The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-27
Perfecting Civil Service
Retirement
By BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE.
The Civil Service Committee Of the House has unanimously
reported to that body bill to perfect the law for the retire
Of civil service employees Of the Government Included
In its provisions are increased copensaons those who
have been retired and to be retired but the committee decides
that these increases must be mainly by deductions
som the salaries Of Government workers that Is monthly
Ne OUT Of Sh per cent instead Of 2h per cent as at
tnS "aly deals with Government workers in human man
nst' Sing heretofore unknown In Congress Although it
Aes rOA their salaries larger monthly deduction than
Ensures that the superannuated will receive
Oenes that somewhat in keeping with the cost
- "VAuS "OA out Government workers who get out Of
VIII no Nger feel that they are almost wholly de-
upon others and that the closing days Of
tneM nves VIII be inter and more promising.
@ne increased will make it necessary for the
time just how much have not determined IN
20 TINS time tine Covenant discontinued nothing The
snnuties paid have been that there was no difficulty
meeting them out Of SanA wholly paid in by Government
from tne underpad Aas they get The annuties
nave been paid and surps Of millions has accumulated
The first retirement BILL tAuA was unite imusrfect =.
oil had expected The new biGi becomes law will not
be perfect Improvement will with the wears Of ex
perience obtained from the wOrldngV the law.
In the first place the Government ould have been b;v
and enough to have without thu
poorly paid employees having surrender even small part
Of their salaries But it decided Otherwise and the
principle has been adopted that far possible the clerks
must insure themselves against financial wantu old age
with the Government aiding only when necessary - il nust
do if the bill should be enacted
All the United States there are big industrial .rd
business which provide from their funds p.
Che retirement Of faithful employees reasonable annue
sufficient to make their workers feel that they entirely
dependent upon others The benecaes Of Of these
well paid when the active lists their salaries
wages being average far above those paid by
United States Government.
And here is Uncle SAM big strong the richest of all
worlds governments yearly praccng almost Sweat shop
salaries thousands Of workers and every year. too tighten
ing the restrictions sick and annual leaves Petty
parmenta yrants harass employees in all directions You
think that Uncle Sam would set precedent for all the world
In paying living wages in making working conditions most
agreeable in providing literally for the future of
animated workers who have toed honestly earnestly and
periodically That would be notification to all America
that human beings should have living wages wherever they
toll and whatever they do long they loyal honest and
faithful in their labors
Uncle Sam could easily pay whatever difference is called
for in the increased Compensaons for annutants without
requiring workers to give up more OF the small contents Of
their semmonhly pay slips But Chairman LEHLBACH and
his committeeman Of the House probably know conditions in
Congress and have been fair they be and hope
success
There in House and Senate who hudder the
Thought of doing decent thing for Government employees
Those who feel and act otherwise have to fight hard to get
legislation that is half way human or right.
there any changes at all in the bill they should
be in the direction of larger financial participation by the
venment in the payment Of annues and the lessenng
\he obligations of workers to provide most Of the money
from which annuities paid.
The foremost countries Of the world which take Of
their workers in their old ages bear virtually all the expenses
people Of those countries would be shocked know
that the rich and powerful United States deducs the annus