Evening star., 1936-03-28
Unfortunate Results
OF Forced Retirement

AZ tuc zultok u Iuc 0ShEs
Whatever may be attempted for gen.
eral good often works grievous hard
ship on helpless minority. The whole
plan Of forced retirement may be ques-
toned, and has been opposed by some
of the best minds In the House ana
Senate, and, more, the measure as 1t
stands on the statute books was rejected
by the Upper House, to be accepted later,
in conference, for the sake of harmony
only. 1t Is scarcely necessary to say that
as the law Is interpreted by the depart
ments there is no extension perm1tted
except for a few officials and others in
high position whose liberal salaries have
placed them above the need OF extension.
These select few are supposed to be in
dispensable, notwithstanding any sane
man knows that no mans service Is in
dispensable.
It is not the purpose of this discus
sion, however, to ask for the repeal of
the law, but to insist on the correction
of a clause that grinds so mercileSsly
a few retired clerks. These are clerks
who entered the service before retire
ment laws were enacted, entered with
the expressed or implied understanding
that their employment was guaranteed
during good behavior, and who, as con-
sequence of retroactive retirement laws,
have been forced to retire because of the
age limitation on pittance insufficient
to keep them from want and consequent
humiliation.
Many such unfortunates were so
anxious to continue in the service that
they exhausted every available resource,
in vain, to procure an extension. Not
withstanding they were physically active
and mentally alert. Notwithstanding his
tory records thousands of instances in
which men have reached their highest
usefulness and accomplished their great
est achievement far above the age Of 70.
Enthusiasm for public safety prevail
ing during the war brought to Washing
ton a number Of clerks somewhat ad-
vanced in age. Inspired by patriotism,
they left all for public service. For
awhile war workers" were praised and
their heroism was acclaimed next to
that of the men in the battle front, only
to be showed out later by a retroactive
law, on a meager annuity of $50 or $50
per month with which to support them
selves and their families.
This Nation is reputedly generous
one. 1t has given hundreds Of millions
to relieve famine and other distress in
foreign countries. and has loaned billions,
afterward cancelled, to the allies in re-
sponse to their Macedonian cry. Then
billions have been appropriated for the
relief of the unemployed and others in
want, including millions consumed by
foreign criminals smuggled into this
country and by foreign parasites that
have oozed across the border lines. Along
with such unlimited generosity, should
not q few thousand dollars be appropri-
ated to increase the pensions of these
distressed clerks?
II 1t occurs to some that such a law
would not be fair to those who had
worked 80 or more years, it may be said
that compensation for work performed
is not the essential purpose Of pensions.
Salaries were paid Federal employees for
their work. A pension is rather an ex-
preston of recognition for service faith
fully rendered. type of deserved char
lty with the sting of humiliation removed
The soldiers pension seldom depends on
length of service. GEORGE L. TABOR.