The Washington times., 1925-01-28
The Cabinet Strongly Favors
Increased Annuities
Nv BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE,
The Cabinet has taken strong humanely fair attitude
toward increased annuities retired Federal employees
Secretary WORK tells the Senate that speaking for all
members of the Cabinet doubtless for President COOLIDGE
also legislation passed this session of Congress
that the aged workers Of the Government may get what
they Justly deserve and, in many cases. actual distress
ssleved
The Secretary Interior draws attention to the fact
that the retirement pay slender many
employees do all they to avoid retirement and that in
creased annuies would benefit the Government by esseng
the pressure for retention and enabling the appointment Of
young and women.
OF the 1054S annuitants the roll about onethrd
paid maximum $T2O yearly almost another third get
$Sz while the lowest annuity paid 5000 each year hardly
enough to buy single suit Of clothes
BY July l. will least 100000 in the annuity
fund paid In by Government employees
Mr.. Work makes this interesting statement
"The retirement fund from which these annuities are
paid has been created by deductions withheld from the
salaries of the employees themselves for this purpose It is
sad 70 for the the eremen
fund.- and the time when such paternasic assistance will
become by of the depletion Of the fund
Is not yet in sight.
Before passage Of the present estimated
that ten would elapse before additions to the retire
ment fund by Government appropriation would become
necessary The board of actuaries report that this
estimate too conservative and that the fund
viii survive present maintained for longer period
The actual time when Federal assistance will be required,
however be determined from available records but
that the sustaining period under the present plan will
be considerably prolonged the original estimate
be doubted upon an examination of the condition
fund after almost five years operation
The great rich and powerful United States conbu
single toward annuies for and who
have worked Loyalty and efficiently for that Government until
old age compe them TO retire palty annuiies that
hardly sufficient to buy food aone in thousands Of
rey insufficient for that single expense Of maintaining e
The active employees Of this great Government
PEELED to maintain thus annuity fund by having deductions
made from their monthly pay The measures pending in
deductions from pay envelopes the Of giving fine
old and little money TO make easier and
brighter their remaining years.
Secretary Works letter the Senate indicates that the
nuty fund large that there plenty of money
take Of increased anuies for years
This annuity law cold business proposition as
conceived by the largest employer Of and in
the world The Secretary Of the Interior says that for hui
manitaran for other the Government should
provide more suitable retirement pay than the present
nnities.'
Yet the Government Is providing NOTHING except the
administrative organization that for the deductions and
out the annes has been stated that Congress win
not the increased annues law it is probable that
IN few years to the Government viii have to supple
ment deductions from pay envelopes.
To escape that dreadful possibility the idea
money from the envelopes Of employees.
We don't believe there taxpayer in United
who would gTumble should the Government itself
participate in these annuity payments The most successful
business institutions in the country today maintain their
them years They do not compel young employees put
the money to take Of those who retire. Uncle Sam
shouldn't do he this magnificent country
made Of happy and conened workers he should always
step to the front and set example Of his appreciation
Of loyalty and devotion on the part of workers.
But whether the Government does not do its SHARE
the present Of annes should be materially increased
and it should be done THIS SESSION of Congress.