The Washington times., 1920-04-29
HOUSE ETOPASS
TENSION BILL
leaders OF Both Parties StrN'
ing for Success Of Lehlbach
Retirement Measure.

headers OF both parties got behind
Sterling -LehIbach civil service re-
cement bill today in the hopes Oh
naming II through the House either
Hore adjournment tonight or by TO-
rrow at the latest.
milar action already having been
IN in the Senate, IL is expecteo
retirement measure, which Will
kfect thousands OF Federal and Dis
rict government clerks In washing
pm, will soon be ready for President
Wilson's signature.
Fight On Amendment.
The chief bone OF contention viii
the Senate amendment nxing the
ge OF retirement at seventy years
This proposition is counter TO the
Recommendations of the House COM
hittee on civil service and Its re-
prm, which fixes the age OF retire
hent at sixty years for railway mail
lerks, sixty-two years for mail car
ers and other employees whose du-
es are more arduous, and sixty-nve
ears for other employees.
Congressman Lelbach. chairman OF
be civil service committee, will fight
the last ditch for these recommen-
ations. with the odds In their favor
the House. II Is believed the
Iuestion of eligibility for retirement
naliy will be compromised between
he House and Senate conferees-
| Congressman Lelbach precipitated .
ood OF oratory when he called tup
he measure in the House this after
Don under the unanimous agreement
eached yesterday.
In explaining the features OF the
tli Mr.. Lehibach vigorously defended
be action of the Houe committee in
kporting the measure In substantially
he same form as II was reported on
uly Is, 1914. "The proponents Of the
twenty years age limit" he declared.
lake the position that many employees
re stiil capable OF efficient service
etween the ages of sixty-fve and
eventy years and that those who
re incompetent may be retired under
mother section OF the bill. This sec
lon, the disability clause, applies
hIy TO those employees who become
>taliy disabled for efficient service
y reason of disease or injury.
Opposes Amendment.
thus il will be seen that employees
etween sixty-five and seventy years,
rho by reason of age are no longer
Fholly efficient. and whose services
consequence are not at all COM
bensurate with the salary paid them.
bay not be retired II they are still
bible to render some modicum OF
ervice. Thus one OF the principal OBJ
ects sought to be achieved by the
etirement bill, will be In a degree
kst, and incompetent superannuates
etween the ages Of sixty-five and
venty years will still retard effi-
lent work in the departments and
well the payroll. -
"If the amendments proposed by
bur committee are agreed to. the
Government will retain the services
practically all capable employees
etween the ages of SIS and 10 years
nd will have an opportunity to rid
he service of the incompetents,
khile under the bill unamended the
government will be forced, as hereto
IRE, to retain on the payrolls all en-
Dyes between the ages OF 65 and 10,
neither competent or not"
An urgent appeal for the passage
the retirement was made by Con-
-essman Nelson, of Wisconsin. who
poke at great length on the eff
ency which 1t would create in the
pvernment service.
"I am for 1t because I believe IL Ia
long step in the right direction for
st and scientific treatment of our
bvernment employees" Mr.. Nelson de-
ared, "because II makes possible a
ore efficient personnel in the han
ing of our Government business"
In the enactment of retirement
w Congressman Nelson declared
lat Congress was following the pre-
kdents employed by great corpora
ons and manufacturing plants,
links and other institutions in pri-
ate business.