The Washington times., 1924-05-01
The Retirement Legislation in
Congress
By BILL PRICE.

amendments the law retiring Government workers this
newspaper most earnestly the appeal has often made
that the Government of the United Satethough Congress
and the White House exhibit, for full Of
thoughtful justice toward those who have long and loyalty
served their country in civil positions.
Old and faithful employees Uncle may faced
shells bullets and gas batds but they have been just
as devoted to their duties earnest and loyal soldiers
Or sailors When sentimentay refer the men behind
the guns understand them be those who do the real
fighting while those high in command get the credit for the
victories.
The may be truhfu applied to the rank and file
Of Government workers They the real machinery which
operates this powerful Government They get credit for
the successful work that DONE This goes the
mp
Every four years there are administration changes New
OF departments assistant heads chiefs of divisions
Yet these matter how great their ntelects virtual
" helpless administration of the Government machinery
Without and workers under them they could
DO nothing They must turn to these workers for information
and advice for instruction in the laws and regulations
have governed in the past Ninety times in hundred the
acts Of heads of Government departments taken upon
advice Of quiet unObrusiv unknown male female workers
who have served Uncle Sam for many years the smallest
kinds of salaries
The newspapers though display the pictures of great
Government leader who has solved problem sensby and
satisfactorily Biographies Of his life printed and the next
thing you know his mentioned Presidential pos
sibility
Every committee of Congress- in framing revenue tax or
other laws sends for these Government workers ascertain
facts and figures bearing upon the problems before them The
minds OF the great in that body largely influenced
by the information impaired to them by and women
whose appear in the newspapers and whose
salaries frequently insufficient maintain decency
Every dollar that has been paid out since the first retire
men law went into effect has been collected the salaries
Of these poorly paid workers for Government The big
and rich United States has NOT CONTRIBUTED SINGLE
PENNY toward the insignificant annuities that are paid
from the retirement fund There has iota Of
h1N
who must leave their positions younger persons
ing into the civil service
To meet the increased annuties which Congress seems dis
posed to pay retirement legislation goes through the
employees Of the Government to be compelled to give up
S cent of their salaries each something
to live in their old ages.
Congress shows disposition step in and say You
have worked honestly and efficiently for your Government
You paying enough from your salaries already in the
2 that being deducted The Government the
United States will match your contribution there will
be enough money hand retire workers
annuites that insure them against dependency in their last
years.
Big private enterprises throughout United States which
retire their workers make deductions from salaries They
meet the retirement expenses out of their business And
in doing they assured the zeal and gratitude of those
who labor necessarily and earnestly for them.
Should the Government of the United States thought
full toward its workers. who paid the same statutory
salaries that paid EIGHTY YEARS ago?
The optional age for retirement should not be sixyfive
OF for those who are not doing aruous and
work This retirement should be permitted too whether
not the employee has served thirty years In the
the Government grandmohers who have been official
harness many years. but fewer than the thirty necessary to
annuity upon optional retirement At seventy years
Of the average who has gone through routine
grind Of office work is worn out and has but span
Of life left to be with those she loves compilation of actual
figures will show that the majority Of employees retired at
seventy years of age live only comparatively few years to
enjoy the benefits Of salary deductions made while they
at work
It almost inhuman that when retirement takes place
those who may have the pleasure of its benefits are too old
Women especially long for few years respite from the Of
cal grind that they engage in hOme social civic
activities in their respective communities.
the Government Of the United States paying its
workers living wages such the political parties have re-
peatedy promised in their convention platforms in to
get the votes Of these workers election days. Congress could
well say to them We have paid you we'll You should have
saved something for old It is right that you should pro-
vide your own annuities