Evening star., 1937-09-05
RETIREMENT AGE
IN PRISONS CUT
Hazardous Nature OF U. S.
Guards Work Brings
Eligibility to 81.

recognizing tne naAdTOOuS nature
Of a prison guards work, the Civil
Service Commission yesterday advised
ATTORNEY General Cummings that all
Federal prison guards hereafter will
be eligible for retirement at 81 in
stead of 10, the age fixed by the re-
tirement act
The commission. in response to an
urgent request by Cummings. ruled
that men who watch over prisoners
L In Federal institutions come within
the provision of the act which lowers
the retirement age for persons en-
gagged in dangerous pursuits. SIM
liar decision was rendered some time
ago in favor of G-men
The decision automatically creates
a list of II custodial officers who
become eligible for retirement and
1t extends the lower retirement age to
1,243 custodial officers in the 10 Fed
eral penitentlaries, jails and other
penal institutions conducted by the
Justice Department.
Sees Morale Improved
Director James v Bennett of the
Federal Bureau of Prisons predicted
the ruling will result in improved
efficiency and morale
To prove that he life of prison
guard is fraught with danger, the
department cited to the commission
several notable prison breaks, or at
tempted escapes. back as far as the
big outbreak at Leavenworth Peni-
tentiary in 1901. when 400 prisoners
rehelled and q escaped after injuring
several guards and kidnapping four as
hostages
The department also cited the
break at the same prison six years
ago, when seven desperate long term
ers kidnapped the warden and later
shot and seriously wounded him as
they fed, the escape of several prls-
oncrs and the seizlng of four unarmed
officers at El Reno. Okla, several
years ago, and the riot in the Canon
City Penltentlary n Colorad- " 1929,
when eight officers were killed. and
two were wounded
Attacked by Prisoners.
Bennett said that. while there has
been no escape by violence since the
Ieavenworth break in 1881, it is not
uncommon for guards to + assaulted
by crazed or dlsgruntled prisoners.
"A Federal guard was murdered by
such an inmate at LeavenWorth The
murderer, Carl Panzram. who had
) been arrested in the District of Co.
lumbla, killed r, G. Warnke. laundry
foreman. Panzram was the first and
n hn hoy
Federal prison
The prison director said guards are
not permitted TO carry weapons with
IN the prison lnclosure, as a precau-
.tlon against their being seized by
prisoners planning break All guards
are trained in the use of all types of
firearms, however. Guns are used
only by guards in the towers outside
the main enclosures, The warden and
other officers actually responsible for
supervision of the prisoners, Bennett
pointed out, are unarmed, subjectlng
them to special danger.
Insurance Risks High.
The hazards which the law en-
forcement officer faces at the time of
apprehension is faced by the prison
guard every moment of his employ
ment Bennett declared. Life in
eurance companies classify prison
offlcers as being engaged in hazard
Gus occupation Some companies will
not even accept the prison officer as
risk, while others quote rates much
higher than the standard rates.
The decision of the commission is
the logical and final step in the de-
parments effort to place the penal
system on strictly merit basis and
10 retain employees in service only
Vhen they are fit. Civil service has
Z already established high standard
OF physical requirements for all prison
employees and periodic examinations
are required