The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-20
Copyright, 1919.
By p - GS.dberg.

prospects for the creation of q
civil service retirement system by
this Congress are brighter than at
any time since we began working for
such a system twenty years ago.
Robert II. Acorn, chairman of the
joint conference on retirement for the
c. '"'''i"e. said today.
Mr.. Alcorn. with a delegation rep
7, .,-..-=, 80 0. CARNATIONS of Federal
employees. appeared yesterday before
the House Committee on Reform in
the Civil Service TO urge favorable
action on the Lchlbach bill, which
creates a retirement system.
Senator Sterling has introduced the
same bill in the Senate. Mr. Alcorn
said today he was greatly encouraged
over the outlook following a confer
ence with Senator Sterling after the
all-day hearing on the measure yes
terday.
The hearings will be resumed on
Tuesday next before the House COM
mittee.
Features of Hearing.
The first days hearings brought out
these features:
The Lehlbach bill has the indorse-
ment of score of Federal employees
organizations. the American Fedora
ion of Labor, and many friends of the
Federal employe in and out of Con
gress.
The Pension Bureau can administer
the provisions of the bill without ad-
ditiOnal expense other than the hire
of a few additional clerks.
For the first twelve years of its
life. the system would be self-sus-
Timing, and no appropriation would
BE- required.
About $500 civil service employees
would be retired during ne frs. two
years.
Fully $4,000 Federal employees
would receive protection under tie
proposed measure
4 system that would divide the cN-
pense between the Government ard
the cmploye is most generally flY"r-
ed
The Lehlbach bill provides for ;ho
payment OF ~ per cent Of the Ia ,ic
salary of the employe into the Treas
ury.
The maximum annual pension pro-
vided in the bill is $T2O. The mini
mum is $50
Differ In Details.
Several members Of the House and
senate have introduced bills provId-
ing for a retirement fund for civil
service employees, most Of them diff
fering only in minor details 1t is
probable that all will agree on The
Lchlbarh measure with certain
amendments.
Congressman Fitzgerald Of Massa-
chusetts, who has a bill in the House
creating retirement fund. appeared
before the House committee vester-
Il
maximum benefit TO at least $500 per
year.
We face a condition now that
means that $500 today will not go
as far as $500 did a few years ago.
To-day buildings are high. com
mCGities are high. and all living
costs are high and getting higher"
Mr.. Fitzgerald told the committee.
Labor Is High.
Labor is high. and in my opinion
is going much higher. There is a
strong sentiment in Congress that
immigration should be prohibited for
some years to come. J don't favor
that move personally. but that is the
trend now.
IF strict immigration laws are
made, labor is going to he scarce. I
read today that thousa nds of labor
rs are Svlu5 10 EUROPE ldklHE bl-
lions Of dollars with them. With so
many leaving and with immigration
living VIII continue TO be
high.
1--WE should take these conditions
INTO consideration before fixing the !
amount Of benefits under this bill"
Mr.. Fitzgerald some years ago, !
while mayor Of Boston, signed the |
first pension bill for Boston city |
employees.
Or. Llewellyn Jordan. secretary OF |
he United States civil Service Re |
irement Association. told the COM !
nittce that the principle of retire |
nent for civil service employees had !
peen indorsed al national convention /
IF both the Democratic and RCpub-
lean parties.
Favor $3.50 Plan.
Several bills have from time to
ime been considered that would pay
he employees a straight pension. the
Government paying the entire OK
,cnse DIR. Jordan said that the en-
,loyes favored 4 fifty-fifty plan, by
which they would bear half the cN-
,ensc.
"Our own country is the only cOun-
ry in the world claiming to be civil
Zed that has no provision for aged
.ivil service employees" DR.. Jordan
aid.
DR.. Jordan read into The record a
cttcr frum Secretary Of the Treasury !