The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-09
SMOOT KNIFES
u. S. EMP LOYES'
PENSION PLEAS
Utah Senator Does Dirty
Work for Coolidge
BY LAURENCE TODD,
federated Press staff Correspondent

Federated Press stan consequently
WASHINGTON, April 7. -(FP)-
President Coolidge has come out into
the open with his fight against the
bill permitting retirement of federal
employees at so years of age with
pensions to be contributed one-half by
the employees and one-half by the gov
eminent. The rates would average
about $500 a year with maximum
Of $1,000 year.
Behind Coolidge is Senator Smoot
of Utah, known throughout the civil
service as car of that vast organiza-
ton. Shoots hold upon the civil
service is maintained by his chairman
ship of the senate finance committee,
his control of the bureau of efficiency
which acts as a private investigating
agency for him, and his indirect con-
troll of various other committees in
the senate that deal with appropria--
tions. Smoot is the stubborn enemy
of humane measures affecting the
100000 men and women who work for
the United States government. He
guides the Coolidge policy that has
held house and senate committees
back from making good their pledges
of fair treatment of the federal en-
ployes.
Draft Senate Bill.
Now the house committee on civil
service has secretly drafted retire
ment bill, setting the retirement ages
at so for railway mail clerks, 62 for
carriers and mechanics, and 65 for
general clerical employees. The pres.
ent retirement age is 20 and the aver
age pension to civil servants is $3.50
year. Senator Stanfield, in charge
of the bill on the senate side, has
begun to draft scheme on the 6062-
65-year plan, thereby indicating that
the Coolidge-Smoot utlimatum has
been accepted in both branches of
Congress, so far as the regular re-
publicans and democrats are concern
ed. Denial Of the right of the federal
employees to the pension plan pro-
NOTED by the National Federation of
Federal Employees and by the post
office workers unions is definite. If
the friends of the unions put up a con-
test in the senate, the result may be
defeat for any legislation this year.
The administration will win, either
way. $3.50
Presidents Tricky Work.
Like the presidents other achieve
ments in sly manipulation, this one
was based on long delays, evasions of
statement as to his position, and oc-
casional hint that the federal en-
ployes might rest assured that their
interests would be duly conserved by
him. When enough time had been
consumed to make sure that the situa-
ton was firmly in his hands, the Presi-
dent announced that he was s'study-
ing" the cost of the increased retire
ment pay. At the same time an an
onymous statement from administra-
ton quarters appeared, claiming that
the cost would be enormous.
Green Forced to Aid.
President Green of the American
Federation of Labor replied by de-
handing that mysterious personages
in high position keep hands off, and
that the Cougar and $1,000 limits be
adopted. This challenge brought Coo
lidge from behind his cover of secrecy.
He opposed the bill demanded by or
ganized labor Finally, Smoot, boss of
the civil service, went into action, and
the house committee agreed to take
his direction.