Evening star., 1922-03-17
Veteran Navy Yard Employees
In Way to Get Justice

or more. and yet who are under sixty.
have become broken in health or
otherwise incapable Of competing
with younger men under q scheme
where absolute efficiency Is the de-
terminfng factor In retention In the
service. 1t is suggested that such
men. to escape the humiliation Of dis
and also to assure them Of a contin-
ued opportunity to make a livelihood,
should be entitled to retire volun-
tar1ly on an annuity. In accordance
with the terms already agreed upon.
Many of this class OF employees who
have served fifteen years or more are
sufhciently incapacitated to he unable
to compete with younger and stronger
men. but are not sufficiently incapaci-
tated to come within the provisions
Of the disability section Of the retire.
ment act of May %. 1920.
+ + -,
The language Of the bill under con-
sideration provides that such en-
ployes shall have the right to make
application for retirement on annui-
ties" This language possibly should
be amplified SO as to give them "the
right Of retirement on annuities upon
e
This section should be SO wordcd.
those who are urging the reforms
point out, as to confer its benefits
upon all employees who have been
separated from the service since the
enactment Of the retirement act OF May
-. 1920.
During the past year drastic re-
ductfoAs have taken place in the navy
yard and arsenal service. President
Alifas called to the attention of the
been made supposedly in accordance
with relative efficiency. Men who
have served the United States gov
ernment from fifteen to thirty years
or more, with large families. have
been discharged. and other employees
who have served less than Ave years,
who have no families, have been re-
tanned.
Under the retirement act Of May
%. 1890. these men. practically none
Of whom has reached the age of re-
ttrement-sixty-five years-are de-
prived of all annuity benefits from
the government to which they should
morally be entitled under a fair and
equitable plan of dealing with en-
ployes in the civil service. Speaking
for the navy yard and arsenal EN-
ployes. Mr.. Alias argued to the CON-
mittee that Legislation should be en-
acted which would entitle all en-
ployes who have been discharged for
lack Of work or lack of appropria-
tions. and without delinquency. to a GER
tificate signed by the commissioner
of pensions 10 the effect that such
employe is entitled to an annuity
from the government whenever he
reaches the age of sixty years.
wherever he may be employed, or
whether he iS emnlovea mt IN,
accordance with the rates of annuity
as contemplated in the measure now
under consideration. 1t Is proposed
that this section should be worded
so as to extend its benefits to en-
ployes who have been separated from
became a law.
X + X
Instances have been presented to
the committee where employees have
been discharged for lack Of work
who have had thirty years of service
and who would be entitled to an an
nuity of $72o per year II they were
retained in the service for a few
months longer. The chances Of re-
employment in the government serv-
ice or for employment in private in
dustry at their age are not promis-
ing. They have given the best years
of their lives in the service Of the
government. oftentimes at a special
lied work for which there Is no mar.
ket outside the federal service.
b.. Prior to the enactment Of the re-
tirement act of May %. 1920, the
United States government felt under
obligation, due to humanitarian con-
siderations, to keep in its employ
men who had given long and faithful
service. But. with the enactment Of
the retirement act. many department
heads felt warranted in dismissing
ell employees in accordance with their
relative efficiency. disregarding the
sympathetic and generous purpose
behind the enactment of that legisla-
tion. and which generous attitude
should still prevail for employees not
hapedfe ed nv tho act