Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-15
RETIREMENT BILL
READY FOR SENATE
Committee Reports Out
Measure Increasing
Annuities.

Chances of obtaining action by this
Congress on a new retirement law for
the thousands of Government EN-.
ployes i'm Washington and throughout
the country, appeared to be more fav'
orable las, night. after the Senate
civil service committee had decided tn
report out Immediately bill increas.
ing annuities and permitting optional
retirement after 30 years of service
at age limits lower than those fixed
for automatic retirement.
The committee late yesterday All.
thoriZed it's chairman, Senator Dale.
Republican, of Vermont, to make a
favora BILE report on IA measure which
would accomplish the following:
Raise the maximum annuity from
81 900 to $1,000: allow optional retire.
ment. after so years of service, at the
age of IS to those workers who retire
automatically at 40: optional retire.
ment. after 80 years Of service, at
s.. to those who now go out auto
matically at s.. and optional retire
ment after 80 years of service at The
age of 60. 10 those who retire auto,
matically AT G..
New Computing Method.
The new bill. which will be reported
to the Senate early this weei;. also
changes the method OF computing the
annuity. At present. the annuity is
arrived at by multiplying the average
salary during the last 10 years OF
service, in no case TO exceed SI.60O.
by the number of years served. In
no case TO exceed 30 years. and diyid
ing the product by as.
The bill approved in committee
yesterday would determine the an.
nuity of an employe by multiplying
the average salary during the last
five years. in no case TO exceed 81 600.
by the number of years served. in ma
case 10 exceed 80, and dividing the
product by 30.
method of computation will benefit
employees in the lower grades.
In order 10 present to the Senate
mittee struck out d number Of other
proposed changes in administrative
features Of existing law.
will be placed on the Senate calendar
and Chairman Dale said he would en-.
deavor 10 have IL voted upon az soon
az an opportunity presents itself.
Bill Has Good Chance.
Although the bill still has a long
legislative Journey 10 travel. with
the possibility OF meeting ubsts cles
kzA ..e
committee In reporting IL out rather
Unexpectedly at this early date in the
session gives il better chance for
consideration than seemed likely here.
tof0re. The Senate committee decided
not To 70 through the process of hold
Ing further hearings on the subject
this year.
TIL" House civil service committee
has just announced that 1t will hold
hearings on the retirement question,
starting January 81. One obstacle
confronting the Senate committee hin
In the proposal that has been dis
cussed since Congress met-~to create
a commission 10 make a thorough
study Of the retirement question he.
fore pa ssing "A new law.
Chairman Dale IL not I'm favor 0f
creating such a commission. holding
that the regular committees Of Con
gross could assemble any data needed
10 throw light on the question.
Step In Right Direction.
Robert II. Aicorn. chsirmsn Of tbs
joint conference on retirement 81
civil service employees, said last
night that, while there viii he some
djss ppCinifnent over the terms recon-
msuded by the senate committee yss
t@fday fDr optional retirement. there
viii he qualification 81 having the bill
reported oui. because, he added, il /,
ffsp IN the right direction. The
biil as introduced last month aoulf
hisE% allowed optional retirement If
ter 30 years II service without regar.
10 age.
The bin approved Ly the committee
Yesterday dDes NOT cha nge the az.
limits hXef by existing law for auto
Hatf retirement. namely, For de
p1FtmeninI employees. 70 year.: leit@i
carrier. port office clerks. lab0rer.
and mechanics. 81 years. AMI for thu
railway mhlI ssfyirs AMI those il
hazardous positions. e., Existing Ia "
provides that when employees react
these ages of automatic retirement
they may be given two-yesr extension.
~ time. bui after 1850 no employ.
could receive more than Two eaten
sioHs.
Tie present maximum annuity Dt
VI 900 was fi2ed by Congress IN July
1876. ~ q c0npio mise In the el1sins
hours 0f "A session, The Senate al
that time had voted for u 81 200 an
Bniiy, but the House had passed i
lower provision aud the ~ 900 limit