The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-13
In the Mail Bag
Retirement Fund.

TO the Editor o. The washington Tines
In a recent edition OF The Times there
appeared the purport oe a bin, as
planned by the Civil Service Retirement
League, 90 retire superannuated clerks
The bin If enacted into law would be
a splendid piece Of legislation for the
high-salaried and Iong-service clerk. but
it would be most unjust 20 the low
salaried and shOrt-servIce clerk
The annuity as planned by the Civil
Service Retirement League is based on
she average salary drawn by the clerk
md the number Of years he has served
Consequently, by basiug the annuity
on the length Of service, as well as the
average salary drawn, the loug-service
clerk would receive an annuity greater
in proportion than the sh0Fc-seryIce
clerk.
This feature Of the bin would De
ineQuitable and extremely Objectionable
TO the low-salaried and short-service
clerk, who would unquestionably have
20 bear the greater part Of the burden
II such measure were passed as is
contemplated.
II is not the object Of the writer to
thwart the bin for retirement which viii
be presented TO Congress az this session
If II IS based on equity. but fl is his de-
sire 10 call attention to the objection
able features IL viii emb0dy when IL
reaches that body for its action, as
planned by the Civil Service Retirement
League that is seeking a Iarge-slzed an
nuity for the high-salaried and long
service clerk, who has enjoyed a high
salary all Of his life. ar the expense Of
the lOw-saIaried and sh0rt-servlce clerk.
who has never had the opportunity TO
save a dollar. and who is not at present
getting an adequate salary 10 exist uD0n
by reason Of the high cost o. living
which has reduced the purchasing
power OF his salary 10 one-haIf what 10
was ten years ago.
II is suggested, however, that there
would be no objection - q coutrllut0rv
pension bin If the annuity were based
on the salary alone with a provision
ln U compelling the return OF all CON
Jrihu-ious with interest at the rate OF
not less than 4 per cent per auuum 90
the clerk SD making them, should he
resign or be dismissed from the serr-
ice before the retirement age
II has been said that Congress has
the power 20 pass a compulsory act
Sr-lLs aside q part OF each clerk s.
salary for investment IE an annuity
on which 90 retire him
This would be IN the opinion Of many
clerks most arbitrary and even mon
arcAical on the part OF Congress.
II Congress has the power 90 set aside
one dollar of a clerks salary for in
vestmeut in an annuity without his
consent, il has the power 10 f0rcIbIv
take and invest e=ery dollar Of his sal
AIRY as ir uleases-
Would uo- this act be urcoustit-tfor-
alz Would IL not be au a5r-dee-reu-
OF the rights OF citizenship Would
the President permit an outrage on The
. Constitution Ike this. without a Elz1r-
GUS urgtes-H
lt IS uoL believed, however, that Con
gresS VIII attempt rl pass an aer based
upon such principles as are recommend
cd Dy the Civil Service Retirement
League
I'm conclusion 10 IS hoped that The
Times VIII see the just side OF ais
proposition and use las influence To
the end tll- all concerned vllI -er Tr-s-
ttce in the proposed legislation as II has
30 nooly done IN the past,
Respectfully.
AN EAPLOYE OF THE TREASURY