Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-19
SLOW Comforting
ON UNC[ASS|F|ED
Only One Department Has
Agreed to Consultation
So Far.

Only one government department so
FAR has agreed to a conference with the
Civil Service Commission on the question
of admitting the great groups OF I'M
classified workers to the benefits Of the
retirement law.
Officials of the commission state that
this lack of response to their recent in
vitation to heads of departments is not
due to lack of interest. but simply to
the great press of work now besieg1ng
the various offices and bureaus.
1t is anticipated that other responses
to the call for a conference will come
in soon. The Attorney General recently
decided that the Civil Service Commits
sion has power to recommend to the
President the letting down of retirement
bars to tn unclassified, such as char
women, guards, etc.
The whole question of admitting the
unclassified workers to the benefits
of the retirement law, however, is
such a large one, in the opinion of
officials. that much time and consider
alton must be given the question be-
fore the Civil Service Commission can
arrive at any recommendation.
Commissions Stand In Doubt.
So far there is not the slightest in
dication as to how the civil service
body stands on the question of ad-
uniting the unclasSified workers of
the government OF course, there is
every reason why the commissioners
should keep their own council about
the matter until a decision is reached.
Admitting the unclassified would
bring up host of new problems. it
is believed. which would make the
wrangle now going on in the depart
mentS concerning retentionS look like
childs play. it is declared. The I'M
classified civil service workers pre-
sent problems of such diverse nature
that many questions would arise to
be settled the moment an executive
order might include them within the
scope of the retirement law.
Just how the admittance might be
regulated would prove one of the
knottiest problems which the special
conference of executive heads with
the Civil Service Commission will be
called upon to solve, it is believed.
At first the thing looks simple
enough. But those who are familiar
with the retirement law say it could
few of any one class be admitted to
the retirement law annunties, or
should the admittance be wide
open?"
Question Over Expectations.
That is a bigger question than it
seems at first sight, and it is the
rock on which the proposed confer
ence will founder. if there is going to be
any laundering, it is believed.
Admittance of the unclassified is the
hope of all the hosts of civil serv-
ice workers. who are not within the
scope of retirement. The proposition
is being firmly pushed by several or
CARNATIONS, and has the support of
many of the unclassified themselves.
There has been some question. how
ever, as to the benefits of retirement
to lowly paid worker who already
is getting scarcely enough salary to
keep body and soul together. Every
employee within the scope of retire
ment has to give up 2k per cent of
his salary each year. Such a sum,
small though it may be, from the
wages of a charwoman. who works
but couple of hours day, would be
q serious detraction.