The Washington times., 1926-04-09
COOLIDGE KILLS.
PENSION BILL

Chances for the passage of re-
tirement legislation by this session
Of Congress are believed to havl
been killed definitely at the White
House today when President Cool
idge told Senator, Robert N. Stan
field OF Oregon, sponsor of the pro-
posal in the Senate, that he does
not want the Senate Civil Services
Committee TO report the bill out
until It has cost figures on exactly
what II proposes.
Retirement chances probably will
be buried. with appropriate cers-
monies. tomorrow when the Senate
Civil Service Committee meets to
consider the Presidents request. II
the committee decides to go ahead
and report the bill anyway, the
burial will probably be delayed
until the bill reaches the President
for his signature.
Lord Secs President
The Presidents conference with
Stanfield was one of three he held
today in regard to retirement. The
other two were with Gen. Herbert
NJ. Lord. director of the Budget
Bureau, who is working on the
cost of the retirement proposals.
and a delegation from the House
Civil Service Committee, which In.
cluded Representative Frederick l..
Lehblach Of New Jersey, chairman
of the committee, and Representa-
tive Ernest w. Gibson of Vermont
and Grant NJ. Hudson of Michigan.
Chairman Lehlbach, after his talk
with the President, was still opti-
mistic over the chances Of the bill.
He said:
II am cheerful by nature, you
know, and l still have hopes for
action by this session Of Congress"
In addition to telling Senator
Stanfield that he wants cost figures
based on the exact provisions of
whatever bill is reported out by
the Senate Committee, President
Coolidge, for the first time, stated
what he believes to be right for the
maximum annuity, placing the
figure at $1,000. He also reiterated
his former statements that the age
limit for clerks should not be placed
below 70 years.
Action Was Near
The Senate Committee. accord.
ing to Stanfield. was planning to
report out tomorrow a retirement
bill similar to the one reported out
last week by the House, with the
retirement ages set at so, 90 and SIS
years, and the maximum annuity
placed at $1,000.
The Senator was uncertain as to
what his committee will do in view
OF the Presidents stand. He had
not even made up his mind as to
what he personally would be In
favor of doing.
He said, however, that II the
committee decides to go ahead and
report the bill out without the
definite cost figures wanted by the
President. it will have an excellent
CT ance of passage by the Senate
because 1t is similar to the bill
| which was passed by the Senate
in the last session. but which failed
| in che House.
The President, it was said, is
particularly concerned over. the sit
! Uation with regard to those who
have already been retired or viii
| be retired within the next few
years. These pensioners, 1t wa ;
pointed out, will receive several
times the amount from the fund,
in annuities, that they paid into
| 1t as active workers.
Funds Far Too Short
Under the present bill those who
have already retired have paid only
| 81 200, 900 into the fund, while it
is estimated that they will draw
more than $4,000, 900 in annuities.
A liberalization Of the retirement
law would only accentuate this sit
uation.
The delegation from the House
Civil Service Committee talked over
the entire retirement situation with
the President and came away with
much the same impression that
Senator Stanfield did, though the
Representatives were a little more
optimistic.
chairman Lehlbach said he will
CONFER with General Lord AS soon
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