The Washington times., 1923-01-14

Board of Actuaries Submits
Measure Providing for Dras-
tic Revision of Regulations
RETIREMENT AGE REDUCED
Minimum Set at so II Worker
Has Rendered Aggregate
Of Thirty Years Of Service

u :
Drastic changes in the civil
service retirement regulations,
providing increased annuities and
permitting retirement from serv-
ice after an aggregate service of
thirty years, are scheduled IN q
bill sent to Congress with the an
nua1 report Of the board of actu-
aries, it was learned yesterday.
THOUSANDS AFFECTED.
The measure, which affects thou
sands of Government employees in
country, was described by leaders
I, of the Federal Employees Union yes
terday as "a far-reaching step to-
ward liberalizing existing law
The chief features Of the bin
are:
Reduction OF the optional age
for retirement from seventy years
TO sixty-five years.
General provision for q higher
rate OF annuities.
No maximum on the amount
which can be drawn from the res
tirement fund, the allowance be-
ing determined by previous sal
airy.
seventy years compulsory.
Permits retirement upon reach
ing the age of sixty years proyid-
ing the employee has rendered an
agRregate service OF thirty years
Provides for the establishment
OF e department in the Civil Serv-
ice Commission TO maintain the
records of civil service employees.
Provides for opening an account
IN the Treasury Department show
ing the liabilities of the Govern
ment with the respect to the
operation Of the retirement act.
HAVE HUGE FUND.
The report states:
while the proposed bill repre-
SCENTS what is believed to be
very great improvement in the
existing law, both from the stand
point OF the Government and OF
the employees, it does not call for
any immediate appropriation from
the Government, and it is to be
expected that no appropriation.
win be required for number of
years. Nevertheless, the Govern
ment win have a definite record
Of the cost OF the benefits on &C.
count Of which obligations are
being assumed.
Under the present law, it is
stated. the obligation born by the
Government amounts to $16,734, 207.
Under the proposed law this amount
would be increased to $25,291 ,658.
This would not necessarily increase
appropriations for the fund, due,
It is explained, to the fact that
approximately 1906, 900 is now
on hand in. the retirement fund.
ID. s. Spear, of the National
Federation of Federal Employees,
said yesterday that his organization
is heartily in favor of the general
provisions of the bill. One feature,
which does not meet with approval
Of employees, however, is said to be
the provision which denies the bene.
fits of increased annuities to those
now drawing retirement pay.
INJUSTICE CHARGED.
This provision is manifestly un-
fair to those persons who have
given their lives in service to, the
Government" Robert H. Alcorn,
chairman Of the joint retirement
conference, said yesterday. "I
think it is probable that this provi-
sion viii be amended SO as to have
the new scale apply to old en-
ployes as well as to those who may
benefit in the future"
Another matter, which represen-
tatives of the employees look upon
with concern, is the failure of the
bill to provide a maximum.
1t is feared that unless a maxi
mum figure is set that the retire
ment fund may be reduced by the
payment OF salaries to some of the
relatively high Government off
Gals.
While the report was sent to
Congress by the First Assistant
Secretary Of the Interior Depart
ment, the letter of transmittal
states that the Secretary is not to
be understood as favoring all of the
provisions in the proposed bill.
Inquiry yesterday revealed that
the provisions to which the Score
tary of the Interior may take ex.
ception are in the main the same
as those objected to by representa-,
- u.