Evening star., 1926-04-04


passed by Congress before
the present session adjourns, six or
seven weeks hence.
The Senate and House committees
are ready to report out bills within
the next three days, just as soon as
the reports can be prepared by the
respective chairmen. The question
is-a question that directly affects
$4,000 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the ad-
ministration and the party leaders
will let the measure come up for
consideration in time to get action
upon It,
There are two lines of thought
about this, and, naturally. the Gov
ernment employees and their friends
are extremely anxious. Anti-admin- !
iStration spollesmen see in the re-
iterated prOnounCement authorized
personally by President Coolidge
that he favors retirement legislation.
but wants careful study of the
cost-an inclination on the part of
the Chief Executive to stand Well
in the open with the Government
workers, but on the quiet TO pass
the word along to Congress either TO
proCrastinate or to find the cost ex-
cessive.
Acted Independently Before.
In fairness to the President, il
hesitated before now TO act indie
'pendently, whether the Government
workers might like, or might dis
like, what he Said--notably in the
case of his veto of the postal en-
ployes' salary bill after it had passed
both houses of Congress, and this !
only five months before election day. |
Also, in fairness to Congress it may
he commented that, having had the |
before
party leaders are not very enthus- |
astic about Shouldering the blame |
again, and will force a fair show
down."
The other line of thought is that |
the President and Republican lead |
ers in Congress have been fed up on |
alleged high cost of the proposed |
nberalized retirement bill by inter
ested parties who seek to defer action |
until they can get through such a |
measure as will better suit their own |
selfish purposes. Those who lean to |
this opinion feel that the President |
and Republican leaders in Congress !
are honest in their statements that |
they will help put through a retire |
ment bill if it can be shown that !
the costs are not prohibitive. In |
other words that they are really |
waiting, with open minds and in a
sympathetic spirit, for the truth to
he told about the cost of the proposed |
retirement measure.
Time Nears for Action.
Senator Stanfeld. chairman of the
Senate subcommittee, and Representa-
tive Frederick Z. Lehlbach of New
Jersey, chairman of the House COM
nittee, are now nearing the day
when they can go to the White
House, to the Director of the Budget
i,o hot h
houses of Congress, and disabuse the
minds of those responsible for the
administration program as to the
alleged excessive cost.
What the outcome will be is still
highly problematical. One thing is
sure however; there will be show
down as to where responsibility lies
for eXpediting or for blocking actlon
at this session.
Here are some authoritative and
pertinent facts:
The House committee has ordered
a favorable report on the bill and
Chairman Lehlbach expects to COM
plete the report tomorrow.
The Senate subcommittee meets to-
morrow to consider the bill.
The report of the aCtuaries on
costs, which is now before the House
and Senate committees, is in favor
of the higher-paid Government work
ers rather than the low-salared en-
ployes.
The bill suggested by the actuaries
largely exceeds in cost to the Gov
ernment any bill that the committee
will report.
The estimate of cost will not tend
very substantially to modify the pro-
visions of the bill to he reported
from the provisions recently given
consideration by the committee.
The actuaries' report will not have
very much effect on the form of the
bill the committee will report.
Leaders Are Doubtful.
House Leader Tilson was at the
White House early in the week and
Speaker Longworth there on Thurs
dav. and came away from their
conference with the President on the
legislative program doubtful in their
minds as to whether the retirement
bill would be included in the party
program
The President is to be considered
as tentatively for the liberaliZed re
tirement bill, but If he finds 1t too
expensive for adoption at this time
he reserves the right to call 1t Off.
1t may be that his present adyices
have led him to believe that 1t Is
going to be too costly.
CONCENTRATIONS committee is making |
q careful check-up to see just what
the effect of a liberalZed retirement |
act would have on the Federal treas
urv. which report he will submit to
the House leaders.
Mr.. Madden's attitude is that Con-
rress should not be stampeded into |
legislation until it knows the effect |
on the Treasury. He considers him.
self as chairman of the appropria- |
tfons committee, on guard for Con: |
cress as custodians of the funds of |
the American people, a trustee Tor /
them, so that legislation may not De
Just to meet political eXigencles OF |
the hour. but may he continuous |
performance based on all the facts, |
on the real merit of each question, |
and the effect it will have on the |
general prosperity of the country. !
He is iealously guarding against fixed |
charges on the Treasury estate.
The leaders in Congress have been |
filled up on "inord1oate cost OF the !
proposed measure, and are appre- |
hensive that the continuing bill |
against the Treasury will be too high. |
Lower Cost FOreseen.
Chairman Lehlbach of the House |
committee has purposely kept away |
from the House leaders until he could |
Law down the cold facts ana ngufes !
He hopes now to go to them with |
a proposition that will disarm them |
and show them that the liberallZed
retirement system is not going TO |
cost anything like they nave been !
led to believe it will.
Mr.. Lehlbach has received no init |
'mstion from any source, official or |
unofficial, that retirement legislation
is not to be given consideration at |
he