Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-16
Retirement Fact Finding.

Creation of commission to find out
the facts about the operation of the
Civil Service retirement law, which
the next Congress Is expected TO
authorize propmtly, is essentially de-
sirable from the viewpoint Of both the
Government employer and the en-
ployes.
President Coolidge, the House COM
mittees on Civil Service and rules,
Chairman Madden Of the appropria-
tons committee, the United States Blu
reau of Efficiency, the Board of Ac-
tuaries of the Civil Service Retirement
Fund and the National Federation Of
Federal Employes--those who are in
closest touch with and responsible for
the retirement system-are all urging
this legislation.
They represent the Governments in
terests and the employees interest.
They are cooperating for economic
efficiency in the operation of the law,
so that ii may best perform the pur-
poses for which the Civil Service re-
tirement system was set up-without
piling up a future debt against the
Government of unknown proportions.
Those who are primarily considering
the Governments interests emphasize
that 1t Is absolutely unbusinesslike,
impractical and improvident to con.
tinue to pile up obligations against the
Government that must be met some
time, under contract with the Civil
Service employees, when none can tell
how great the amount will be. They
are insisting that: First, the Govern
nent should know the cost of the re.
tirement system, and, second, should
make annual appropria tons sufficient
to maintain pay-as-you.go system.
The position of the National Fedora
ton OF Federal Employees, represent
ing the interests of the Civil Service
workers-and it is a good.citizen atti
tude-is this:
They feel that the employees and
Uncle Sam, as partners in this retire
ment system, sharing the cost, want
1t to be actuarially sound. The en-
ployes are Just as much interested In
this as Is the Government.
They know the Presidents view
that he should not go beyond a maxi.
mum of $1,000 for fear 1t might not
be actuarially sound. They feel that
when the facts are determined they
will bear out the contention of the Ma.
ticnal Federation of Federal Employees
that $1,000 maximum can safely be
allowed.
The members of this federation, s
the most important group in the re-
tirement fund partnership, would like
to have the proposed investigation by
the commission bring out all the facts
They believe that such fact-finding
would strengthen their position before
the country and before Congress.
Whatever the facts show, they are
form the way of amendment or lib
eralization of the law.
Under the Hudson resolution, as
amended to meet the wishes of Presi-
cent Coolidge, there can be no stack
ed" jury. The commission would CON
sist of three members of the House an.
pointed by the Speaker, three mem.
bers OF the Senate appointed by the
Vice President and three members an.
pointed by the President - without
any strings" that any one of them
must be an insurance expert mr. renra.
sent the administrative branch of the
Government, or represent the EN-.
ployes. or represent the Civil Service
Commission.
For operation of the retirement sys-
tenn on a business basis there should
be fact foundation. and this com.
mission is designed to conduct its in.
vestigation so as TO establish the fact
basis. 1t appears to be the sensible
and safe thing TO do.
$500