The Washington times., 1924-02-06
The Annuities Paid to Retired
Government Employees
By BILL PRICE.

The proper committees of Congress before them
the question Of increasing the annuites paid to retired en-
ployes Of the Federal and District Governments these
and who have spent their lives the services Of the
national local annuites sufficient at least
partially maintain them without becoming almost wholly de-
pendent upon others
Senator STERLING and Congressman LEHLBACK, who
took such prominent part bringing about the passage
the retremet BILL and who fought earnestly for the best inter
es Of employees favorable to increasing the
annes and will doubtless take the lead in their respective
Houses Of Congress for favorable action.
The Association Of Retired Federal Employees asked the
passage Congress of their bill increasing pay as follows
Glass A-($72OOO Is per cent to 81 ,18OO8 per annum
Class IS per- CENT cent ID ooco per- per- annum
Glass D-($5O4OO) 80 per cent, to $9072O per
Glass -($432OO) 80 per cent, to $82o8O per annum
Class F-($36oOo) 100 per cent, to $4,000 per annum
Glass G-($171.2N 100 per cent, to $34248 per
Minimum ($864O) 100 per cent, to $172SO per annum
The highest annuity paid any retired employee is
2O per year barely sufficient cOthe and feed man
woman leaving nothing for doctors dentists the many
demands incident to advancing age.
The annual annue then drop rapidly to that in
sufficient to pay room rent allowing nothing for food
The facts and figures laid before Congressional committees
retirement and disability fund permit the increases to be
made without sranng the finances without at present.
occurring aid from the Federal Government.
Whether this be not it is the bounden duty of
to authorize the increases asked for and to give
Mbon to the world that the United States Government
not nappecave OF long and faithful service the part Of
It's workers
There preudced ignorant people, of them in
Congress- who often refer to the annus of retired employees
as pensions, the Government contributed these
funds The retirement act became effective August 1920
Next August it will have been in operation four years It's
results strictly from the standpoint of increased efficiency
have been wonderful The filling Of places of retired
employees with young and vigorous workers has enabled the
Government to materially cut down the number Of workers
Still the Government has contributed nothing to the retire
ment fund All the money paid out far has been from the
deductions OF 2 per cent from the basic pay Of employees
young and Old The small annuies have been regularly
and the trustees Of the fund have invested $25
in bonds etc., the interest returns which added
fund.
Those governments of Europe which long ago
trement provisions for civil service workers. obga
tons incident to its operations from their treasures They
do not arbitrarily deduct percentages Of money from the
pay envelopes Of workers to provide for
the last few years there has been surprising the
number Of large industrial establishments that pay
sons to workers who have served them many years They
make these payments part of the overhead Of their bust
nesSes They find works wonders in retaining good and
women in keeping them content and happy The employe
who knows that the any day. Of old to be provided
Tor not bolshevik He is useful efficient loyal
The United States Government well afford initiate
private employers necessary. The annuies paid
shamefuly small They should be made larger if
Government finds that must add to the funds Any
h1buton may have to make in the future will be
paratvey small There should be hesitation part of
Congress accepting this responsibility should become
necessary.