Evening star., 1926-04-06
In presenting his report on the re.

In presenting his report on the re.
tirement bill to the House yester-
day Representative Lehlbach told
his colleagues that true economy for
the Government requires prompt ac-
ton instead of postponement, and
then to insist that the matter "stay
settled" he says:
"The Government Is committed to
the policy of retirement. Whatever
the cost may be, it must be met. The
evidence demonstrates that the exist
ing plan is inadequate to secure both
to the employees and to the Govern
ment the full measure of anticipated
benefits. Hence the Government is
not receiving full value for It's money.
BY enactlng into law the provisions
of this bin the present deficiencies
Will substantially be corrected and
the additional expenditure will make
productive the total cost. This Is true
economy.
Postponement Opposed.
This question must be met Post.
ponement will merely result in more
widespread and intense insistence
upon reformation Of the system
Nothing Is ever settled until 1t Is set
tied right. The wise course is to
settle the retirement problem now, and
thereupon insist that 1t stay set
tied"
Discussing in his report the pro.
posed changes in the retirement law.
Mr.. Lehlbach said:
THE ages for automatic super
annuation retirement in existing law
remain unchanged. but the classes to
which the respective retirement ages
apply are amended as follows To the
class OF postal employees and mechan-
les who retire at 65 years OF age is
added laborers, and to the class Of
railway postal clerks who retire at GO
years Is added those employees en-
gagged in pursuits whose occupation is
hazardous or requires great physical
effort. or which necessitates exposure
to extreme heat or cold. and those en-
plo"es whose terms of service shall
include Is years or more of such serv-
ice rendered in the tropics.
Work Is Wearing.
''The rea asons for retiring mechanics
at an earlier age than those engaged
in clerical pursuits apply with equal
force to laborers. Testimony before
the committee developed that there
existed in the Government employ
certain small groups whose character
Of work is so wearing and SO hazard
Gus that their efficiency Is impaired
at an earlier age than the ordinary
classes of Government employees. Ac-
cordingly, provision Is made to retire
these. including those who served the
major portion of their time in the
tropics, at the same age as Is now
provided for railway postal clerks. In
order to- assure a fair and reasonable
construction OF the language used
the duty of assigning employees to the
appropriate age groups is imposed
jointly upon the Civil Service CJm-
mission and the head Of the depart.
ment concerned.
1.-The provision in existing law 20
retain in the service for two-year
periods employees, who although hav-
ing reached retirement age are willing
to remain and are demonstrated to
be efficient and competent, is retained.
In order to secure uniformity in the
execution OF this provision in the
various departments, there is inserted
a paragraph setting up method o.
ascertaining efficiency, and, when
established. directing that the appro-
pirate certificate issue as of course,
Employees Added.
"To the groups of employees TO
whom the retirement act is applied
are added the employees Of the
recorder of deeds and the register of
willis of the District of Columbia, Of
the Panama Canal and the Panama
Railway Co., on the 1sthmus, anf
postmasters of the first. second and
third class who have been promoted
appointed or transferred from the
Exl ,,,-tI ioa nfh ncf
masters. however, remain excluded
from the retirement system.
The bill contains an entirely new
provision for voluntary retirement at
the option Of the employe after at
least 80 years of service. The group
that Is automatically retired at 20
years may exercise this option at or
after attaining the age of 65 years
the group automatically retired at 65
years may exercise the option at or
after the age of g. years and the
group automatically retired at 81
years may exercise the option at or
after 60 years"
Experience has shown that in large
groups of employees certain individuals
become superannuated and conse-
quently inefficient earlier in life than
most of the others in their group. AS
to them, the purpose of the law, to
purge the Government service Of in
competent, fails. Your committee
therefore recommends the establish
ment of a short period preceding the
time for automatic retirement IL
which employees who have given prac.
.ically their entire adult life to the
Government service may voluntarily
retire if il is to their interest so to do.
Few Would Retire.
at is manifest that at the age set
for the exercise of this option, EN-
ployes availing themselves of it would
as a rule he unable TO secure remun
erativH employment In private indus
try. Hence, practically none would
avail themselves of this opportunit,
except those who, by reason of men
tai or physical impairment of thei.
faculties, find work a burden. The
retirement of such will be TO the ad
vantage of the Government and will
more fully promote the economy ant
efficiency of the service contemplate
when the retirement system was in
stituted. The testimony Of the actu
aries based on experience elsewhere
is that only small percentage Of
those to whom the privilege of volun
tary retirement Is extended will avail
themselves of 1t.
"The bill provides q new method Of
! computing annuities. The presen
method of fixing annuities at percent
ages of average salaries ranging from
80 per cent to go per cent, according
to length of service measured In three
year periods, and with maximum'
ranging from s720 per annum down t.
ta h1If s1,s