Evening star., 1933-11-01
40 YEAR AGE LIMIT
HINGES ON PERKINS
REPLY TO PROTEST
Continued From First Page.)

and women over 40 whose savings have
been taken away from them in closed
banks in the loss of stocks, bonds and
land, and who now have to make a new
start in life. As you know, the ma
jority Of those who earn their living
by the sweat of the brow in the office
and in industry, have been thrown out
Of employment.
Fears Hatred Will Crop Up.
1--WE shudder at the thought Of it
all. Those below 40 are not willing
themselves to profit from crushing the
lives out of those in the forties and
above who are in their prime and just
ready to render their best service. The
young will hate a government willing
to destroy in this way the best men
and women Of the Nation. We do not
believe you will permit your servants
to force such a policy on the country.
Old and young alike will appreciate
your requiring the Civil Service Com
mission to reconsider its action"
The attitude of the Board of Trade
was summed up in a statement by
Claude w. Owen, the President. who
said:
Apart from the utterly inhuman ex-
ample that the United States Govern
ment would be giving to the world in
respect to those over 40 who are COM
PEELED to still seek living as wage
earners. the whole idea is utterly pre-
posterous and absurd A mere glimpse
into history will show that the attain
ments Of men past 40 have largely been
responsible for the worlds progress out
of state Of semi -barbarism.
Finds Theory Cruel.
ITO place the stamp of the United
States Governments approval upon the
hypothesis that man of 40 IS too old.
is to make it a laughing stock and a
promulgater of a cruel theory that, if
used as an example, would terrorize the
future Of every family head, every wage
Garner. and every soul not fortunate
enough to own his own business.
The Washington Board of Trade is
of the opinion that the Civil Service
Commission can better employ its time
both in the interest of the Government
employe and in the interest of efficient
service rendered by them to the Gov
ernment than by issuing such short
sighted and ridiculous mandates.
If this mandate stands, the Board
of Trade will see to it that no effort is
spared to accomplish its defeat, both
by enlisting the aid of the United States
Congress, the far-sighted and humane
leaders Of our Government, the United
States Chamber of Commerce the
American Federation of Labor and ev-
cry organization of consequence.
Attacked by Federation.
The new rule also was attacked by
the American FEDERATION of Govern
ment Employees, affiliate of the A. F.
OF L. which already is on record against
age limits for employment.
In statement to all lodges, e.
Claude Babcock, president of the A. F.
G. E., described the step as lust an
other symptom of the disease of sta
tistics, inflicted on Government per-
sonnel management by statistical
theoreticianS.
To the contrary, it is defended by
Luther C. Steward, president of the Ma
tional Federation of Federal Employees.
The new age limits were set by the
commission In preparing for examina-
tioDS to replenish existing registers.
and stenographers, where the maximum
for entrance was reduced from so to
40 years. Some other groups were cut
to IS.
The move was made under that Sec
ton Of the Civil Service regulations
which says, "The commission may, with
the approval Of the proper appointing
officers, change by regulation the exist
ing age limits for entrance to the ex-
aminationS under these rules" Mitchell
solicited the views of employing officers
and action was taken on the consensus
Persons on existing registers are not
involved, nor are those up for transfer
or reinstatement, nor those with vet
erans' preference.
Mr.. Mitchelfs Statement.
Mitchell's statement follows:
There seems to be general misun-
derstanding, If one may judge from
the newspapers, as to what the Civil
Service Commission has done concern
ing maximum age limits for entrance
to examinations.
"The Civil Service Commission has
announced no general policy Of reduc-