Evening star., 1922-03-11
CHIEF
DENIED A PENSION
J. S. Beach, With Hundreds
of Other "OId- Timers," Cut
OFF From Annuities.

John s. Beach. chief Of the retire
ment division of the pension office. Is
himself among the $4,000 government
employees who have been denied the
right Of retirement under the recent
decision Of the Attorney General CIV
ing such rights only to those who
entered the service on a competitive
sis.
To have worked for months in the
interest of the retirement act. to have
put in two years at the head of the
bureau dealing out retirement justice
to all. and then suddenly to learn
that you yourself. after years of
faithful service to Uncle Sam. have
been denied the same rights is the
unique position In which Mr.. Beach
finds himself.
The head of the retirement division
refused to make any comment upon
the situation today. when asked con-
ing retirement to others when denied
it himself. but it is known that Mr..
Beach is among those affected.
Perhaps 100 other "old line" en-
ployes Of the pension Office find them
selves in the same boat. so drastical-
decision, which also has denied monthly
annuities to 6.400 annuitants who are
now receiving them.
Mr.. Beach entered government SER
and later was transferred to the old
pension agency. Some years later
he and other workers were covered
into, the classified service by execu-
tive order. All such persons are
April 1 Is Fatal Day.
Men and women who retired in the
faith that their declining years would
be partly taken care of by their gov
ernment suddenly face the likelihood
Of losing their monthly pay checks,
beginning April l.
Government employees who have
worked as long and faithfully as any
workers. no matter If they did not
take a competitive examination, are
deprived of retirement rights. al.
though they have paid into the re-
tirement fund.
There is Dan Brewer. for instance,
retired letter carrier Of the city post
cials today, will lose his monthly
annuity, unless Congress at once
enacts legislation already introduced
by Senator Sterling and Representa-
tive Lehlbach to relieve the situation.
Mr.. Brewer was among the first to
be retired by Uncle Sam, August 20,
1920 He was one of the original
penny post" carrying letters in the
city shortly after the civil war. de-
livering them for a cent each. the
work then being in the hands of pri
vate contractors. His official con-
nection with the post Office seems to
date from July, 1872. but it Is not be-
lieved that he could have taken any
competitive examination at that time.
Mr.. Brewer. therefore, Is typical of
almost 1000 other retired men and
women in this city, part of the 6,40O
throughout the nation, who will lose
their monthly retirement pay checks
II the proposed legislation does not
go through with rush.
Judge Lacy ON List.
Judge Lacy of the Interior De-
partment, it was learned today, is
, among those honored and faithful
government servants who have been
denied retirement right under the de-
cision of the Attorney General. He
entered the service in 1887. and was
placed into the classified civil SER
vice in 1908 by executive order Of
President Roosevelt. By reason of his
efficient service he was kept in the
service for a two-year period, which
will end this coming August. If he
were to retire. then. although he
will have been in continuous service
for practically thirty-five years, he
will not be entitled to the benefits Of
the retirement act.
These are but typical cases Of what
General means. when divorced Of the
chnhalities of legal decisions, and
| brought down to the terms of hu-
| man beings and work -a-day results.
The Interior Department, charged
with the enforcement Of the retire.
ment act. hopes sincerely that the
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