina Lee, you are ad-
vised that the records OF this office
show that she was appointed to her
present position on July l, 1888. The
records do not disclose her aGe-the
notation being that her age was not
known. However. II is quite appar-
ent that she must be at least seventy
or eighty years old. She works reg
ularly, but is very weak. and, due 10
her weakness, has had TO be assigned
TO light work.
Others To BE Dropped.
"On July ] il will be necessary to
drop a number OF these women.
think you will agree with me that !
would not be justified in retaining
MaIvina Lee and discharging more
active and consequently more effi-
cient empIoye. Not only would ! be
working an injustice TO the Govern
ment service, but ! also would be
doing an injustice TO the more eff
cient empIoye who would have TO be
dropped. You, in discussing this case
do not seem 10 consider this other
empIoye who. while younger and more
energetic, still. il would seem, has
the same right TO consideration that
MaIvina Lee is entitled to.
"Regretting that il will be impos.
sibIe to retain her services after july
OF. w. HOOVER.
captain Of Engineers. l. S. A. As
sistant TO Superintendent Of the
State, War, and Navy Buildings"
This letter explains itself" saiC
Mr. Stewart 1t explains why ",
are asking for the enactment of a re
tirement bill. The least the Govern
ment can do is 10 place on pension
all Of its employees who become de
crepid from long and continuous ser
vice.
Not Fair 10 Government.
1T is not fair TO the individual EN-
ploye or 10 the Government. An.
person who works faithfully for tn
Government for 'thirty-six year
should not be cast out OF the servic
without a pension. The federation
intends TO urge that Congress TAX
cognfzance Of this case and enact
retirement bill without delay.
Il have suggested that Malvina lie,
be kept on the payrolls, even IL j
should be necessary TO give her ligh
work. A woman who has worked
thirty-six years for the Government
should not be let out as this woman
- to be, without some consideration
Tor her future"