Evening star., 1920-07-13
BURLESON HEDGES
IN PENSION ROW
Presidents Request Cause of
Modified Ruling on
Retirement.

1T was definitely understood in gov
ernment circles today that. at the re-
quest of President Wilson. PoStma ster
General Bureson will shortly modify
his recent blanket order DENYING reteu-
ton to any of the superannuates of
the Post Office Department who come
within the scope of the retirement law
President Wilson, it is understood. is
thoroughly in accord with the action
OF the recent special committee acting
under the direction of Secretary PAYNE
or the Interior Department. which,
recommended to the departments that
the good of the service rule be ap-
piled in all cases of superannuates who
might desire to be retained for a two
year period
Burleson TO Modify Order.
postmaster General Burleson is ex-
pected to- modify his blanket order to
'iie extent that certain employees who
are dolns skilled work may be retained
upon certifcation> that they are still
efficient
IL is believed that such a stand on
the part of the White House will
Drlng to an end the situation now eX-
lStlnS by reason of the action of Mr..
burleson and Commissioner Saltz-
saber of the pension bureau. Com
missioner SaltZgaber also has refused
TO recommend to the civil service any
OF the lightweight employees of the
pension office who asked for reten-
ton.
Protest has been made to the Sec
fetary OF the Interior by some of the
employees of the pension Office who
have been denied the right of reten-
tion. Employees have the right of
appeal to a head of a department.
and since Commissioner Saltzgaber
Is merely the head OF d bureau of the
interior Department, albeit very
large bureau, the employees have the
right of appeal to the Secretary of
the Interior
This is but one feature of the diff
ferences between the cases of the
ef1clent superannuateS of the Post
ONCE Department and of the pension
office Employees of the Post Office
Department were denied their right of
retention by the head of the depart
ment himself and there was no place
of appeal after the Postmaster Cen
eral had laid down his order.
Action Had Been Expected.
Such general protest has gone up
throughout the country, however over
the action of the Post Office Depart
ment that it has been confidently be-
lieved here for several days now,
especially since the Postmaster Gen.
era1 got back from San Francisco,
that he would modify the blanket
order.
White House Will go in the matter is
not known, but it is anticipated that
1t will be far enough to bring Secre-
tary Payne to somewhat modify the
action of Commissioner Saltzgaber. 1t
is realized that Mr. Saltzgaber did not
act in executive capacity, but merely
in an advisory capacity. as head of
the pension bureau, to the Secretary
of the Interior. 1t is, therefore, an
ticipated that Secretary Payne will
not entirely accept the recommended
tions of the commissioner of pensions
as to all of the eighty-eight employees
of the pension office who desire to re-
main in service. This bureau has
served notices of separation to ap-
proximately 200 of its employees.
Under the new order of things it is
believed that every case of Superan-
nuation in the government. both in
this city and out of it, will be judged
solely upon it's own merits, and no
sweeping action of any kind tolerated.