Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-17
PRESIDENT ASKED
TO HELP WORKERS
RETAIN POSITIONS
Plea for Superannuates
Made by Special Com
mittee on Retirement.

mlItee on retirement.
special committee Of the Joint con-
ference on retirement called AT the
White House today and presented to
president Wilson plea on behalf of
ce"fain superannuates in the Post Of
lice Department and the bureau of
pensions who have been denied the
right Of retention in the service.
The attention of the President was
directed, in the statement presented
by the committee. TO the failure IN
certain departments and Offices of the
government. 20 administer the recent
~ enacted clvil service retirement Law
according TO its spirit and intent"
r. H. Alcorn. chairman of the ioin;
conference. headed the delegation.
other members in the delegation wer.
EDWARD J. Ryan. chairman Of the sp.-
SIai committee; y. p. Alias. G.. \.
warren and Henry Sterling.
Members of the committee Milan g.,
secure the aid of Samuel Gompers
president of the American Federattou
or Labor. when he returns TO Tho CITY
Monday They hope to get him to
make personal call on Presiden,
wilson and use his influence TO back
up the plea presented today
Statement to President
The statement as presented IN tb.
PRESIDENT read:
The joint conference on retirement.
representing all existing organiza-
tons of government employees. deems
IL necessary to direct your attention
10 the failure. in certain departments
ana offices of the government, to adj
minister the recently enacted civil
service retirement law according to
It's spirit and intent
In few of the departments il has
a afva nj Of a..
retirement age shall be retired when
the law goes into effect on August
II. In other departments action has
been taken. in accordance with sec
ton OF the act. to retain efficient
employees. and recommendations for
their continuance for two-year
period have already been submitted
to the Civil Service Commission. 1t
seems to us that this latter course is
plainly called for by the terms of the
act. a portion of section 6 reading, as
follows:
Section @ Quoted.
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 of re-
tiremenf. 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 eficfency and willingness to re-
! main in the civil service of the United
states the continuance of such en-
ploye therein would be advantageous
to the public service, such employe
may be retained for a term not eX-
ceedIng two years upon approval and
certification by the Civil Service Com
mission. and at the end of the two
years he or she may. by similar ap-
prevail and certification, be continued
for an additional term not exceeding
two years. and so on. Provided. how
ever. That at the end of ten years
after this act becomes effective. no
employe shall be continued in the
civil service of the United States be-
yond the age ofsretirement defined
in section l hereof for more than four
years
Many employees of retirement age
| are still capable of rendering efficient
service, and ii is professionally true
! that it will be advantageous TO the
public service to retain them under
the extension provisions of the act.
They may be separated from the serv-
ice at any time that inefficiency is es-
mands that sufficient notice should be
given as to the time retirement will
be required.
No Plea for Inemcfenf.
we wish to make it plain that we
neither request nor desire the reten-
ton in the service of those now in
efnclent by reason of age. What re
ask Is that the plain, expressed N
pose OF the act be carr.ed out. and
that where retention in the service
is requested. and efficiency is estab-
lished. the language from section 6
above quoted shall be given effect.
The retirement act is a .'bene-
nciaf' one. and. in accordance with
wei settled principles of statutory
construction. should be administered
in the interest of the class intended
to be benefited.
Our attention has been called to in
stances In which persons who would in
short time-a year. or even less-b~
eligible to retirement following fifteen
years OF service. are being denied on
portunity to round out" such period.
or course. such action may come with
IN tne letter OF the law, but it seems
TO us unworthy of our great republic,
and we are convinced that such action
would not have your approval
we believe the act is well draw&
and that it is bound to operate with
complete satisfaction after it has been
IN erect Few years. And we further
believe that all should be retired upon
reaching the retirement age, after the
law mas been in effect for several years.
Inc last proviso in section 6 is espe-
cially significant in this connection. as
II SHOWS clearly it was never intended
POSC
become effective until it has been in
operation for ten years. A period of
grace IS really established to permit
the exercise of administrative discre-
tioh 10 meet conditions in the first few
years OF the laws application. a
blanket order to force the retirement
OF all OF retirement age in any de part
ment ignores this very important fea-
ture of the Law.
The retirement law afforded a splen-
old opportunity to apply the spirit of
collective bargaining. The heads Of de-
partments issuing inharmonious orders
for the retirement of employees did SO
without extending the courtesy of a
conference to any representatives of the
joint retirement conference. and. SO far
as we are informed. did not grant op-
portunity to the employees TO submit
their views concerning the administra-
tion of the act. We feel sure that il
this had been done better results would
have followed and a uniform method of
applying the law would have been adopt
ed A greater degree of satisfaction
would have been produced and the re-
tirement system launched under happier
auspices.
We trust that you will recognize the
justice Of this appeal, and will take
such action as may be necessary to cor
rect the Objectionable orders of depart
mental heads subject to your authority
1t is apparent that action must be taken
before the 21st of this month If a change
is to be made in the orders referred to,
as the law requires that-certificat ton be
made by departmental heads to the
civil service commission for the reten-
ton of employees not less than thirty
days before retirement becomes effec-
tive"