Evening star., 1926-03-29
A Typical Case of
Annuity Injustice


On October 1, 1904, I entered the
Forest Service, in my forty-second
year. On May IL, 1925, date of re-
tirement, had nearly completed q
years of service-my appointment
came In the late Summer as the re-
suit of Civil Service examination
taken in the Spring. Between Spring
and Summer l had built UP grow
ing business as public stenographer
in Columbia, S. c.. and took in dur
ing the last month of work as much
as my salary in the Government serV~
ice ever amounted to until the bonus
slightly increased my 500 per month.
Not knowing the severe handicap
women labored under in the Govern
ment, / followed the lure and gave
up the lucrative business l was es-
tablishing.
In 1908 district offices were estab-
lished among the forests in the West,
and 1 was asked to take the work
under the forest homestead act of
June IL, 1906. in Ogden, Utah.
For four years thereafter handled
this work, except for the actual sig
nature of letters. / received applica-
tions, recorded, plated them in for
est tract books. handled the entire
correspondence with the forest su-
pervisors and the applicants, listed
the lands recommended for settle
ment with the Secretary of the In
terror for opening to entry, and kept
the files.
l loved my work and put the best
had into it; but the high altitude of
Ogden, Utah, affected my health SO
seriously that return to a lower al
titude became imperative.
In December, 1912, l was trans
ferred back to Washington, where,
for a year, l was given even more
responsible work. Cases of con-
fiicting claims and claims against
the Government from all the West
ern districts came to me. | searched
the records of the General Land Or
fee, arranged the data thus secured
for the torester's information. pre-
pared the letters of instruction to the
district foresterS for the signature
of the forester, typed them, and III
almost every instance the forester
signed them as thus prepared. Within
a year this work was formed into il
separate office and man was given
charge.
My health was never restored, and
for l3 years pain back OF my letl
eye grew more and more distressing.
My teeth were found to be badly
abscessed and otherwise diseased. L
lost them all, but that pain was no.
abated. This suffering grew so acute
that my last weeks work was torture.
Nerve depletion centering in the
retina' was the prOnouncement of the
oculiSt, who recommended that l uSe
my eyes not more than two hours
daily, and these hours not to be con-
secutive. Retirement then became in
evitable. To go back a little, in 1919,
my nerves gave out completely, ana
was Ill for months. Returning in
November for a week, i was again
stricken down and did not get bach
to work until November, 1920.
My year and a half of illness ate
made, all my cash in bank, besides
considerable help from my family.
In the five years since, ] have eX-
pended almost all earned in efforts
to hold myself in a state of health
fit to perform my official duties, but
without success.
The present retirement law does
not give me credit for full period Oh
service, nor for the additional rate OF
payment after the bonus became a
part of the basic salaries. This law
bears severely upon all retiring work
ers, but with especial hardship upon
tAAOoC 1CLAC GU Otl dCCOuHL VI y.
These are trebly penalized:
/. BY loss of health and earning
capacity, presumably in the line of
duty;
2. BY loss Of time thereby;
8. BY consequent reductions to a
minimum compensation because rated
in the same class with others serving
full time in fair health.
My plea, therefore, is that disabled
workers be placed in q distinct class
and given a higher compensation in
stead of the cruel condemnation to
hopeless, abtect poverty they suffer
under the present law.
plead with the civil service com.
mittee having this matter in charge
to deal with US in new spirit of con
sideration, conspicuously absent from
the present law, and that they do it
now!
To remember the golden rule.
To forget they represent our eco
nomical Uncle Sam and become to us
our Brother Jonathani
MARY M. CHILDS.