Evening star., 1928-12-31
RETIREMENT LAW
REVISION URGED
Representative Smith viii
Press for Early Action on
Proposed Amendment. .

AS soon as the House civil service
committee meets, Representative Ad-
Olson T. Smith of Idaho, ranking ma
jority member, will urge approval of his
proposed amendment to the retirement
law. This provides that the rate of re-
tlrement shall be based upon the aver
age salary for any period of five con-
secutiVe years at the option of the en-
ploye, instead of the last 10 years of
service, as under the existing law.
Mr.. Smith, formerly a Government
employe, emphasizes that this amend
ment would save millions of dollars an
nually to the Government. He argues
that If clerks salary is 900 and he
renders no service on account of age,
the Government loses $1,600 annually
until he retires under the present law,
for he will not be reduced, as it reduces
his pension the rest of his life. But if
the amendment were the law, he could
be reduced, say 81 200, and younger
and efficient clerk be promoted to the
ST 900 place. If the reduced clerk, Mr..
Smith points out, could not render full
service, but only $500 yearly, say, the
Government would lose but $700 an
nually. That Is to say, the Govern
Q4,OOU GIIG
law and $700 under the amendment,
would gain 5000 annually in this one
case. In every case of reduction on ac-
count of old age under the amendment
the Government will save millions, in
crease efficiency greatly and do no in
justice to any one, he contends.
Reasons Are Summarized.
Mr.. Smith summarizes reasons for
his amendment as follows:
First. The amendment of the law
would increase the annuity of many a
little, of few some, and of a very few a
great deal, without lessening the an
nuity of any one.
Second. It would increase the eff
cheney of the civil service in two ways:
(a) BY encouraging every employe, espe-
cially those in the lower grades, to
strive always to do his or her best in
order to advance and thus reach the
high five consecutive years of service be-
fore becoming less efficient, on account
of age, when reductions would occur,
and (b) by allowing the chief of bu-
reasuS to reduce inefficient employees,
with out reducing their annuitieS, when
they come to retire; otherwise no chief
will likely reduce an old and faithful
employe. however inefficient on account
OF age, If at the same time he reduces
his annuity for the rest of his life.
Third. AS consequence of basing
the annuity on the last 10 years Of
service Gas in the present law there
are now in scattered bureaus many en-
ployeS drawing good salaries who rem
der inefficient service on account of age
or other inflrmities.
Fourth. There are employees whose
salaries have been reduced during the
last few years before retirement on
account OF inef1ciency, due to old age,
or sickness, or accident, or dislike Of
chief or other cause, who otherwise
would have received the full amount
under the present law. Should person
have his pension reduced the remainder
of his life because of reduction in
salary, due to accident or other causes
which made it necessary to reduce his
salary? This often occurs under the
present law.
Sees Service Bettered.
Fifth. 1t is true of clerical and other
simple work that after the age of so
or IS clerk is usually less efficient,
and where distinctly inefficient should
be reduced, SO that a younger person
may be promoted to his place, but this
is not liable to be done, as it at the
same time reduces the annuity under
the present law.
Sixth. Making the annuity depend
on the average of any five consecutive
years of service does full justice and
Injuries no one. helps many. and makes
the service much more efficient"