Evening star., 1926-06-19
Represented as Likely to
Veto Higher Retirement
Pay After Farley.
COMMISSION TO STUDY
BETTER TERMS URGED
Thorough Trial of House Figure
Before Raising Amount Is
White House Program

Out of the conflicting reports con
corning the possible action of the
House and Senate conferees on the
liberalized retirement bills there came
today from the White House one that
President Coolidge not only is stick
ing firmly by the House-administra
ton bill which provides for q
maximum annuity of $1,000 and
maximum age for retirement at 70
years, but that he will be inclined
to veto any measure which increases
amounts over the House bill
The reports Of the Presidents at
titude were given by Representatives
Lehlbach of New Jersey and Smith Of
Idaho. two of the House conferees
following a conference with the
President.
The present plan now favored by
the House conferees and which was
reported to have received the indorse-
ment of the President. is immediate
passage at this session of the bill en-
bodying the features recommended by
the House and the Budget Bureau.
and the creation, at the same time
of commission to make a compre-
ed in governmental retirement legisla
tion and to work out scientific plan
that will provide for a new increase.
Report to Congress.
Meantime. at a meeting Of the con.
ferees at o'clock this afternoon. Mr..
Lehlbach probably will bring before
them the attitude of President Cool
idge
Because the increased retirement is
to be a perpetual cost to the Govern
ment and because of it's indefinite
ness at this time. the President was
represented as having insisted that in
treating the Government employees
more literally the boost in their re
tirement annuities should not be too
great until the subject has been
studied thoroughly from every angle
and until the most accurate and com
plete cost estimates have been made
by Government actuaries.
Mr.. Lehlbach and Mr.. Smith ex-
pressed themselves as being in hearty
accord with this attitude on the part
Of the Executive. Mr.. Lehibach, who
has at all times been a consistent
champion Of legislation in the interest
of the Government employees. stated
that there should be no criticism of
the $1,000 annuity maximum for
which his bill provides. He pointed
out that that amount represents a
40 per cent increase over the present
maximum annuity retired employees
are receiving. which he said. Compar
ed with increases being received In
private business. is decidedly liberal
and should be accepted very happily
by those who are in position TO be
benefited.
Agreement Is Possible.
These two House conferees. while
not caring to make any outright pre-
dictions as to the outcome of the con
ferences being held by the Senate and
House confereeS on this legislation,
did intimate likelihood that those who
are holding out for raising the maxi
mum annuity to 81 ,0s0 or $1,140 as a
compromise between the 81 900 in the
use.administration bill and the
81 200 maximum in the Standfield bill
which passed the Senate, will agree
to the terms in the House-administra
ton bill. The inference was drawn
that those conferees who are fighting
for higher annuity will shortly come
to realize that they are fighting in
vain and that their insistency will
bring naught but the failure of this
legislation to pass at this session of
Congress.
1t is thought also that the pro
posal to have a commission investigate
the retirement question with view to
recommending increases in the near
future will serve to satisfy those who
are now clamoring for greater liberal
ity on the part of the Government.
President Coolidge has let it be known
that he considers the $1,000 annuity
maximum as a fair and just increase
at this time. He also thinks it will be
possible to increase this amount later
on--possibly two or three or four
years from now.