Evening star., 1933-10-31
Cochran Protests Civil Serv-
ice Ruling and Is Joined
by Many Others.
MISS PERKINS ATTACKS
DECISION AS HARMFUL
Randolph, Jeffers and Couzens
Fear Bad Example Is Set
for Industry.

Chairman Cochran OF the House
Committee on Expenditures in Govern
ment Departments, today appealed to
President Roosevelt to upset the new
civil service ruling against employing
any one over 40 years of age. Cochran
protested in a letter to the President
that, in a subject of such grave ad-
miniStrative policy affecting workers all
over the country and as an example to
private industry, the decision should be
made by cabinet conference.
Secretary of Labor Perkins frankly
branded the commission ruling as "a
very short-sighted policy" and Repre-
sentative Jennings Randolph, Democrat
of West Virginia, member OF the
House Civil Service Committee, also dis
patched q letter of protest to the
President.
Chairman Jeffers of the House Civil
Service Committee returned to Wash
ington today and Immediately an
nounced he will give special study to
the 4O-year age limit and will have the
question considered as soon as the
House Civil Service Committee meets.
He emphatically declared his convic-
tion that 40 years Of age is too young
at which to bar any one from the Gov
ernment service, particularly as it will
be a suggestion to private industry to
do the same thing.
Labor Fight Forecast.
At the same time fight on the issue
hv the American Federation OF Labor
was forecast, inasmuch as its executive
council. in the annual report to the
convention just ended here. declared
"the policy of establishing an age limit
for hiring workers Is grave menace
to the older worker"
At the same time, it was made clear
at the commission that the new ae\
limits will not be applicable on employ
ment registers now in existence, whlcn
means it will be several months before
they can be operative, as that length
of time will be required to prepare new
registers. in the examinations for which
the new scale is set
Chairman Cochran SAID those who are
mentally sound, even IL they have
reached the age OF 90, should not DC
ruthlessly told that they are not wanted
and cannot take a test in fair competl-
tion for a Government JOB.
In his letter to the President. mr.
Cochran inclosed an exchange OF let
tiers he had with Chairman T1 M1tehen sanIs 9n
which the latter said that in fllllns
vacancies the younger applicant always ls
is 90 m the egfbe for
ment pay was the only consideration,
Mr. Cochran pointed out, Congress
could change that by qualifying clause
in the retirement act, stating tnose
over a certain age on entering the
service should not participate.
Aroused by Other Limits.
MIR. Cochran has been studying the
NOTICES for civil service examinations
and has been aroused by arbitrary age
limits set by certain bureau cnlels, Iof
EXAMPLE. a fingerprint man for the De-
nartment of Justice should not be over
IS years of age. In another case, a
nurse over 80 years of age is prohlDlteo
from taking the examination, ana Ior
a home economics job the limit was
nlaced at 80 years, which, ne says, Is
q direct slap at a woman who mas naa
wears of experience in the 2ractl'al
work of running home
Representative Cochran also mas
scrutinlzed the stenographers hst anu
finds minor administrative oInceIo w
Jealous in their efforts to put young
women to work. In contrast. he points
out. all of the official reporters of de-
bate in Congress and the official re-
porters of committee hearings and tne
vast majority of secretaries and stenog-
raphers to members Of Congress are
more than 40 years of age, and doing
more efficient work, he says, than IN
most of the Government establishments
THE only alternative, if this new
civil service edict is enforced" said Mr.
Cochran. lis to enlarge the poor houses
and enact an old-age pension law.
Fears Industrial Effect.
One of the gravest evils that Mr..
Cochran sees is that private industry
1Contin,Ied IN page a. Column A.