Evening star., 1933-04-24
Chairman Buchanan Drafts
Alternative for CompuI-
sorry Clause.
LABOR LEADERS APPEAL
FOR OPTIONAL METHOD
Representatives of q. S. Workers
Appear Before Executive
Session of House Group.

Chairman Buchanan of the House
Appropriations Committee gave positive
assurance today that the provision for
a compulsory retirement of Government
employees after 80 years Of service Is
recommended by Budget Director
Douglas will be very materially changed
before the Independent Offices appro-
priation bill. carrying the retirement
legislation, Is reported to the House.
Il have a very definite idea Of what
will present to the Efficiency Sub
committee as an alternative for the
budget directors recommendation" said
Mr.. Buchanan, but am not yet ready
to disclose what it is until have dis
cussed it with members OF the sub
committee"
Proposes Substitute.
House Leader Byrn said today that
as a substitute for Budget Director
Douglas compulsory retirement propos-
al he believes the President should be
given discretionary power to retire vet
eran employees in the interests of efi-
cheney and economy for the good of the
service, but that the requirements
should be in selective way and not q
fiat, wholesale dismissal of veteran
workers, many Of whom are now giving
their most valuable services to the
Government.
Representative Healy, Democrat, of
Massachusetts,. this afternoon appeared
before the subcommittee in opposition
to the budget proposal, especially on
behalf Of postal employees
Optional instead OF compulsory retire.
ment, was advocated today by organized
labor and representatives of more than
a dozen Of the largest groups of Gov
eminent employees at an executive hear
ing before the Deficiency Subcommittee
Of the Appropriations Committee on the
measure.
Luther c. Steward, president of the
National Federation Of Federal EN-
ployes. advocated as q substitute for
the compulsory retirement plan recon-
mended by Budget Director Douglas, .
three-point program which would pro-
vide:
/. That all Federal employees Of 20
years service or more be granted the
right to retire voluntarily on annuities
as provided by the retirement act
2. That the President be granted au.
thority to retire as individuals employees
Of 30 years or more service.
3. That these two plans be applied
also to employees Of Is years service,
who would receive lesser annuities un.
der the scale Of the retirement act.
Fav0rs Selections.
Mr.. Steward explained that his plan
would reverse the machinery OF the
proposal for compulsory retirement, be-
cause it would give the President au-
thority to grant retirement to indi-
viduals he selected, rather than toss
out all Government employees with 80
years or more service, irrespective Of
their efficiency and value to the Gov
eminent.
I'VE would have to assume" Mr..
Steward said. that the President would
administer this plan in a wise and
humanitarian manner"
William r. Valance, president of the
Federal Bar Association, emphasized to
the subcommittee that If the proposal
for compulsory retirement becomes law
1t will mean the elimination of all key
men in the legal branches Of all depart
ments Of government.
William c. flushing Of the American
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