The Washington times., 1938-02-17

'ment of Federal employees deve
the Senate Civil Service sub boom
sponsored by employe orgahizat
mission.
Employe organizations generally
objected strenuously to the so
called double option by which en-
ployes could be retired either on
their own initiative or at the op-
ton of the Government.
SUGGESTS 10 AS AGE
President Harry B. Mitchell, OF
the Civil Service Commission, sup
ported by Mrs. Lucille Foster Nc
Millin, q member Of the commits
sion, told the committee the COM
mission las always taken the posi-
tion that if the employe is to have
the right to retire, the Govern
ment should have an equal right
to retire him at the same time ana
after the same service.
THE commission, President
Mitchell said, believes that the
better plan would be to give both
the Government and the en-
ploye a retirement option at the
age of so, after 80 years service.
1--WE believe also that all ar
bitrary retirement should be
done away with up to the age
of 70, giving the employe the
right to work up to 10 If he wants
to.
This assumes that he would
be permitted to work only if he
were in good physical condition
and able to perform his duties
efficiently. Under those cir
cumstances he would probably
want to 60 on, and the Govern
ment would have the benefit Of
his experience"
EMPLOYEES DIFFER
Spokesman for employe groups
also differed sharply among them
selves as to retirement ages, bene-
fits and the question as to whether
employees in the higher-salaried
brackets should be permitted 20
purchase annuities proportionate
to their earnings.
For a time the committees SeS-
sion, presided over by Senator M.
M, Neeley CD Of West Virginia,
chairman of the committee, was
turned into a debating forum,
with employe spokesmen jumping
up unannounced to ask questions
and interject controversial opin-
ions. ~
Today's hearing called specific
ally to consider the Nicely bill re-
ducing the age limits for retire
n1ent, the cost of which was
estimated at a little more than
$1,000, 900, developed into. a gen.
eral session at which not only this
measure but the Civil Service
Commissions more comprehensive
retirement bill was likewise dis
cussed.
NEELY BILL BACKED
The commissions bill, spon.
sored in the Senate by Senator
William j. Bulow CD Of South
Dakota and in the House by Rep
resentative Robert Ramspeck CD
of Georgia would increase the
Federal contribution approx
mately SIG, 900 900 and calls for an
increase in employe contributions
from 3h per cent to per cent
Of their earnings.
Employe groups indorSing the
Nicely bill included the Joint Con-
ference on Retirement of Federal
Employees, the United Civil Service
Employees, American Federation Of
Government Employees and Navy
Yard, Arsenal Workers and postal
employees in general. The measure
was also indorsed by the Inter
national Association Of MachiniSts
and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Criticism of the measure came
from spokesmen for the National
Federation Of Federal Employees
and the National Legislative Coun-
Gil of Federal Employe Organiza-
tionS, who held that it ignores en-
ployeS with less than 80 years
service, favorS some age groups
over others and makes no provi-
sion for employees involuntarily
separated from the service without
fault.
BABCOCK HEARD
A statement covering these and
other objections was filed by Lu-
ther Steward. representing the
NJ N N ~