Evening star., 1933-11-01
4()+YEAR AGE LIMIT
HINGES SONPERK|NS
REPLY TO PROTEST
President Expected to Abide
by Recommendations of
Labor Secretary.
QUOTED AS CONSIDERING
POLICY "SHORT SIGHTED"
Civil Service Commission Defends
Ruling and Reviews Its
Activities.

The storm over the action of the
Civil Service Commission in cutting
down the age limits for Government
EMPLOYMENT in several of the lower
classifcations continued today in full
force.
The White House, though lacking any
official advices on the issue, has taken
cognizance of newspaper reports and
expects that Secretary of Labor Perkins
will study the matter. 1t was under
stood that whatever recommendations
Miss Perkins sees fit to make will guide
White House policy.
Hit by Miss Perkins.
Miss Perkins already has stated
bluntly that she considers it short
sighted" thereby joining several men,
bers of the Senate and House who have
leveled their fire on the commission
Meanwhile, taking notice of the at
tacks. President Mitchell today issued
a statement redefning the commls-
sion's position; disclaimt-s any in
tention of setting up 4O-year limit
for employment generally and relterat-
ing defense of steps thus far taken.
This policy does not mean that
people are through at 40 as some OF
the papers have phrased it" the state
ment said. 1T merely means that peo-
pie are beginning at not over 4o'
Sirovich to Fight Move.
Renresentative Sirovich of New York,
ranking majority member OF the House
Civil Service Committee, today de-
clared the new policy OF the civil oerV.
ice Commission is "unamerlcan, most
inhumane and I will fight it
He contended that after the age OF
40 man has greater ability through
experience, his faculties are sharpeneo;
he feels his responsibilities more ana
is more dependable. The Government
service would suffer by barring en-
nlovnent of these matured persons,
Representative Sirovich added.
s!-To he loeical." he said, the Gov
ernment should put up sign: Equal
opportunities for all, with the exception
of those over 40 years OF age. These
must be thrown on the scrap heap
I'd be in favor of such sign If we hao
Is / am unalterably and bitterly opposed
70 any such policy and will carry the
feht on the floor of Congress"
Gmea5f of of the Giv se2S1ee
Committee, also expressed ptsleien Iac
for the civil service age limit that for
merly existed.
II do not want to criticize any one,
because I do not know the facts on
which the new age limit requirements
were based" Senator Mckellar salu'
"Offhand, however, I can see no reason
for the changes"
Decision Almost Unanimous.
It was repeated that the entrance
limit for typists and stenographers was
cut from SO to 40 years because en-
nloying officers "were practically unan-
imous" that this age should preVall.
Continuing, it was said that gener-
ally, the low age limits are set ior oe-
1t was also pointed out that in many
examinations, age limits below 40 nave
The attitude Of the President on the
matter was asked this morning ana
brought the reply that Mr.. Roosevelt
had no first-hand information on the
subject, but understood Secretary Per-
kins would go into it thoroughly.
In view of Miss Perkins outspoKen
opposition, it was felt her recommen-
dations could be easily anticipated.
Nor has President Roosevelt yet re-
ceived the protest OF Chairman cochran
of the House Committee on Expendl-
lures in Government Departments, IN
which he asked that the commission
ruling be rescinded.
The letter from Cochran, whose ex-
change with Mr.. Mitchell brought the
question to the fore, is at the White
House, but the President this morning
had not had chance to read 1t.
Education Group Protests.
Another request that the Civil Service
Commission be required to reconsider
its action also was filed with the Presl-
dent today by the National Education
Association, over the signature OF j. w.
Crabtree, secretary, while the Washing
ton Board of Trade promised to carry
the fight on the age restriction to Cap
itol Hill.
Crabtrees letter said:
Permit me to say that mllilon
teachers in this Nation would regret TO
see the Government assume tne poiIcy
of employing only men ana women oe-
low 40. Government procedures In mat
ters of this kind become the STANDARDS
for other public agencies ana tor pri-
1--WE implore you not to allow civil
service to draw the line against the men
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