Evening star., 1924-10-26
Real Workers i'm the National Capital

earnestly hopes that the legislation
will be enacted at the coming session
Of Congress-
Four Congresses ago. away back In
1915. when retirement agitation had
been rife for more than a dozen years
and didn't seem to be getting very
far, just following the organization
which the National Federation OF
Federal Employees is an outgrowth.
Mr.. Beach showed so much zeal for
pushing this legislation that he was
made chairman Of a committee which
drafted a bill and this was subse-
quently introduced by Seaator Wads
worth of New York in February. 1917.
In the next session of Congress this
bill was revised and reintroduced and
became known as the Mcclellan Keat-
Ing bill. That legislation, however
failed, but in the following session of
Congress the bill was again revived
and became known as the Sterling
Lehlbach bill, which was enacted into
law in May, 1920.
Many of the provisions incorporated
in the original Wadsworth bill wert
likewise incorporated in subsequent
bills so that the measure drafted by
Mr. Beach and his committee afforded
the basis for the present law.
in House and Senate, Mr.. Beaci
worked tirelessly interviewing indiv-
idual members and in conferences
with committees of both House anf
Senate. In the course of this per
sistent effort to get action by Con-
gress, Mr.. Beach talked personally
with practically every member of tn
last three Congresses, always argu-
ing that it was measure that WoulC
bring real economy and efficiency into
the Federal service. 1t was this work
that Chairman Lehlbach Of the House
civil service committee commended in
addressing the Retired Employees As
Sociation last year when he stated in
substance that Mr.. Beach more than
any other government employe was
responsible for the draft of the pres
ent legislation.
To make clear how many persons
are able to pay better attention to
their jobs by having much worry
removed due to the fact that they are
assured of some provision for their
old age when they will no longer be
fit for service. through this legisla-
tive achievement of Mr.. Beach
Act Is Enlarged.
The retirement act was originally
designed and has as its major pur-
pose provision for pensioning en-
ployes in the classified civil service
This is specifically enlarged so as to
include superintendent Of United
States National Cemeteries, employee
of the architect of the United States
Capitol Building and Grounds. the Lii
trary of Congress, the Botanical Gar
denS. excepting persons appointed by
the President and confirmed by the
Senate. II may also be extended by
Executive order, upon recommends
tion of the Civil Service Commission
to include any employe or group oil
employees in the civil service of thu
United States not classified at the
time the act was passed.
All regular annual employees of the
municipal government of the District
of Columbia, appointed directly by tn,
Commissioners or by other compe
tent authority including those receiv-
ing per diem compensation paid ou,
of general appropriations. but whose
services are continuous. and includ-
ing public school employes-with
school officers and teachers and mem
bers of the Police and Fire Depart
ments specifically excluded.
So the government workers are
looking forward to their retirement
annuities. thoroughly satisfied that
they are getting a sympathetic ad-
ministration from one of their own
veteran co-workers, and that the law
itself is his baby"