The Washington times., 1919-01-27
REPORT TO HOUSE

Continued from First Page.)


That is, the clerks are to raise half
Of IT and the Government half. The
assessments amount to "a per cent OF
the salaries OF the employees.
The great majority Of civil service
employees are eligible for retirement
at sixty-eight; mechanics and city
and rural carriers at sixty-fve. A
change from the original bill Is found
in the fact railway mail clerks are
made eligible at sixty.
The committee points out that for
period Of more than thirty years
the question of making adequate re-
tirement provision for the superan-
nuated in the Government employ has
received the serious consideration OF
executive and administrative officials.
Many officials, it is set forth, have
urged such action. In 1912, Presi-
dent Taft gave it his emphatic en-
dorsement.
That both political parties are COM
mitted to it also is stated in the
report.
The first bill on the subject was
introduced In Congress In 1883.
More Than 1000 Involved.
The committee calls. attention to
the fact that the American Fedora
tion of Labor is for a pension and
retirement plan and that leading In
dustrial and business concerns have
adopted such a policy.
More than 1000 government en-
ployes would be eligible.t to immediate
retirement under the bill as 1t stands.
the committee indicates. s.@e 81
The report gives in detail figures
relating to the cost Of the system. as
already given in the report Of the
Senate Civil Service Committee. 1t 10
demonstrated that the government
would not be required for some years
TO make an appropriation for the
fund. R.F- q A..
3d.. The Sims Report.
The report as submitted by Mr..
Sims follows:
"Your Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce reports House bill
1882 to the House OF Representa-
tiSes with amendments and with the
recommendation that the bill as
amended be passed. 2.
Section 1 provides for retirement OF
the large mass Of civil service en-
ployes at sixtyreight years OF age.
Mechanics, city and rural letter car
riers are to be retired at sixty-ive
years Of age, and railway mail
clerks $ at sixty. Postmasters and
employees Of the lighthouse and coast
guard services are not included. Re-
tirement will not be compulsory, now
ever, during the first ten years under
the operation of the law tsee Sec
tion 81 After ten years retirement
becomes compulsory at seventy-two,
sixty-nine, and sixty-four years OF
age for the respective groups. -"
Section 2 provides for classifca-
ton by periods of service, and for an
nuities graded in relation to length
Of service and average salary during
the last ten years of service. The
maximum provided is 5000. There
is no minimum. II is believed that
about 80 per cent Of those retired
will receive the maximum and that
the average annuity will be about
$500.
Section 8 Is designed to give the
employe the benefit of every period Of
active service when computing his
annuity, including service in the
army. navy, marine corps. or coast
guard service. 1t ID provided, how
ever, that any person who is in re-
ceipt Of a military or naval pension,
or Of compensation underline war risk
insurance act, and who shall become
eligible for retirement under the pro-
visions of this bill, his service in the
army, navy, marine corps, or coast
guard service shall not be included
| for the purpose of computing his civil
service annuity.
Benefits To Others.
SECTION 4 provides that employees
of the Library Of Congress and the
Botanic Gardens who come under the
| Jurisdiction of the legislative branch
of the Government, but are not in the
classified service. shall receive the
| benefits Of this bili--their duties and
| tenure of office being considered to be
analogous to other civil service en-
ployes with a fixed status. This sec
| tion authorized the President to eX-
! tend the provisions Of this bill to
other other classes OF employees not
| already included upon the date OF the
| approval of the act; he may also In
| ciude. or exclude, employees, or groups
of employees, whose tenure Of office Is
of an intermittent or uncertain dura-
| tion. A.
| "Section s provides for automatic
separation from the service upon ar
| riving at the age or retirement ex-
cent in certain cases mentioned in this
section. but providing absolutely that
at the end of ten years no empioye
shall be continued in the civil service
of the United States for period Of
more than four years beyond the age
Of retirement
SECTION 6 furnished the regulations
under which an employe shall apply
to the Bureau Of War Risk Insurance
for his retirement and annuity.
Section Z provides that every EN-
ploye entering the civil service. ol
continuing therein, after the approval
of the act thereby consents and agrees
to the deductions to be made from
his salary, pay. or compensation. not.
withstanding the provisions OF exist
ing laws. or any rules and regulations
made in pursuance thereof.
= Deducted From Pay.
section provides that 2Is pei
cent shall be deducted and withhclC
from the basic salary. pay or compen
sation of each employe to whom tn.
bill applies. The section further pro
vides that these deductions shall l.,
used to create a special fund to b,