Evening star., 1920-05-30
100000 ARE TO PROFIT
BY RETIREMENT BILL
PAYMENT of Annuities From $3.50 to $40
to Eligible United States Employees
Will Begin August 81.
WILL KENNEDY.

UNCLE SAM will begin on Au-
gust 81 to pay annuities OF
from $3.50 to $720 to civilian n
employees who have reached
the age of seventy years and have
been in service at least fifteen years
with special provision for retiring me-
chanics. city and rural letter carriers
and post Office clerks at sixty-five
years and railway postal clerks at
si6ty-two years.
George r. Wales, civil service COM
missioner. estimates that there will
be 100000 in the classified civil serv-
ice after reduction of the force has
been made as of July 1 next. who will
come under the benefits of this re-
tirement system. 1t is estimated that
between 1000 and 5000 will be i'm
mediately granted annuities.
Expected to Promote Emciency.
This retirement system, while hu-
manizing the government service and
bringing to hundreds of thousands an
assurance OF some provision against
old age and helplessness, is expected
to have its greatest value in promot-
ing efficiency and economy in the
federal workshops and offices.
While there is provision in the
act. approved May % after more than
twenty years of legislative effort.
which makes it possible for the head
of any branch of the government serv-
ice to retain in the service any en-
ploye eligible for retirement who by
reason of extraordinary efficiency or
technical skill is of particular value
to the service, 1t Is the general feel
ing in the executive departments that
very few should be thus continued on
the pay rolls. Only few in technical
or highly scientific positions whose con-
tinuance would be advantageous to the
public service will be retained.
Triple Administration Of Law.
There is a triple administration of
the new law:
The commissioner of pensions has
charge of administration with re-
spect to adjudication and payment of
claims for annuities. refunds and al
lewances- .s..-
The Civil Service Commission has
charge Of personnel records of EN-
ployes. appointments. promotions, de-
motions and changes in salaries.
The Treasury Department has
charge ef the sunuity fund and tho
accounts Of all those theusands OF
empleyss vine coptribute p pereo4tSs
arc Of their salaries to the fund. and
will audit the accountS Of the dis
bursting agents.
The steps that must be taken to
establish this annuity roll are as fol-
lows: -
within thirty days all administra-
tive ofacers Of the government VIII
notify those among their employees
who will be eligible for retirement on
August q. There will be no definite
form Of making application. each case
beinx treated personally. ANY one
eligible for retirement who desires 70
ramain in service, or who is sought
nv his chief as needed in the service
should then make application to De
retained. Then the prospective annu-
liant must file application with ene
commissioner Of pensions for his an
nuity.
Three vital Factors.
rhrea vital factors are defined by
N. law for the granting OF an an
nuity:
/. Proof of requisite age (generaHy
seventy years. but sixty-nve ana SIX
ty-two years for specified classes OF
postal employes).
Show tho number OF years ne
has served (nfteen years is the min
imum).
2 Show average compensation our
inr last ten years Of service twnicn
=. the basis for computing the amount
of annuity.
This Information in the appAcation
of the prospective annuitant must DC
aupported by a certificate from inc
bsads of the department in which ne
10 emnloyed. showing from the rec
ord. these essential facts-age OF ap-
n,icant. period OF employment ana
rates of compensation This iniorma-
.;on will eventually be furnished by
.h. civil Service Commission, which
"a now preparing such records Dut
tenn mpOrarlly tHe
.,ons must depend upon the Depart
r,ent heads for these data from ene
official records
Classification and Rates.
The basis of annuity is length OF
.Aryice and per centum OF the
.veraee annual basic salary for the
last ten wears of service. The classl-
1cation and rates are as follows:
fa) Service thirty years; annuity so
per cent of salary; maximum $72o.
minimum $3.50.
(b) Service twenty-seven years. an
nuity 81 per cent of salary; maximu"
ss4s, minimum $324-
fc, Service twenty-four years. an
nuity 4s per cent of salary; maximum
s57s. minimum $2ss.
Cd) Service ,twenty-one years. an
nuity 42 per cent of salary: maximum
s5o4. minimum $252.
Ie) Service eighteen years. annuity
3s per cent of salary. maximum $432.
minimum $216.
90 Service hfteen years. annuity
40 per cent Of salary: maximum $3.50.
minimum $3.50.
II should be made clear that the
term basic pay" does not include the
s,4o bonus or allowances or over
time pay. This 10 not included either
in computing the annuity or the en-
ploye's contribution to the retire.
ment fund.
70 ill hs seen that the adjudication