Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-29

After Lifeon Job
Continued From First Page
there are men Of long service in
the jobs"
Called Double Talk"
Mr.. Ehrmantraut and Mr.. JET
ferson have informed the Civil
Service Commission in their APP
peal that they feel that the
alteration" in the foremen jobs
to which the gun factory referred
actually is so much double talk.
They contend that they al
ready qualify for and are entitled
to the new posts. They cite a
retention preference regulation
that an employe may be reas-
signed without further examina-
tion-if he occupied the same or
higher position prior to May,
1916. Both men have held THEW
foremanships since 1912.
But aside from the legal rami-
fications, each of the men feels
he has received a bum deal from
the Federal Government.
! All started at the bottom at
the gun factory. All have eff
cheney ratings that include "out-
standings, "excellents" and "sa-
tisfactories."
Each has long Accommodations
of annual leave. Except for one
or two instances of serious ILL
ness, none has even begun to use
all the sick leave available to
him.
Worked Long Hours
They say they have worked
long and irregular hours. espe-
cialIy since becoming foremen
and during the last two war
emergencies.
so in return we get this slap
in the face" Mr.. Jefferson says.
Mr.. Burns uses a stronger
metaphor. A former gun fac
tory football tackle in the days
when there were Navy installa-
ton competitions in the area, he
observes: They just kicked us
out" He demonstrated with a
high and vigorous swing of his
strong right leg
4 Mr.. Morris thinks of his l8-
year-old daughter and other
youngsters like her.
"She's just about to get out of
business college," he says. Can
I in conscience advise her to go
into Government service after
what's happening to me after AZ
years and three months in Gov
eminent service?"
Tells of Autographed Photo
Mr.. Ehrmantraut recalled yes
terday: only last week some one
at the White House sent me an
autographed photo of President
Eisenhower" he said. That was
after l got my notice from the
gun factory.
What an irony that some
thing like this happens Just
when all the officials are crying
for more people to make govern
ment service their career and
everybody is saying how great
the need for skilled workers is"
All five foremen live with their
families in comfortable and
modest homes. Their hobbies
include raising pets. gardening
and fishing "a wall in Mr.. Lou
than's house displays a nine-foot
sailf1sh he caught in Florida.
See Loss Of Benefits
Each agrees that if all entered
enforced retirement or accepted
lower-grade jobs now there
would be no question of anyone
starving or losing his home.
But If they are to accept these
alternatives they would feel a
solid financial impact. They
would lose whatever increased
retirement benefits the pending
johnson bill would provide. BY
accepting a lesser job, their in
,surance and terminal leave bene-
fits would be substantially lower.
All are eligible to retire now,
But, with the exception Of Mr..
Louthan, they wanted to stay on
at least long enough to reap
whatever advantages the new
retirement bill may provide. Mr.
Ehrmantraut figures that the
measure in its final shape may
mean from $500 to $1,000 more
annually for him.
For Mr.. Morris. who won't be
so until next March. the measure
could provide him with more
than $1,000 yearly. He figures
that retirement now would give
him about $500 per month. and
under the Johnson bill. as much
as $40.
Regard Test as Unfair
1t will remain for the Civil
/. Service Commission to decide
the legality Of whether the fore
, men must take a competitive
, exam for the new foremanship
Legal or not. the exams are