Evening star., 1942-01-20

6IOWAlS UOyo dAlO 6AAS, CllOu6IA
warm clothing; enough fuel for the
furnace; enough to pay the doctor
and the dentist and perhaps have
a bit left over to drop into the COL
lection plate of a Sunday morning.
These are basic things to which we
believe that the men and women
and children of America are en-
titled; things which we must have
If we are to build a nation which
will stand strong and secure against
all the stresses and strains of these
bitter times.
I am telling you the truth when
I say that thev are things which
MANY Federal employees today are
losing because the cost of living
has risen so far beyond the stretch
ing capacity of their meager fixed
incomes.
Patriotic Sacrifice.
In thousands of Offices, on our
national forests and parks, on our
great reclamation projects, In Fed
eral laboratories and shops, In post
Offices, at lonely Government sta
tions along our coasts and upon our
mountains and along our borders,
in all of the countless diverse occu-
pations which make up our great
Federal service. men and women are
working long hours to preserve the
American way Of life.
have talked with administrative
officials from every part Of the
country. representing many Federal
departments and agencies, and with
out exception I hear an inspiring
story of patriotic self-sacrifice.
hear a story Of unity of purpose
of single-minded devotion to an
ideal, of complete, utter belief in
the greatness Of our country and q
strong desire to serve so that its
ideals may be preserved for future
generations
This, to me, is perhaps the finest
J Of all tributes to our country: That
it calls forth this unself1sh spirit OF
self-sacrificing service. Surely nc
brighter page will be written in our
history than this which tells the
story of the accomplishments OF
these men and women under the
most trying of personal circum-
stances.
But I would not have salary ad-
justment legislation provided simply
as gesture of gratitude Insofar
as that element is concerned, I am
well enough acquainted with Fed
eral employees to know that it is
enough for them to feel that they
are contributing in very vital way
to the welfare and the preservation
Of their country.
Retirement Law Improved.
There is a growing appreciation
In all official quarters here in Wash
lngton, in Congress and elsewhere
of the Importance of the adoption
of sound and progressive methods
of public personnel administration
| am happy to say that during the
past several years more forward
steps along this line have beer
taken than ever before. The merit
system has been extended broadly
as we'll as the classification compen.
sation system. and there lately has
been enacted into law long-needeo
statute regularizing within-gradt
advancements.
The House of Representatives ha!
passed and the Senate approved
today 9 measure which provides fol
the Improvement of the present
Federal retirement law.
(Although passed by both
branches of Congress. the bill
must go back to the House for
action on several Senate
changes)
This is a broadly constructive
piece of legislation. For, by making
the retirement law more effective
more equitable, more thoroughly il
keeping with modern, progressive
-practice, the public as well as tn
employees will be benefited.
TING has proved what we pionee
supporters of such legislation hav
said from the beginning, namely
that a sound retirement system i
indispensable to efficient public per
sonnel administration. That is VIII,
| we as citizens should be intereste,
in any and all steps to make tn
present retirement system a NOR
effective instrumentaity.
Pension" . Misnomer.
While on this subject I shoul'
like to make one point clear. TO
there is considerable public misin
said that civilian Federal employe
receive a pension" That is no
true. Federal employees are subjec
to retirement system. That mean
that to the extremely modest sur
which they receive after many year
of service and upon reaching tn
advanced age of retirement, the
themselves have contributed in
very substantial measure.
Indeed, the amendments whicl
now are so well advanced towar
final passage, provide for furthe
increase in the percentage Of retire
ment deductions from the employe!
; salaries.
For many years I have contende
that the Federal Government shoul
take direct action to set minimum
wage level for its employees and t
eliminate many Of the discrimina
tions which exist in the schedules 9
the Classification Act. Such legis
, lation now is before the Congres
and I am glad to say that it has tn
wholehearted support Of top-rankin
ofncials Of the Government charge
with personnel administration. Thos
; who seem to feel that the FEEDERS
Government pays its employees highl
muni1cent salaries should note tha