Evening star., 1926-04-06
PRESIDENT HOLDS
RETIREMENT BILL
STILL TOO LIBERAL
$1,000 Maximum Annuity
and Age Limit Raise Doubt
as to ACCeptabiIity.
ANXIOUS TO TAKE REPORT
UP FOR FURTHER STUDY
Says Public, Who Must Pay Cost,
Must Be Considered in Fixing
Pension Qualifications.

retirement bill as it was favorably
reported to the House yesterday by
Representative Lehlbach of New
Jersey, chairman of the House COM
iulttee on civil service, is still too lib
Rl.l and he doubts that the Govern
nent at this time can afford to pay
Is share of the proposed increased
immunity for retired Government en-
llryes.
The details Of the bill as reported
have not been carefully studied by the
president it was said, but It's main
features raise a doubt in the PreSi-
dents mind as to the acceptability of
the legislation. The President, how
ever. intimated that he is anxious
further to study the measure and to
familiar with the subject in its
entirety.
Same Two Objections.
While discussing this legislation at
the White House today the President
IS represented as saying that the COM
mttee's bill as it now stands is too
liberal in two major respects. The
81 200 maximum annual annuity as
proposed is. in his opinion, trifie eX.
cessive, and the age limit for optional
retirement is too low. During his dis
clssion of this legislation today the
President did not attempt to suggest
what ne considered a fair maximum
annuity, nor did he specify a scale of
age limit that would meet with his
approval.
A few days ago while expressing
himself regarding these features of
the liberalization bill, the President
was represented as saying that 10
years would be more satisfactory, in
his way of thinking, as a maximum
for retirement. Today he intimated
that so years for railway mail clerks
and 81 years for mechanics and other
workers and 65 years for ordinary
clerks was too low. He was repre-
scented as doubling If employees out
side of the Government would care
TO contribute, in the form of taxes.
toward retiring Governmenteempioy
merely because the latter have
reached the ages above mentioned.
He says the public generally must
he considered in this matter, as the
people of the United States will be
the ones who, through taxation, will
pay this cost for retiring the Govern
ment's superannuated employees.
Considers 1t Important.
The President intimated that he
considers this phase of the question
q very important one, as the Govern
ment is called upon by the provisions
of this new increased retirement bill to
pay approximately $4,000 of the
estimated total of $4,000. 900. The
President hopes that those who will
discuss this legislation with him will
be prepared to show him just why the
trainers of the legislation consider it
necessary to retire employees just be-
cause they have reached the ages Of
90, 81 and 65 years.
The President is inclined to think
that many thousands Of men and
women in the Federal Government
are physically able to continue in the
service considerably longer than that
and he believes in all fairness to
every one concerned, and also in the
interest of governmental economy.
That more practicable average
Tor the age of retirement should
be arrived at. The whole question in
the Presidents mind is a matter of
arriving at an average, and he sees
no reason why those who have studied
This subject and who are familiar with
the entire situation, and who at the
same time have the interest of the
Government and the public in general
at heart, could not arrive at prac-
tical average.
His Mind Is Open.
While speaking his mind so frankly
regarding this legislation, which he
realizes is so important to the. many
thousands of man and woman en-
ployes in the public service, the Presi-
dent is represented as having said
he wanted 1t clearly understood, how
ever, that he was not saying at this
lime that he would disapprove or ap-
prove the bill as it has been reported.
He attempted to give the impression
that his mind is open to conviction,
but in the meantime he is extremely
anxious to have those who have this
legislation in charge answer the ques-
tions he has raised and which he con-
siderS at this time as being objec-
tionable and detrimental.
The President has from time to time
asserted his approval of the principle
Involved. He believes that Govern
ment employees, after long faithful
service, should be paid a fair annuity.
Puts Sentiment Aside.
The President, however, has made
Il very evident that, despite sentimen-
tai reasons, he has no intention of
sanctioning a too heavy raid upon the
national Treasury to make this pos
Sible. He has cautioned Congress
1dltnfully since the enactment OF the
TAX revision bill to discourage legis-
lation that calls for annual appropria-
lions not provided for in the esti-
:..ates OF the budget.
1t is understood at the White House
the President is awaiting conferences
with Senator Stanfield of Oregon who
has charge of this retirement legisla-
ton in the Senate. and with Repre-
sentative Lehlbach of New Jersey,
who has been fostering it in the
House, as well as others who are ia
miliar with the subject in it's entirety
1t is the Presidents intention to hear
first the views and arguments Of
these gentlemen before he attempts to
make up his mind one way or the
other.
The new retirement bill for Govern
,nent employees to be reported to the
Senate will be substantially the same
as the measure laid before the House
yesterday, Senator Stanfield, chairman
of the Senate subcommittee. indicated
today.
Although the subcommittee will not
re ready until Saturday to lay its re-
port before the full civil service com
liittee of the Senate for final approval.
Continued on Page ?. Column H.