Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
BLOW THREATENS
U.S.|NRET|REMENT
OF SAFETY EXPERT
Only Special Legislation Can
Save Loss of lanes E.
Howard August 80.
|. C. C. POINTS TO NEED
AND VALUED RESEARCH
Dollar-a-Year Suggestion Vain I'm
der Law-0thers Similarly
Affected.

Unless checked by special legislation
now pending, the memorable course of
the retirement law will remove from
the Federal service in few months the
Governments foremost scientific au-
thority on the cause and cure of rail-
road accidents.
The prospective victim of this off
Cial calamity" as the operation of the
law has been characterized in this case,
is James E. Howard, veteran safety en-
gineer of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, who must retire next Au-
gust despite protests of the commission
that his services are indispensable.
Towards case. which Is but one of a
number affected by an inequity of the
law governing retirement, has been
urgent petition to the Civil Service
Commission by George B. McGinty,
secretary of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, acting on behalf of the
members of the commission.
McGinty advised civil service officials
that it will be impossible to satisfac-
torily fill Towards position" as he is
an outstanding figure in this particu-
lar field of engineering practice and
scientist has offered to continue his
services without salary
Dollar a Year Suggested.
The suggestion was made that some
way be found to continue Howard on
the rolls as q "dollar-a-year man." If
necessary. in order that the Govern
ment and the public may have the ben
eft of the experts invaluable services
IN, tk1A - lVRyox
hazards.
While the Civil Service Commission
has not formulated its reply to the re-
quest, it was indicated yesterday that
the sacrifices periodically offered by
the 79-year-old physicist cannot be &C.
cepted under the law, and that the let
ter of the I. C. G. officials will meet
with the usual brief official response
expressing regret that nothing can be
done about it because the retirement
law is explicit and mandatory.
The legal provision which will write
"finis" on Towards career as a safety
expert. unless counteracted by an
amendment Endorsed by the Civil Serv-
ice Commission, Budget Bureau, Effici-
ency Bureau and other agencies, states
that after August 20, 1880, no employe
shall be continued in the civil service
Of the United States beyond the age OF
retirement for more than four years.
Howard has had five extensions be-
yond his retirement age, and no further
period OF grace is possible after Au-
gust 20 next. The Star learned yeSter-
day of number of similar cases in
volving employees whose forced retire.
ment will be severe blow to the Gov
eminent. The proposed amendment
would permit further extensions in GER
tain cases by agreement between the
department concerned and the Civil
Service Commission.
Results Of Researches.
Towards researches regarding the
causes Of failure of rails, wheels, axles
and other railway materials have fea-
tured the Governments intensive efforts
to safeguard passengers and property
from accident in the realm of railway
transportation. He has taken a lead
ing part in the investigation of most
OF the major railroad catastrophes of
the past decade, and his findings in the
laboratory often have solved the mys-
terry of crashes and pointed the way
toward remedial safety measures.
interstate commerce officials say that
the loss of HoWard's services would be
'unthinkable," yet they admit that I'M
less some special loophole in the law is
found, or an amendment is Forthcoming,
the Government will be deprived of his
AID, even though he is willing to give
his advice free.
According to who's Who" Howard
was testing engineer for the Watertown
Arsenal before entering the Govern
ment service in 1910. He was a physi-
ciSt at the Bureau of Standards from
1910 to 1914, when he was transferred
to the Bureau of Safety of the Inter-
state, Commerce Commission. He is a
member of the American Society for
Testing Materials and other scientific
organizations, and has an honorary de-
gree from Dartmouth College.
Civil service officials are Sympatheti-
cally aware Of the situation confronting
Howard and a group of other valuable
veterans of the Government service and
are doing their utmost to have the law
amended so as to except them.
Others Include Bryan.
Among others who probably would
come under the scope of the amend
ment are Henry L. Bryan, editor of the
Federal statutes, State Department;
Donald B. Macleod, chief of the divi-
sion of estimates of the Bureau of the
Budget; Frank Bond, chairman of the
United States Geographic Board; DIR.
William Tyndall, information officer of
the District government, and a few
others. including, notably, certain SCI
ent1stS OF the Smithsonian Institution,
other Federal branches.
Bryans case was brought to the at
tention of Congress recently by TYLER
bennett, historical adviser to the State
Department, who pointed out that Bry-
ans work was highly technical and Vi
tally necessary, and suggested an exec
utive order to allow him to remain in
the service. He said that although
Bryan is ~ years old, he is most active
and would come to work If you took
away every penny of his salary"
Macleod Is rs years old and has been
continuously in the Federal service since
1884. AS head of the division Of esti-
mates OF the Budget Bureau, he is the
editor OF that most important Govern
ment yearbook" the Federal Budget
Chairman Bond Of the geographic
board Is "a years old. At one time chief
clerk of the General Land ONCE, he was
transferred to the board in 1903 and
was elected chairman in 1925. A few
days ago the secretary and chairman OF
the executive committee Of the board
wrote an urgent request to the Civil
Service Commission that the retirement
law be waived In Bonds case, as he is
engaged in compiling and editing the
sixth report OF the board, task scarcely
70 De undertaken by any one less ia
miliar with the boards work.
"Mr. Bond is hale and hearty, active
In mind and movement, deeply inter.
ested in the work of the board and fully
capable of carrying on his important
duties" the commission was advised:
but the reply was the Same-the law
prevented.
In its last annual report the commits
! sion devoted considerable amount of
space to this problem.
THE provision (limiting extensions
tn four VearS heU0nd retircmenfOO A.