The Washington times., 1927-12-17
Governments Duty to Retired
Civil Service Employees

Congress to again make an attempt to lberaze and
humanize the retirement law for civil service employees
The extent to which humaneness may 60 doubtful as
Congress has far failed to permit the Government to
participate in just treatment Of its uperannuaed workers It
has done nothing beyond compelling the workers for the
United States pay the retirement annue of the old and
provide for their retirement.
This has been done by taking from the salaries Of active
employees percentage Of their pay maintain the retirement
fund To make that the Government would escape its
just and human obligations to its own employees Con
gess has taken much from the salaries Of Government
pe that the cash balance in the retirement fund June 80
last, was $6S33676O.
The and women who toll for this Government in the
civil service have offered organized objection to the regular
tapping Of their salaries They knew that would useless
but objections not made because they realized that their
aged comrades should be provided manner They
willing that it should be done from their pocketboos
Uncle Sam himself would not share in the duty.
The main purpose Of the bills before Congress to amend
the existing retirement law TO increase the maximum
snnues from $1,000 year to $1,000 year, with pro-
poricnate increase in the annuies below the maximum
The average annuity $7229 per year. far too little
tor human beings to live upon under the stress Of modern
is pitifu reflection upon the Governments duty to its
retired employees that there 1881 Of the total who receive
less than $500 per There are for instance $40
receive less than $500 per year. and few who get $34
per year.
It not to be expected that retirement law would be
perfect at the beginning Congress is in doing these
S"~ASP
eventually do The justice of genuine participation by the
Government in the payment of living annuites will finally
appeal to Congress- and good retirement law will passed
Whenever that day arrives the law should fix 5000 per year
as minimum annuity Anything less than that is national
disgrace No matter how humble may have position
OF an empoye Of the United States when is retired
the annuity should not be less than the small Of $780,
even the workers Of the Government have to pay it from
their own pockets.
No increase in deductions from salaries would be necessary
now to raise the minimum annute however The retirement
treasury glutted with money much of invested in Govern
ent and legal securities which drawing good interest
Secretary Work recommends Congress that in the interest
Of the Government in obtaining greater efficiency retrements
should be permitted optional with the Government after 80
years Of service and at so years of age
Employees good health alert mentally and physically
would under the recommendation Of Secretary Work be con-
Nnued active duties indefinitely but those iii health
or decep beyond their years. should be permitted to retire
is pitful beyond description that i'll weak employees
should have to hang on until 70 years age to obtain
retirement they live to that age and retired their
days few that they enjoy real benefits from their
annuie beyond that Of being assured against actual
ton and, the minimum annues paid many of them would
starve unless aided to exist by relatives
The retirement law needs amendment in the direction of
Iberaty Beyond anything ese it needs the spirit Of
humanariansm the part Of the Government itself that
all the financial burden Of retirement shall not fall upon en-
ployes.