Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-31
Says Congress Surely
Must Raise Annuities
To the Editor Of The star:

To the Editor Of The star:
am heartily in favor Of Congress
raising the annuity Of all retired and
retiring civil service employees Of the
Government at this session OF Congress,
the maximum annuity to be 81 200, as
expressed in the Dale-Lehlbach bill,
lately passed by the Senate. This would
raise all annuities some. hope that
those now receiving the maximum Of
81 900 will get the raise to $1,000, or
500 per month. There are now about
1000 OF this class. All Of them received
basic pay sufficient to save something
to retire on In old age. hope they
did this.
How about the more than $4,000 now
retired on less than the maximum, and
who never received q wage from which
they could save a dollar, and are now
retired for old age to live on annuitieS
below the maximum, from 500 I'D to
$500 per year, under the present law?
There are more than / 400 annuitantS
receiving less than S400 per annum, the
average annuity being $3.50 per year,
or $20.S3 per month. In this class would
be found men and women doing hard
work, say at $40 per month and under.
During the war and bonus period
they were paid what Is called q bonus
OF $240 per annum. Such a one under
the present law, II their term of service
has been 80 years or more, receives an
annuity OF 1920 per annum, or $26.66
per month. Such a person under the
Dale-Lehlbach bill, as it passed the
Senate, would receive $500 per annum,
or $40 per month. This would be Q
great help to starving person. hope
they get it and more. II the so-called
bonus was added Of $240 to the basic
! pay this annuity would be figured on
the actual wages received Of S72O and
the annuity allowed would be $40 per
annurn, or $45 per month, an amount
which would give the old man or woman
quite lift. Perhaps they would be able
to put apple sauce on their bread on
Christmas and the ever-glorious Fourth
Of July.
Now I stand for adding the so-called
bonus to the basic pay in computing
| annuities. If there is Senator OF
member Of Congress who votes against
tt am sure there will not be-we should
know his name, and give him q chance
to defend his vote, If he can do so, to
his constituents. have talked to many
men, and IN all callings and walks Of
life, to quite number Of Congress-
men, and have not talked to one who
has not expressed himself as surprised
that the bonus was not included as g
PoAV Va JAG OdAdLy All COIupuJ1klk 61Iu1-
ties. This class Is small and fast pass
ing on. I feel If they are not helped
in the present Congress the help viii
come too late to be of benefit to most
OF them, as the youngest of them Is
rs years of age, and all of them be-
You'd the age where one can be ex-
pected to earn much. Even President
Coolidge, when the bill was sent to him
for his signature from the Seventeen
Congress, expressed his surprise that the
bonus was excluded in computing the
annuities. Perhaps this was his reason
for not signing the bill.
The tendency in all these matters Il
to take better care Of the men higher
up, and the middle class and lower paid
employees are lost in the shufie. Thu
ones who need the increase the mos
must give way TO those who are already
on the safe side Of the retirement fence
on the principle Of the devil take thu
hindermost. A. M. PROCTOR.