Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-02
RETIREMENT BILL
HEARINGS CLOSE
House May Get Report of
Committee in Two Weeks.
LehIbach Says.

Hearings on the various measures
before the House civil service COM
niiItee designed to hbcralizc the exist
tag retirement law and 10 correct in
justice and inequality III il were closed
Today. Chairman Leh!bach estimated
that the committee would report 10
the House in about two weeks, After
the committee has worked OFT the
Ulshes of the members regarding vari-
gus provisions. such department heads
as the committee desires TO consult
will be called i'll for executive hearings.
Sixteen additional members of Con-
Sress today registered their. support OF
the Lehlbach bill. which Is supported
or the Federal employees, the main fea-
tures Of which are maximum an
nuity OF 81 200 voluntary retirement
after 30 years Of service. and retro
active provision 50 as TO ecUali2s the
annuities raid 10 those already on the
retired ron who were retired before
,.ie higher sea,c OF pay IVES established
Emp!cye Talks.
Most Of tha time of the hearings to-
day was taken up by Charles Heming-
way VINO styled himself "a volunteer
representative OF the low-paid en-
p!oycs." he supported the Addison
Smith bill. which was introduced by re-
Quest. which, he claimed would reduce
the cost 10 the Government by three
fl.thS. would reduce the cost to the
cmpovcs 10 oae-half AMI would almcS;
double the annui;lcs. Ks urged that the
money IN the retirement fund shall be
invested at 6 per cent.
Members O. Congress TO-DAY who regis
tered tl,ei- support OF the Lehlbacf
measure are: Senator Edwards. New
Jersey: Representatives Miller. Wash
incton: JscobStein. New York: Dick
stein New York: johnson. Illinois
Graham Illinois; De Rouen and O'Con-
Ier. Louisiana: Cooper. Brown an6
Cadine. Wisconsin; Hudspsth. Texas.
Winter. Wyoming: Wilson. Mississippi
Moore. Virginia: Keiss. Pennsylvania
A w Reynolds. secretary of the CITY
Employees Association. recorded their
Endorsement Of the Lehlbach bill.
Asks Early Report.
Edgar Wallace legislative representa-
tive OF the American Federation of La
hor asked that thu bill be reported ont
and that there should not be delav To
get further figures because this is
legislative function on which il is
question Of policy rather than Of exact
figures.
L c. Nelson. represented the Spanish
War veterans He is in the Government
service anS urged particularly the fea-
ture OF voluntary retirement after 80
years of service. especially for the vet
Grams pointing out that their service
il the trcrics had made their health
average lower than the general average
fc- those in the Federal service who
had not suffered through such ser.ice.
Dr. George r BowerTnan librarian of
the Washington Public Library. asked
the committee at the afternoon session
yesterday to amend the Law under which
al Government employees will have to
retire al the age of 70 He emphasized
that the idea that Librarians. art cura-
tors and such specialized workers lose
th"'r m-?.-al efficiency as they approach
such an age is incorrect. ana pointed
cu; that members of the Supreme Court
O. the C1itcd States are past 80 wears
Henry W. Strickland. secretary of the
Railway Mail Association. assured the
Committee that they need not labor un-
Ger the fear that there would be a rush
fcr retirement If IL was made optional
after 30 years Of service. Such a pro-
vision would work m hardship on the
Government. he said PREDICTING that
not per cent Of the employees would
sex retirement ss soon as they are
eligible uncer such optional provision.