Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-05

relative to low-paid Federal employees
and urging that, as a matter of Ma
tional honor, the Government of the
United States should no longer re-
main behind other progressive en-
ployers in doing justice to it's faithful
employees"
Discusses Retirement.
Recalling that since the last con-
vention of the Federation "a very re-
markable legislative achievement to
the credit of our orga nization has
been the enactment of an amendatory
law, Mr.. Stewards report
pointed out liberalizing provisions
which might be added to the law with
benefit to Federal work
ers. In this connection the report
contains the following comment:
"Our organization must continue
without abatement it's fight for fur
Their liberalization of the retirement
laws. Through increase in the annu-
ity, lowering the optional age at which
an employe may retire after 30 years
service, and the enactment of some
provision to relieve employees receiv-
ing more than 81 500 compensation per
annum of contributions to the retire
ment fund in excess of the amount
upon which their annuity Is computed.
Provision should also be made for dis
continuing contributions after 30
years service unless provision is made
for optional retirement at the expira-
ton of 30-year period Of service"
Survey Desired.
"The generally expressed sentiment
of leaders of the House and Senate at
the last session of Congress was that
no further liberalization of retirement
might be expected until an exhaustive
cost survey was made and the results
of such survey taken into considera-
ton in connection with further legisla-
ton. Notwithstanding this expressed
attitude, the resolution introduced by
Hudson of Michigan,
providing for complete survey of the
whole retirement system, failed of pas
sage. but will, however, be introduced
at the next session of Congress.
although the original retirement
act of 1920 provided that unclassified
employees not initially covered by the
benefits of the retirement legislation
might be brought under the terms of
the act of executive order, there still
remain large numbers of civilian en-
ployes whose civil service status is
that of unclassified, but whose tenure
of employment is continuous and to
whom Congress clearly intended the
benefits of retirement should apply.
THE national officers have gone
into this subject very carefully with
department officials and with the
Civil Service Commission. The Civil
Service Commission is unwilling to
to the President the issu-
ance of an executive order which
would bring within the terms of the
retirement act large groups of ex-
copied employees. To bring about this
result will require legislation. A bill
the retirement act for the
purpose indicated must be introduced
at the next session of Congress"
Efficiency Ratings Troublesome.
Concerning efficiency ratings, the re.
port contains the following statement:
THE subject of efficiency ratings
remains a Jexed one for all Federal
employees. The impossibility of apply
ing one set rule for measuring the
quality and quantity of output of en-
ployes engaged in a great variety of
tasks is generally admitted, and until
an equitable system is worked out and
applied, and with suffi-
cient elasticity to permit of its appli-
cation to varied employments, 1t would
be better, even from an administrative
standoint. if no efficiency ratings were
THE ultimate solution OF the en-
tire problem undoubtedly rests with
the Federal employees themselves"
tL0t xurff u
the exception of employees in navy
yards and arsenals no other civilian
employees of the Government receive
either annual or sick leave as a mat
ter of right. While it is true, it was
stated, that many receive both, a great
receive considerably less than
the maximum of 80 days sick leave
and 80 days annual leave.
In regard to overtime work In the
Federal service, Mr.. Steward said:
There has been and continues to
be a great deal of duty required or
Federal employees beyond the limits
of a fair days work for which neither
overtime pay nor compensatory time
is granted. In some instances the
character of work is such that over.
time can hardly be avoided, but II
such overtime is performed in the IN
terest of the general public ana by
direction of the employer. justice ana
equity demand that adequate compen-
sation should be provided.
There is a generally recognized
disinclination on the part OF heads OF
the executive branch of the Govern
ment toward payment or overtime
service. Therefore, reliet must De
sought through the medium of 'tgis-
lati0n. A bill should be introduced in
the next Congress for the relief OF
employees required to perform extra
service out of hours, with compensa-
ton therefor.
"As an indication that the millen-
MUM for Federal employees has not
vet arrived, we are still contending
for a principle that was we'll estab-
lished thousands of years ago, namely,
one DAVIS rest in seven. Notwith-
standing a universal belief in this
principle, the Indifference that mas
so many dealings or the
Federal Government with it's en-
Moves has left thousands of these
workers with a sevenday week I'M
posed upon them without overtime
pay or compensatory time IN lieu
thereof.
"A bill was introduced at the last
session of Congress by Representative
William A. Oldfield of Arkansas, at
our request. the effect of which would
be to provide one days rest in seven.
Hearings were had before the House
committee on civil service, but no
further progress was made. A similar
oiu should be introduced at the forth
coming session of Congress and
strongly backed by the federation. 1t
e. believed that nublic sentiment can
he aroused in favor of such a meas
IRE. and the Federal service cleansed
NJ this distinct blot upon its reputa-
= e-...... 81 a y. an, r,lnrAr. -