The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-06-05
Retirement nnuities, Economy
and a Big Treasury Surplus

III
rre 1900 = be agreement among unofficial financial
experts for the next fiscal year beginning july .nere
viii be Treasury surplus of $S0oOo00Oo thus enabling
her tax cutting Or for retirement Of the public
There nending before Congress different measures
for increasing the annues Of retired employees Of the Govern
ment The ONE passed by the Senate provides maximum
annuity Of $1,000 The one passed Dy tine As
the maximum at $1,000.
both bills put heavy and unjust burden upon Govefnment
workers IN supplying funds for retirement by deductions from
their salaries The Senate bill makes the deduction per
cent while the House bill provides deduction OF S1a per
cent both as against the present deduction Of 9 per cent
Although che Senate bill takes from the pay q acuVe
workers than the House bin the larger maximum annuity pro-
vided would estimated cost the Treasury SS0OOOOoO
more year The House bill would cost the treasury less
than the present retirement law.
The House measure referred to the Administration
bill Il is compromise between the existing law and the one
passed by the Senate The Administration bill was worked
out in line with economy plans Of the Administration Under
the economy program things have been done ana many
worthy things not being done.
The impression conveyed the preliminaries to the agree
inert upon the Administration retirement measure was that
the Treasury must spared from deficit in the next fiscal
year and that welodo Uncle Sam reaching crisis IN
his financial affairs.
yet ii the face Of huge surplus year, Congress is
apparently going to do nothing about increasing retirement
annuities The maximum win remain at $72O per year. as
now every annuity paid by Government employees out Ct their
own pockets The hasn't far spent i've cents
81 It's own money for these annuties Taxpayers nave not
been put to Of expense On the other hand tnere
surplus III the annuity fund Of $5O00O,00O.
Neither the Senate bin the House bin VIII cost the
Federal Treasury penny for years to owing TO the
existing surplus IN future years annuie ere increased
LOO and thus lead to increased rsements Uncle sa
ne oyrnment 81 the United States should not hesitate
& setting genuinely liberal example for employers e this
country III retirement legislation Instead q competing aOtlVe
Orer IS supply bread and meat to the superannuaed men
ma women leaving the service after Of loyal and e
feent work the Government sn0na 5uss ar
o brand az economy political play g voters snOulu
ever aside the principle Of justice ana snee can g u
oers that retirement pay should too come mostly from
tie Government itself and not as now wholly from workers
e ssnate bin Is the Creditable Of the two pending
It's chief unfaness Is II requiring per cent deductions IRON
nv e. make M the retirement fund The annuitdes should
- crea.ed without deduCting more than 2 per cent Even
A oura Il too large when the Government BENEFITS 50
largely in business way BY retirement. -.
Mem are retired from the Army and Navy q me United
tatea A coparativey early years Of life twohrds
WY DoITAR OF IT FROM THE TREASURY Of the
united states paid IN by taxpayers
vt here are statesmen Of the nation baking at PAYING
aid man and women who have served the nation long and
faithfully enough to keep them IN bread ana meat NOT even
the baking done in the face Of the TACT that the
4 not now paying cent Of retirement cost and viii not
cent for long time under the most nperal rereent
bin possible to get from Congress
to Congress tnab earnestly
ent bill sent to him and that rather than Congress
fail to act he would accept the Senate bill or oerazaon
az the House bill.
The House. clearly understood is standing pat upon
il own bin wholly because the Administration desires that
bin and other That attitude viii probably mean no
legislation at all. 80
square deal to Government workers Will get severe
bow there is no legislation They will likewise be denied
square deal the House bill becomes law The sufferers
viii be good men and who have been faithful to their
through long years of service much longer than
the years given by Army and Navy officers