Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
Month Has Elapsed Since
Conferees Last Met, With
No Date Set.
LEADERS PROTEST THEY
ARE STUDYING BILLS
Lehlbach Declares Matter Rests
Entirely in Hands Of
Senator Dale.

There is still hope for some legisla-
ton at the present session of Congress
for liberalization of the civil service re-
tirement law, although month has
elapsed since a meeting of the Senate
and House conferees and no definite
date has been set for another meeting.
Meanwhile the thousands of Govern
ment employees, not only In Washington
but throughout the States, have grown
fearful that history is repeating itself,
has advanced in previous sessions only
to meet some obstacle in the final stages
in the closing days Of a session. Many
friends of the employees are specializing
as to whether or not there is a delib-
crate attempt to delay action until 1t
Is too late for enactment at this ses-
sion.
Leaders of the Senate and House
conferees protest that they are studying
the two measures in conference.-the
Dale bill as passed by the Senate and
the Lehlbach bill as passed by the
House, which is understood to have the
approval of President Hoover-endeav-
oring to find a way to an agreement
upon some measure Of relief for the
Federal employees.
The only joint meeting of the con-
fereeS representing both branches Of
Congress, held early in April, ended
without any Roadway having been made
toward an agreement. Since that time
the Senate managers have conferred
many times among themselves for the
purpose of going into the details of the
new plan of retirement incorporated in
the bill passed by the House.
Must Agree to Modification.
Senator Dale, Republican of Yer
mont, chairman of the conference, said
yesterday that unless the House con-
ferees will agree to some notifications
of their bill the delay caused by con-
sideration of the bill will endanger its
passage at this session"
Senator Dale added, however, that
"the public ought not to assume that
there is no hope" merely because the
conferees have been studying the sttIa-
ton since the joint meeting.
Chairman Lehlbach of the House
civil service committee, who Is author
Of the new scheme of retirement legis-
lation, said: THE situation is entirely
beyond my control. The legislation Is
now in conference. We had one session
and adjourned subject to the call OF
Senator Dale. Unless he calls Us to-
gether again nothing can be done. The
House conferees have held themselves
in readiness for month waiting for
another conference. am not In
formed why no further conference Is
held. can take no steps In the sit
uation and have no knowledge when
any step will be taken. The matter -
entirely in the hands of Senator Dale"
The conferees on liberalization Of the
civil service retirement law are SEN
ators Dale of Vermont. Couzens Of
Michigan, Mcclellan of Tennessee. and
for the House Representatives Lehl-
bach Of New Jersey, Smith OF Idaho
and letters of Alabama.
Seeks Senate Compromise.
Representative Dallinger, Republican,
of Massachusetts, who has borne the
brunt of retirement legislation espe-
cially in efforts to iron out differences
and to bring together opposing groups,
and who went on the civil service
committee "for the sole purpose Of cor
recting injustices and to see that EN-
ployes get full justice and that the Gov
eminent lives up to its promises" has
been endeavoring to persuade the Sem
ate conferees to yield. IF they don't
agree and the liberalization legislation
of the Senate" he said, ''for II the SEN
ate conferees insist on the Dale bill
there will be no bill at all enacted this
session."
Representative Dallinger made the
fight in the House committee to get the
Dale bill reported. The Government
employees were opposed to the Lehlbach
bill in its original form. Then it was
modified and the representatives of the
.1a k<ak11 h4 TANv
Conference on Civil Service Retirement
and the National Federation Of Federal
Employees, said they would be glad to
have 1t reported. Representative Dali
linger was the one who offered the mo-
ton IN the committee to report 1t. He
says that all the great national organ
izations Of Government employees are in
favor of the Senate yielding and accept
ing the Lehlbach bill.
Dale Bill or Nothing.
"I have talked to Senator Dale" he
said, and as I understand 1t, certain
Government employees are sending in
letters to the conferences to the effect
that If they can't have the Dale bill
they want nothing"
"All the organizations of Government
employees were finally willing to accept
the Lehlbach bill, which contains every
thing that was in the Dale bill and
more. 1t is a better proposition for
the employees than the Dale bill, be-
cause while the Dale bill provides for
a maximum of 81 200 annuity, the Lefl-
bach bill fixes q minimum Of 1900
for full service and makes possible q
much higher maximum
Representative Dallinger has the in
terests Of the employees much at heart
and went before the House committee
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