Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-03
.LEHLbACH OPPOSES
BURLESON RULING
Would Retain Certain Postal
Employees After Age OF
Retirement.

Representative Frederick R. Lehl-
bach of New Jersey. joint author with
Senator Sterling of the civil service
retirement bill. has sent letter 10
President Wilson protesting against
Postmaster General Burleson's ruling
4hat ALL employees in the postal service
who have reached the age OF retire-
ment must go on the pension ron.
Representative Lehlbach calls to
the attention of the President that
this is contrary to the intent OF Con-
g.ress as written into the law anu
points out that the Postmaster CEN
rral is the only department head to
rule that the retirement OF ellcieh'
employees is compulsory
In his letter to the President. Repre-
sentative Lehlbach insists that the
Postmaster Generals action is IN VIC
lation of a provision written into the
act permitting the retention OF EN-
cient employees for three reasons
economy, efficiency and consideration
for the employees.
Iehlbach's Letter.
His letter follows:
IAN act for the retirement of en-
pIoyes in the classified civil service;
and for other purposes. approved
May %. 1920. provides in section
thereof. as follows:
" Provided, That if within sixty days
after the passage of this act, or not
less than thirty days before the ar
rival of an employe at the age or re-
tirement, the head of the department
branch or independent office of the
government in which he or she is en-
ployed certifies to the Civil Service
Commission that by reason OF his or
her efficiency and Willingness TO re-
main in the civil service of the United
States the continuance of such en-
rN1< fhnr he a
to the public service, such employe
may be retained for term not eN-
ceeding two years upon approval ana
certification by the Civil Service Com
mission, and at the end of the two
years he or she may, by similar APP
prevail and certification. be continued
for an additional term not exceeding
two years, and so on: Provided, now
ever. That at the end of ten years after
this act becomes effective no employe
of the United States beyond the age
Of retirement defined in section 1
hereof for more than four years.
THE manifest purpose of this pro-
vision is to permit the retention in
active service of employees who, al
though having reached retirament
age. are willing to remain at their
tasks and are wholly capable of per-
forming them.
Reasons for Provision.
'aThe reasons for this provision
Il. Economy-It is wasteful to re-
tire and pay an annuity to an en-
ploye and then pay salary to another
for performing his work when the
employee eligible for retirement is
capable and willing to continue.
80 Efficiency-A person for many
years performing certain work and
fully capable of continuing it is nat
urally more efficient than his sue
cessor at first would be.
49, Reasonable consideration for
the employees at present to be re-
tired.
"Annuities being substantially less
than the salaries upon which they are
computed, retirement without ample
notice. is bound to work hardship in
many instances. In order that oppor-
tunity for adjustment may be afforded
in cases where the good Of the service
would not suffer thereby, the above pro-
vision was written in the act. This is
obvious in that the limitation of such
extensions to a period of four years be-
yond the retirement age does not become
effective in the first ten years. during
which the act is in force.
Basis for Uniformity.
Under date of June IA, 1920. the
Secretary of the Interior, John Barton
Payne. sent to the heads of all execu-
tive departments letter wherein ne
transmitted, with his approval. a report
of the committee appointed by him to
determine some basis upon which uni
formity might be obtained. as to the
application of the retirement act with
respect to its provisions for retention in
the service of employees who have
reached the retirement age. I trans
init herewith a copy of said report.
THE Postmaster General, under date
Of June IL. 1920. promulgated order
No. 1924. which I also transmit here
with. Personal inquiry ELECTED the
information from the office of the
Postmaster General that this order is
to be interpreted literally, and that
no certificates whatever under the
provision of the act above quoted will
issue in the Post Office Department
1Such a course completely sets aside
the provision for retention. multiplying
the law in this respect. is contrary to
the practice to be followed by other
executive departments, is detrimental
to the efficiency of the service and
works unnecessary hardship upon
numerous employees of the postal serv-
ice.
81 respectfully submit these matters
for your consideration, in the hope
that some course of action with re-
spect thereto may commend itself"