Evening star., 1925-04-01
CHARGE INTERESTS
BEAT PENSION ACT
A. r. of L. Officers Declare
Retirement Pay Bill
Fought by Lobby.

Charges that the liberalization of
the civil service retirement law
which would have benefited 100000
veteran employees of the Government
was prevented from passage in the
closing days of the Sixty eighth Con-
gress by powerful lobby of big
business interests are aired By or
ganized labor in its official organ. the
American Federationist, out today.
The charges are that interests
feared II liberalized retirement pro-
visions were granted to the Federal
employees industry as whole would
have to pay larger retirement allow
ances to their own pensioners.
Committee Makes Report.
The report of the Legislative COM
mittee of the American Federation of
Labor, printed in the American Fed
erationist, says:
The $50, 900 employees of the Gov
ernment who would have been ben eft
ed by liberalizing the retirement law
are wondering what invisible infiu
ence accomplished its defeat. The
Senate passed 1t unanimously, and un-
doubtdely it would have been passed
with few, If any, votes against it in
a hidden source placed obstacles In
the way of It's passage that could not
be overcome.
After the bill had been referred to
the House it was reported favorably
by the committee on civil service and
placed on the calendar But the
rules committee refused to grant
rule for it's consideration by the
House. An unavailing appeal was
made to the steering committee to
permit a rule to be made. President
Green sent a communication to each
member of the steering committee and
also to Nicholas Longworth, leader of
the majority, urging that permission
be given for the House to act upon
the bill, in order that faithful EN-
ployes could in their declining years
have at least reasonable comfort in
stead of distressing near-poverty
until death, which, under the circum-
stances, is never far off for the re-
tired employe.
White House Aid Asked.
Members of the American Fedora
tion of Labor legislative committee on
February 81 visited the White House
to see what could be done, but re-
ceived no encouragement.
president Green sought confer
ruary 2S. The answer given was that
President Coolidge was too busy that
day, but In the event the bill was
passed by Congress he would meet
a committee to discuss it's provisions.
'Dn March l interviews with cab
met members were published in the
daily papers in which it was said
that the president and cabinet fa-
vored the retirement bill and were
taking measures to have it passed.
Secretary Work of the Interior De-
partment had been appointed by the
cabinet it was said, to take up the
matter with Director of the Budget
Lord. 1t was in January when this
was done Despite repeated requests
Director Lord failed to furnish data
regarding-the effects of the provisions
in the bill.
I'm a discussion on what the House
4. Repre- Longworth said
that several privileged resolutions
would be taken up and that a number
to deliver addresses upon various
matters. Representative Schafer of
Wisconsin asked:
Then we are to understand this
session will not be in a position to
Federal employes?'
gentleman may draw that conclusion
Longworth said that he had made
be called up"