Evening star., 1922-03-17

|-HE prompt action Of the Senate
in passing the bill introduced
by Senator Sterling at the re-
i quest Of Secretary Fall for the
relief of 10000. employees Of the gov
ernment heretofore supposed to be un-
der the classified civil service, but
declared by decision of the Attor-
ney General to- be unentitled to re-
tirenient annuities, emphasizes that
early action for the relief from injus-
tee of veteran navy yard employees
nuriough ed without pay for an indefi-
mite period is also important.
Many Of these veteran navy yard
employees have been more than thirty
years in service and would have been
entitled to retirement on annuities
in q short time. some as soon as four
months. Some of them besides being
veterans in civil employment were
also veterans in the military service.
Their plight is now of1cially before
the House committee on reform in the
civil service. which Is considering
bill to strengthen weak points IN the
retirement act, and their situation
with the need for legislation to do
them justice.tMas explained to the
committee by N. r. Alifas, represents
ing the International Association of
MachiniStS. and president of the dis
trict which includes machinists en-
ployed in navy yards and arSenals.
The legislation under consideration
applies, to all government workers
and will probably be amended to meet
the situation for navy yard employees.
- = i: Il
The annuities provided under ex-
N
imum to $3.50 as a minimum. deter
mined in accordance with the length
of service rendered by the employees
affected and the average rate of pay
each receives for the ten years preced-
Ing retirement. These annuities have
been found to be inadequate. and to
provide a standard of living for these
superannuated employees and their de-
pendents which is Incompatible with
health and 4 proper sense Of pride in
maintaining their independence OF
charity.
While the maximum under the pro-
posed legislation will be $1,000 per
year, which by no means can be con-
Sidered excessive since it applies only
to- the higher-paid class of employees
Oh long SERVICE, tne dCtudl dHHuitieS
under the proposed bill when applied
to the. salary range of mechanics and
clerks is not much above the amount
allowed under existing law. For in
stance, a workman with thirty years
Of service to his credit and receiving
$1,000 per annum. or $3.S4 per diem.
would. under existing law, receive Tn
annuity OF $72O: under the proposed
bill he would also receive 1920, but
with thirtytive years of service his
anuity would be little Vore-sSiU.
TO De exact.
the mecha nical trades are not entitled
to the benefits of the retirement act
until they have reached the age OF
sixty-five. Under conditions where
large numbers of men are. being dis
charged men of advanced age are
continually fearful that they will be
separated from the service before
they reach the age of retirement
Under existing civil service regula-
tions the efficiency of an empfoye is
the determining factor in his reten-
tion in the service. When the work.
ing forces are being reduced in the
government service, as at present.
employees past the age Of sixty often
have reason to be fearful that from a
viewpoint, Of efficiency their perform
ances may be considered unfavorably
when compared with the work of men
much younger. Many employees haze.
a Sufficient amount of pride to. prsfer
to retire voluntarily from the safvice;
under an annuity which they have
earned rather than to be subjected to
the humiliation of being considered
has beens." 1t is argued. therefore.
the age Of sixty that he should be
permitted to retire on an annuity in
accordance with the number of years
Of services which he has rendered. e:
Those who are considering retire
ment reform legislation point out
that many employees Of the govern
ment who have served fifteen yearS