Evening star., 1937-02-07
CIVIL SERVICE UNIT
DEFENDS AGEL|M|T
Senate Committee Will Give
Moore Chance to Give
Views on Bill.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY,

A Dill to prevent the Civil Service
Commission from rejecting applicants
for Government jobs solely because
Of age, If they are otherwise duly
qualified. would be in conflict with
the Presidents program. the commits
sion advised Congress yesterday.
Senator Moore. Democrat, of New
jersey. author Of the measure, will
be given an opportunity to present
his views on the question, however,
when the Senate Civil Service Com
mittee meets. Chairman Bulow, Demo-
crat, of South Dakota said yesterday
afternoon.
Before fixing time for the meet
ing, Senator Bulow is waiting for
other reports from the Civil Service
Commission on the McCarran nay
bill. and the two pending measures to
put postmasters under civil service.
The first meeting probably will be
confined to deciding on the order in
which the committee should .ake up
the various bills. Public hearings are
expected to be held on the pay in
crease proposal and the postmaster
measures.
Ramspeck Bill Passed.
The House has passed the Ramspeck
Dill to bring first, second and third
class postmasters within civil service
and to give postal employees a chance
for promotion to postmaster. There
is another bill on the same subject by
Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming, and Bulow has asked the
civil service officials to analyze both
measures before hearings are held.
In defending age limits in civil
service examinations, the commission
pointed out that the retirement law
contemplates clerical employees going
on the retired list at 10 after at least
Is years of service.
This requirement, the report stated,
is the basis for the commissions
action in fixing SO as the maximum
age for clerical and similar depart
mental examinations.
This provides sufficient time for
holding and rating of the examina-
ton, and for period of eligibility on
the register, SO that when a person
is appointed from such examination
there is reasonable assurance that he
will have served IS years by the time
he reaches the maximum retirement
age of TO-" the report continued.
Fears Defeat of Purpose.
"If the Congress should approve the
bill as introduced, 1t would bring about
the condition which the retirement act
was enacted to correct. The commits
sion is advised it would be in conflict
with the program of the President"
Previously the letter had emphasized
the need for age limits for learner.
or apprentice, positions, and also for
jobs requiring high degree of man.
ual dexterity. Earlier ages for retire.
ment also are fixed by existing law
for certain groups in the postal serv-
ice, in mechanical lines Of employment
Or in hazardous jobs.
Senator Moore has provided in his
bill. however, that the retirement act
would not apply to any appointments
made under the measure. The bill pro-
vides that no applicant for admission
to the classified civil service, who IS
otherwise qualified as provided by law,
could hereafter be held ineligible solely
by reason of having attained the maxi
mum age prescribed by regulations.
The question of age limits on admis-
sion to the Government service has
been the subject Of controversy on
previous occasions.