The Washington times., 1919-01-27

.neiuoo or paying aunuitles 80 ees
.ne Government may be FUZZY pro-
Section IA provides that the secre.
tary of the Treasury shall keep all
needful tables, records and accounts
required for carrying out the pro-
visions OF the act including oats
showing the mortality experience OF
the Officers and employees and the rate
or withdrawal from the service ano
the like and requiring him to make
detailed comparative report annuai-
ly to Congress.
Section 15 provides that none Of the
moneys mentioned in this bill shall
be assignable in law or equity ana
that they shall not be subject to exc
cution, levy, or attachment, garnisn-
ment, or other legal process.
Section 16 authorizes the appropri-
alton of the sum of 100000 for the
purpose of carrying out the pro-
visions of the act L1.a
Section IL repeals all laws in con-
flict with the act. -
In Favor Of Retirement
During a period of more than
thirty years the question of making
adequate retirement provision for the
superannuated and disabled civil
service employees has received the
serious consideration of executive and
administrative officials of the Gov
ernment.
Recommendation of Cabinet Of
icers, bureau chiefs, and supervisory
| officials of every executive depart
| ment of the Government urging re
| tirement legislation have been In
l/'orporated In their annual reports to
Il he g. AZ Drn
| 1912 President Taft gave his unQuali-
| fed appoval- of a retirement. plan
and made a special Recommendation
to Congress, urging the enactment
/ Of a retirement law. The COMMITTEES
has been assured that President viii
SON Is in favor OF the enactment Of
an equitable retirement law for
superannuated civil service employees
Of the Government. =,
Both Parties Cemmitted to Il.
The Republican platform of 1912
contained provision on the subject
as follows:
We favor legislation to make
possible the equitable retirement
of disabled and superannuated
members of the civil service in
order that a higher standard OF
efficiency may be maintained.
The Democratic platform at st.
Louis in 1916 contained a provision
on this subject as follows: a
An equitable retirement law ~
providing for the retirement Of
| superannuated and disabled en-
] ployes of the civil service, to the
end that q higher standard OF ef-
fciency may be maintained.
1 The first civil service retirement bill
was introduced in 1889. and since that
date more than 100 retirement bills af-
fecting the Federal civil service have
been introduced either in the House or
the Senate. Some Of these bills con-
templated that the entire cost OF paying
| the annuities or pension allowances
should be borne by the Government
These bills are known as straight civil
service pension plans. Other nihs nave
provided that the cost Of retiring those
already eligible for retirement should
| be borne by the Government, but that
those to be retired after thu approval
Of the act should contribute from their
salaries a certain percentage OF the
same for the purpose OF creating indiv-
ual retirement funds. The socalled Nc
Kellar-Keating bill, which forms the
subject Of this report, is the first at
| tempt to provide a plan the cost OF
| which shall be borne equally by the
Government and its employees upon the
basis Of the half and half principle.
Hearinxs On Retfrement Biils.'
Exhaustive hearings have been held
In the past by committees in Congress
facts and figures have been marshalled
| n support of various plans and q great
mass of matter has been contributed
by competent actuaries and students
of the subject. The principles of the
IMcKellar-Keatin bill were carefully
considered at hearings held upon thu
bill by this committee and the Com
/ lmittee on Civil Service and Retrench
ment Of the Senate. Senator McKellal
and CONGRESSMAN Heating held numer
GUS conferences with representative!
of the various civil service organiza
tions Of the. country and the bill wa
unanimously indorsed by these rep
lresentatives before its Introduction II
the House and Senate.
The principles Of this bill wer'
uninamiously indcrsed by the Ameri
lean Federation Of Labor, in its las
annual convention and subsequent.
have been indorsed by practicall.
all national and international labo
organizations.
A Business Proposition.
Tt is conceded the Govern
ment is now maintaining, by indi
rection at least, a costly pensio
system, by retaining in the publ
J service aged employees long beyon
: their period of usefulness, and who's
, services will net be dispensed wit
on humanitarian grounds. A repor
recently made on the civil servic
: covering the subject Of inefficienc
due to approximation demonstrate
} conclusively that the annual loss I
l the Government on this account wa
approximately three million dollar!
Industrial corporations and bust
, ness organizations throughout tn
world have adopted retirement sys
TENS. or pension plans, for their age
employees, based solely upon SCUM
business reasons. The adoption c
l such a plan by the Government OF tn
United States would be in line wit
p the trend OF modern times.
VIII 1t Pay:
"The adoption by the Governmen