Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-06
CIVIL SERVICE BILL
PASSED BY SENATE
WITHOUT ROLL CALL

Continued From First Page.)
erage will be raised to $3.50 by this legis-
lation.
In response to questions from other
Senator'S Senator Dale said that tnlS
Dill would increase the cost by $S,5O4,oos.
He emphasized, however, that the re-
tiremerlt fund accommodating in the
Treasury. from the contributions col
lected from the salaries Of the employees
is very large and is growing rapidly, ana
he predicted that 1t would De long
time before the Government would De
called upon to meet its deferred lapnity.
It was brought out during the oepate
that under the present law the cost 10
the Government is something less tnali
II of ! per cent of the payroll ana tnat
this bill would increase the Govern
ment's cost to per cent Of the payron
Howell and SmOot Inquire.
Among those who took part in the
discussion over the question OF the
Governments deferred liability and
when that liability might have TO De
met were Senators Howell, Republican,
OF Nebraska, and Smoot, Republican, OF
Utah. Questions as to certain pro-
visions of the bill were asked by Sena-
tors Fletcher, Democrat OF Florida;
CouzenS, Republican, of Michigan, ana
Watson, Republican, of Indiana.
In response to a question from Sena-
tor Howell as to how much this Dill
would add to the ultimate liability OF
the Government Senator Dale explained
the Government, Senator Dale explained
a deferred liability under which the
Government would take care OF the
cost of retiring those who went out OF
the service Immediately after the first
retirement law was enacted WltnouC
having had time to pay in much or
anything toward the retirement fund.
Brings Liability to One Per Cent.
Senator Dale did not have available,
the estimated increase in the Govern
ment liability in dollars, but declared
on a percentage basis, the actuarieS
figured it would only bring the Govern
ment libility up to ! per cent IN
stead of less than half of per cent.
as at present He pointed out that
within a few months, the retirement
fund win have reached total of $780,
600 900 in the Treasury. The Senator
said that one actuary outside of the
Government service has stated that the
way the fund is going the time will
come when the interest alone, from
this fund will carry the annuities.
Senator Watson wanted to know Il
this bill would force an employe to re-
Senator Dale replied that 1t was op.
tional. The Vermont Senator told hi;
colleagues that the bill has been dis.
clssed for hours in the Senate II
previous years and declared that IL wa!
given a pocket veto by former Presiden
Coolidge "in a way that made it i'm
possible for us to pass it over hi
veto"
Employees Swell Fund.
The committee report on the bill
points out that while the estimated
cost to the Government wos;sd be onl
about l per cent of the pay roll, tn
employees put into the fund 3l2. pc
cent of the pay roll. The report show
that on MAY /. 1929 the fund ha,
reached a total of SLABS, 900.
The report states that the presen
contribution of the employees OF 81
per cent of their salary nets annual
something over $28,000,000 and tina
the total annuities and refunds unde
the proposed bill would be little NOR
than Sl8,000,000, with prospective In
crease in 1880 OF not more ina
$750,000.
with these facts and figures, 1t ca
be readily seen that it will be man
wears before the total annuities an
refunds that are being paid out Wi
reach the amount OF the income frol
the contributions of the employees
S28 900 600" the committee repo
stated. THE committee feels that tn
is meritorious legislation and will ben,
fit not only the employees, but will
the means of greater efficiency and be
ter service TO the Government"
Shortly after the retirement o
passed, the Senate reached another b
on its calendar of interest to Govern
ment employees. namely, the Brookha
salary adjustment bill. But this mea
ure was postponed to be taken up
some later time. The Brookhart bill
intended to give a salary increase
one step within each grade under q
classification law to all those employ
who were advanced by only one ST
under the WEIGH law.