Evening star., 1940-04-19
Mead Hits Age Limit
On Applicants for
Civil Service Jobs
Policy Of Barring
MiddIe-Aeed Persons
AssoiIed as 'Unfuir'
Hy ]. A. O'IEARY.

The Federal Governments policy
of barring middle-aged applicants
from civil service jobs was de-
nounced as unfair" by Senator
Mead, Democrat, of New York, as
Senate hearings continued today
on the Ramspeck bill for extension
of the civil service.
With an increasing army of men
and women from 40 to go walking
the streets" looking for employ
ment. Senator Mead declared age
qualifications for government work
Ought to be almost annihilAted," or
at least liberalized. =
ut can't be true democracy when
a man SO is eligible for the House.
the Senate, or the presidency, and
yet not for civil service appoint
ment," continued the New Yorker,
long an advocate of the merit sys-
tenn.
Points Out Varying Limits.
Kenneth c. Vipond. assistant
chief examiner of the Civil Service
Commission, pointed out that age
limits vary for different classes of
employment. Recently, he said, an
examination was held for the Navy
yards with the age limit raised to
go years.
It compliment you on that"
Senator Mead observed, but that
is probably due to the war emer-
gency. 1t ought to be more general"
Senator Mead pointed out the
Senate twice had approved bills
eliminating age as a qualification
when applicants are otherwise fitted
for appointment. He suggested the
whole subject be given further study,
with regard to its effect on the
retirement law.
The Senator told commission Off
cials he would cooperate with them
in any efforts they may make to
persuade various government bur-
eaus to accept more liberal age
limits in filling vacancies.
The committee also heard the plea
today of spokesmen for mechanical
groups in the classified service for
more equitable pay scales. Calling
attention to variations in the wage
scales for mechanics under the
Classification Act, as compared with
groups governed by wage boards,
the witnesses asked for establish
ment of a mechanical service under
the Classification Act.
They presented an amendment
under which the rates of pay in this
new mechanical service would be the
same as are fixed for comparable
work in the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing.
In support of the amendment they
emphasized that modern mechanical
devices have advanced so rapidly
since the Salary Classification Act
was passed in 1923 that the men
who maintain the machinery now
being installed in Government build
ings have to be more highly skilled
than when the present classification
pay rates were fixed.
Those who spoke for the National
Association of Federal Mechanics
were: George D. Winters, Stuart
Maxwell, j. E. Hacking, o. F. Nc
Galdrick and Fritz Williams.
After Civil Service Commission
officials had testified in opposition
to leaving T. v. A. outside the civil
service system, Senator George,
Democrat, of Georgia raised the
question Of what would happen in
the Tennessee Valley organization
If there should be a change in
national administration, and the
new administration undertook to
set up a new personnel outside of
civil service.
Il thing you would have chaos"
Senator George declared, answering
his own question.
Senator Mead said he is convinced
, the T. v. A. eventually should be
under civil service, but contended
the personnel problem is somewhat
different during the construction
period from what 1t will be after
construction is complete and only
maintenance personnel required.
During construction, he said, T. ".
A. has argued 1t could obtain es-
pecially qualified workers who might
be too old to qualify under civil
service, and has moved these sm.