Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03
1850 u. S. WORKERS
DUE TO Be RETIRED
BY AGE DURING YEAR
1900 Are Oldest in Federal
Service, Many Being Far
Beyond Limit.
THREE ARE EXEMPTED
AS TIME is EXTENDED
DR.. William Holmes, George Won
inertia and DR.. Stejneger
Retain Places.

approximately $500 Government en-
ployes will be retired on account of age
during the present fiscal year which be-
gan July /, it was disclosed yesterday
by the United States Civil Service
Commission and the retirement di-
vision of the Pension Bureau. Of that
number, some $500 are the Oldest in
the Federal service who have already
been employed from to IL years be-
yond the retirement age, most Of whom
will be retired on August 81.
This means that there will be
about $500 vacant positions to be
filled.
The new retirement law, approved
May 20, last, and effective July i, car
ries the provision that after August
20, 1890, no employee shall be continued
In the Civil Service of the United
States beyond the age of retirement for
more than four years, except that where
the head of the department or estab-
lishment certif1es, and the Civil Serv-
ice Commission agrees. that by reason
of expert knowledge and special quail
fications the continuance of the en-
ploye would be advantageous to the
public service" further extension OF two
years may be granted.
s2.2 Per Cent Continued.
Heretofore extensions in two-year
periods have been granted generally
beyond the retirement age, to such an
extent that in all 1e,745 have been
certified for such continuance. COM
pared to 1870 retired for age. Last
year the percentage of continuances
was 622.
On June 80, 1880, there were 7.404
who were serving In all classes of con-
tinuance, 1900 of whom will not reach
the completion of four years beyond
retirement age within the present hscal
year.
Among the continuances approved
during the fiscal year ended June 80,
last. were five employees who then Sc
cured their sixth continuance. allowing
them IL years of employment beyond
the retirement age, ~ who were granted
q fifth continuance. 1877 who were
granted a fourth continuance and 429
who were granted third continuance.
The Civil Service Commission is con-
forming with the letter of the new law
regarding continasnees. on the general
policy that the ends Of the retirement
legislation would be defeated through
wholesale and repeated continuances.
While at first department chiefs were
making many recommendation Tor
further continuances beyond the four
year extension, the Civil Service Com
mission has been approving so few OF
these that the executive heads of the
departments and establishments are
now refraining from making such rec
concentrations except in very rare in
stances-"for the good of the service"
Adheres Strictly to Rule.
The commission has been adhering
strictly to the policy that further ex-
tensions must be based solely on the
interests of the Government.
There have been So recommendations
for further extension of service bv per-
sons who have alreadv been allowed
extensions without strings. but cen
these are not unlimited. Under the
law the commission can allow the ex-
tension only for two-year period. Az
the end of that period the department
must take the case up again with the
Civil Service Commission. These three
extensions have been allowed because
the Government would suffer severely
II work on which they are engaged. ana
which they can do much better than
any one else, should be interfered with
through their separation from the serv-
ice.
Five other continuances beyond the
with a stipulation that there shall be
no further request for extension. In
these cases the period of extension runs
from a few months to two years TO give
the departments time to train sue
cessors in these Jobs.
OF the SO recommendations for ex-
tensions made by the heads of depart
n1ents or establishments. SO have been
definitely turned down BY the Civil
Service Commission and IL are stan
under consideration.
$500 to Go August 81.
The Civil Service Commission and
the retirement division of the Pension
Bureau estimate that some $500 OF
those who have been enjoying con-
tinuances must go out this year, mostly
on August 81 The normal run OF
annuities estimated at the Pension
Bureau indicates that some 200 Will
be retired for age on reaching the re-
tirement age during the present nscal
year-making a total OF $500 who Will
probably be retired.
This number Is likely to be revised
upward because the new law reduces
the retirement age for mechanics in
navy yards from IS to So years and re-
duceS the retirement age for employees
In the Indian service from 10 to IS
years, so a large number than here
tofore are are due for retirement.
A number of applications are being
received also from those who desire
to take advantage Of the provision Of
the law allowing optional retirement
two wears IN advance of the retirement
age. In the postal service, where thu
retirement age is IS years for clerks
carriers and mechanics and 81 year
for railway postal clerks, numbel
Of the workers have indicated thei
- kak adu Mt nf tho
tional provision for retirement ate
30 wears of service, two years In ad
vance of the retirement age.
While the new act sets the Tetiremen
date for those who have already servet
four years beyond the retirement ag
as August 20, the departments ant
establishments have authority 20 con
end of the month, so they viii b
DEFINITELY tout Of the service" on Sep
ember 1.
DIR. Holmes Is Retained.
Among those who have been recentl
Srdered retained, solely Tor the aovan
tage of the Government" are: DR.. Leon
hard Stejneger, head curator OF biology
United States National Museum,
wears of age; George Won inertia, tech
nical officer in the supervising archi
tect's Office whose special duty is
keep the entire Federal building pro
gram moving. and DR.. William I
Holmes, director of the National Caller
of Art, a noted anthropologist, now
years of age.
DIR. Stejneeer Is engaged upon impol
tant research work. which the SMITH
CONTINUED on Pege 3. Column %