Evening star., 1926-03-27
SENATE TOPRESS
RETIREMENT BILL
No Foundation for Reports 1t
Will Be Sidetracked, De-
CIares Pepper.

Declaring he believes there is no
foundation for reports that the lib
eralized retirement bill for Govern
ment employees will not be acted on
at this session, Senator Pepper, Re
publican, of Pennsylvania issued a
statement today to the effect that
friends of the legislation in the Sen
ate will press for its passage before
adjournment.
'I am satisfied" Senator Pepper
said, that the published statement
that the civil service retirement bill
is not to be pressed at this session
is without sufficient foundation.
have today conferred with Senator
Stantield, who is in charge of the
bill in the Senate, in regard to the
situation.
'He authorized me to say that he has
been in constant contact with the rep
sentatives of the executive depart
ments engaged in making the neces-
sary calculations. The assembling of
the data is nearly completed. AS far,
at least, as the Senate is concerned,
we propose to press for the Considera-
ton and passage of the bill. We are
hopeful that it's great Importance and
inherent merit will overcome all ex-
ecutive objection. Speaking for my
self. do not expect to relax my efforts
in the least degree"
Report in Works Hands.
The report Of the Board of Actuaries
on the cost of the liberalized retire
ment legislation now ready to be re-
ported from the House and Senate
civil service committees was in the
hands OF Secretary Work today. Ac-
eording to a previous announcement
by him, it will be transmitted to Capi-
tol Hill Immediately. Legislation for
liberalized retirement is being held up
pending the receipt of the report,
which is to be used by Representative
Lehlbach and Senator Stanfield as a
basis for their recommendations as
committee Chairmen
The findings of the board were turn
Led over to Gen. Winfield Scott, Com
missioner Of Pensions, yesterday. and
today were taken by him to the Office
of Secretary Work.
The statement issued by Luther C..
Steward, president of the National
Federation of Federal Employees. yes
terday, in which he referred to a
rumor that there would be no retire.
ment pay legislation this session be.
cause Of the cost, and also attacking
Herbert D. Brown, chief of the Bu-
reau OF Efficiency, was replied to
last night by Mr.. Brown.
Neither Affirmed Nor Denied.
The efficiency head, however. neither
affirmed nor denied the statement. so
far as cost findings are concerned.
Yesterday" he said, "a rumor is al.
legged to have gone about the Capitol
to the effect that retirement.pay
legislation has been abandoned for the
session because the cost of it had
been found prohibitive. immediately
the head of the National Federation
of Federal Employees issued a state.
ment denouncing me personally"
II take it that this is done on the
supposftion that the reports were
based on findings of the Governments
board of actuaries. Even If these
We're established facts they would
not justify an assault upon a single
member of that board"
Mr.. Brown then traced the opera
tions Of the board, and concluded:
THE Bureau of Efficiency has had
no more to do with the results than
half a dozen other agencies. It has
merely been a cog in the machinery.
Hence the obvious folly of attribut-
ing the abandonment of the present
measure, If it has been abandoned,
to a single individual among the men
who have worked to get at the actual
facts and cost figures back of vari.
Gus proposals."