Evening star., 1923-08-18
COOLIDGE FRIENDLY
TO u. S. WORKERS
Federation President ConferS
With Executive and Leaves
Well Pleased.

The federal employe has good
friend in President Coolidge, at least
that is the opinion of Luther c. Stew
ard. president of the National Fedora
tion of Federal Employees, who was in
conference with the President at the
White House today.
After, his talk with the Executive,
during which he explained some OF
the Legislation being sought by his
association, Mr.. Steward said that he
was greatly impressed with the EXecu-
tive's familiarity with the activities
OF the association and his expressed
interest in the welfare of the large
armv OF government workers
Although the President did not
commit himself. Mr.. Steward gained
the impression that Mr.. Coolidge viii
give his sympathetic support TO legis-
lation being sought by the asSOcla-
tion. if the same is within reason and
is consistent with the terms of pres
ent laws affecting the federal en-
ployes.
Like Bay State Law.
The President, for instance. is not
only familiar with the workings Of
the reclassification law, but he is
known to favor the principles Of reclas-
sifcation as is called for in the law
In speaking Of this Mr.. Steward
called attention to the fact that the
federal reclassifcation law corre-
spends TO d lage extent with the re
classification law passed by the Mas
saChusetts legislature and signed and
administered afterward by Mr.. Cool
idge when he was governor Of that
commonwealth.
Mr.. Steward discussed az much
length the present administration of
h.. 10 set fC1fi loI1 nd Sa rat IA
cred that the President agreed with
him when he declared that the funC-
tional classification OF employees rep
resents the most efficient and modern
way of handling this difficult and in
tricate subject.
President Coolidge's experience while
governor of Massachusetts has caused
him to fully appreciate the human
part of the whole reclassificatiOn n
machine-the functional classification.
Mr.. Steward said that the law in
and that he told the President he
hoped the federal law would meet
with corresponding success.
Want Higher Retirement.
Among the other matters discussed
with the President by Mr. Steward were
the wishes of his association for an
dfleHuIlelll 10 tite leutidL SIHplONeS re-
tirement act and the need for legisla
ton to strengthen the Employees Com
pensation Act.
The retirement Act needs liberaiz-
ing" Mr.. Steward told the President.
Most important in this connection is
the necessity for increasing the maxi
mum retirement pay. II is now only
s72H and il should be $1,000.
There also should be reduction
in the age limit set in the act wh' Il
an employe may optionally retire" Mr..
ent the employe must wait until he
or she reaches seventy years. This
should be reduced by at least five or
ten years.
Flaws In Compensation Act.
Another vitality important matter
10 the federal employe is the present
need for Legislation to straighten out
compensation act.
1T has been found necess sary TO clear
up the muddled condition growing out
OF the recent decision of the control
Ter of the currency IN which he held
that disability resulting from occu-
pational disease is not compensible
under the act. This holding has natu-
rally created an unfortunate situa-
tion. and some relief should be eN-
tended without much delay"
Mr.. Steward expressed the opinion
that satisfactory progress is being
made by the personnel classified tion
board. Before leaving TIE President
Mr.. Steward extended the good wishes
Of his association and asked him If
he would send a message OF greeting
to be read at the opening session Of
the annual convention Of the asso-
ciat;on in Denver: Col. September 3
Sees Few Callers.
The President saw few callers to-
day. He devoted the greater part Of
his day to the disposing of routine
matters requiring his reading and sig
nature and TO the study of department.
al matters Secretaries Hughes of the
State Department and Hoover of the
Commerce Department conferred with
him briefly. The latter said his call
had nothing TO do with coal. but that
he wished TO make known to the PreSi-
dent several matters pertaining to his
departments activities. Secretary
Hughes is understood to have discussed
the progress being made toward bring
ing about an understanding with the
Mexican government, which, when
completed, will result in recognition.
James A. Mcfarland, nataional COM
mander of the Disabled American
Veterans. after an interview with the
President today. said that in the new
Executive he believes his organization
/ has n supporter of it's contention that
priority should be given legislation
| for the relief Of the wars disabled,
when Congress is swamped. in De-
cember. by various proposals backed
| by former service mems groups, said
! that he discovered that the President
| has made an intimate study of the
matter Of caring for disabled veterans
| and that he appears determined that
| Justice shall always be extended TO
| the incapacitated men. Mr.. Nc
Farland said he thought that Gen.
Hines is materially improving mat
| tors at the Veterans Bureau, and that
he hoped he would be continued as
director of that important bureau.
STATE OFFICIAL FACES