The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-09
MERIT SYSTEM
EXTENSION
PUSHED
By J, EARLE MOSER

AS expected by observers, ex
tension of the merit system and
more beneficial retirement laws
will be pushed in Congress by
the National Legislative Council
Of Federal Employe Organiza
lions, according to a statement IS
sued by the council after its
first meeting since the Hill re
opened for business.
The body, which claims repre-
sentation Of more than 10000
employees in all branches Of the
service, reports that the outlook
is favorable for enactment OF
constructive personnel legiSla'
ton" during the current congress,
Sional session, and further states
that contacts among legislators
have indicated plenty Of Senti-
ment in favor of lettering con-
ditions of Federal clerks.
John j. Barrett, chairman and
president Of the United National
Association Of Post Office Clerks,
announces in the statements:
Bills sponsored by the cOun-
Gill which have for the pur-
pose the strengthening and ex-
tension of the merit system will
be pushed to the utmost limit
of the emplOye organizations
strength.
members Of the council have
received assurances that these
measures will receive the &C
tive support of many Numbers
of both House and Senate. That
there is q far greater volume Of
sentiment favorable to such leg
iSIatiOn now than there was at
the last session is certain. On
every hand we find an increaS-
ing realization that something
must be done to remedy, the
present chaotic situation due to
the wholesale scrapping Of the
merit system, and to make i'm.
possible q recurrence Of these
conditions"
Luther C. Steward, N. F. F. E.
leader to whom organization Of
the body is ascribed, is sponsor
ing retirement gains in his ca
pacity of legislative chairman.
and has reported that before q
fortnight legislation to provide
optional retirement after 80 years
service, at a lower age than at
present required, and to extend
retirement benefits to a second
life, at lesser annuity, will be in
PRODUCED on the Hill.
Celebration Nears
In the meantime, the A. F.
G. E. faces a two-fold task. In
addition to watching Congress
sional proceedings, the organiza.
ton, together with it's A. F. of L.
affiiates and other interested
groups, is lining up a vast pro
gram for it's observance Of Ma.
tional Civil Service Week, which
begins Sunday and commend.
rates establishment Of the Civil
Service Act in 1882
The Civil Service Commission
Is cooperating in a series of radio
talks to bring the value of the
merit system before the public.
Last Saturday Commissioner
Leonard D. White spoke, this
Saturday President Harry B.
Mitchell, of the commission, will
give an address over WJSV at
10 a. M, and on January 10 Mrs.
Lucille Foster McMillin will be
the speaker.
Friday, January II, will see a
15-minute program devoted to
Civil Service Week over the Red
network (WRC in Washington
on which President Amsdon OF
the National Civil Service Assem-
bly, of the United States and
Canada, from Los Angeles. will
speak, followed by Charles Mos
sick, past president of the Assem-
bly,.
Civil Service Week isn't only a
vagary of the Age. high mo
guls, however, as it has caught the
4dAICy VI UA4C VoA1 A44V0 VI OAAS
organization here. The 1nterna
Revenue Lodge, which numbers
more than 1880 employees of the
Bureau, plans to turn its regular
monthly meeting into a mas:
gathering Monday evening at tbs
Labor Department auditorium
Fourteenth and Constitution Ave
nue..
All three Of the Civil Service
aNurpYIaEMenr