Evening star., 1939-03-19
Employment
Continued from First Page.)

age might impair a workers use
fulness, but that even this varied
with individuals.
Most occupational data, the re-
port continued, indicates that older
workers have fewer accidents than
younger, although the severity Of
the accidents of the older is the
greater.
These opposite trends Offset each
other so that the net cost is about
the same through the age range it
was amplified.
The committee said that the en-
ployer's share of the cost of group
life insurance is so small that 1t
should not encourage hiring age
limits.
I'm 50 far as the cost is a matter
of concern to the employer" the re-
port suggests, this can be met by
increasing the share paid by en-
ployes, or introducing age group
differentials in rates paid by en-
ployes."
Pension Adjustments Urged.
The committee found that private
pension plans have generally been
regarded as furnishing some induce
ment to lower costs by not hiring
older workers, and said that it is
possible to set up such plans SO they
do not operate in this manner. 1t
was recommended that the private
plans be adjusted to do away with
minimum service requirement and
limitations on age entrance, thereby
eliminating age as controlling
factor; these private plans, it was
added. still can supplant the old age
insurance provisions of the Social
Security Act.
"As part of a general attack on
the problem of employment for older
workers." the committee said, 1--WE
strongly recommend that the Federal
Civil Service Commission and ap-
pointing officers of the Government
abolish age limits for entrance into
the Government service except for
positions requiring physical strength
and endurance. Although the Gov
ernment provides a larger share OF
employment for older workers than
private industry, nevertheless the
practice of setting age limits in
public employment does constitute
an artificial and unjustifiable lmi-
tation and does set an undesirable
example to private industry. We
further urge appointing officers
throughout the Government service
IN making appointments and rein.
statements to do so solely on the
basis of qualifications and without
regard to age"
Changes IN the examining pro.
cedure would be necessary to facili-
tate the handling Of the increase
IN Job applicants that would result
1t was pointed out. 1t was recon.
mended, toe, that the Government,
retirement system either be alb
sorbed In the Social Security Act, S,
that age insurance credits could b,
transferred between public ant
private employment, or that provi
sion be made under social securit,
or elsewhere for those who ente
Federal service too late to serve tn
is years necessary. to qualify TO
pension rights under the Civil Serv
ice Retirement Act.
Job Service Aid Asked.
The United States Employmen
Service also was called upon to al,
In job placement.
The committee urged those EN-
ployers who have been applying hir
Ing age limits to discontinue thi
practice and attempt instead to de
termine what work they can Civ
the middle-aged. Employees them
selves can help, it was emphasized
attention being drawn to instance
when union contracts have deal
successfully with the question.
The committee was headed b
Harry Woodburn Chase, chancello
Of New York University, and tn
industrial representation include
Chester I. Barnard, president. Me-
Jersey Bell Telephone Co.; Joh
D. Biggers, president, Libbey
Owens-Ford Glass Co., who heade
the unemployment census; J. 4
Brown, president, Socony-Vacuur
Oh Co.; William S. Knudsen, presi
dent. General Motors Corp; A. "
Robertson, chairman, Westinghous
Electric, and Walter G. Teagl,
chairman, Standard Oh Of Ne,
Jersey.