Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-05
Retirement BILL
| READY FOR SENATE
amended Measure Passed by
House by Vote of
-235 to II.

compromise bill to liberalize the Civil
Service retirement law As the Senate
previously passed the Dale bill which
Il amended by the attachment thereto
Of the new Lehlbach bill. as revised
IN q conference compromise with the
Joint Conference on Retirement Legis-
1atiCn, the next step is either for Sena-
tor Dale to move for Senate concur
renee on the House amendments or IL
have the bill sent to conference be-
tween the two houses
During debate In the House as Ia
whether the rules should be suspended
20 pass the bill, Representative Clancy
Of Michigan, . Republican member of
the civil service committee, said:
I'VE were assured that President
Hoover was III favor of this bill and
would have vetoed the Dale bill; even
as Coolidge did. We were assured that
Senator Dale is in favor of this bill as
we reported it out"
Methods Opposed.
Opposition In the House from the
Democratic side was not aimed at the
legislation itself, as several Of the
speakers declared they are strongly In
favor of certain features OF the bill,
but against what they called the steam
roller and gag rule" methods by
which it was being forced through
without an opportunity for debate on
the merits of the provisions or an OPP
portunity to offer amendments. Those
who spoke along this line were Repre-
sentatives LETTERS, Alabama; RanSeyer,
Iowa; Ranspeck, Georgia; Moore, Viz
GINA; Fuller. Arkansas, and McCor-
mick, Mass.
Much of the dissatisfaction with the
bin is regarding the new feature OF
tontine fund. This authorizes taking
thu YAtiFArnArt NJ
tribution Of each employe for building
up q separate fund which would be
the basic reservoir for annuities. This
tontine provision remains in the bill
but important amendments have been
made to protect the employees from
forfeiture as originally written into the
Lehlbach bill.
There was an unusually large at
tendance on the floor when the bill was
passed and the galleries had been vel
filled all afternoon waiting for this
measure to be called up. All Of the
leaders of the various organized groups
Of employees were seen In the galleries
including Luther c. Steward, president
and Miss Gertrude McNally, secretary
treasurer of the National Federation OF
Federal Employees; Robert j. Alcorn
Retirement Legislation; N. P. Alias
representing the navy yard and arsenal
employees, and the oflcial representa-
tives Of the various branches Of postal
employment.
Advantages in Bill.
Major advantages for the employees
carried In this bill, as explained by
Chairman Lehlbach Of the civil service
committee, include: Optional retire.
ment two years earlier than provided
In existing law and substantial annuity
increases to all retiring employees.
AS passed by the House the bill pro-
vtdes. according to Mr.. LehIbach's ex-
PLANTATION, that there be set up "for
each employee coming within the pro-
visions Of the retirement system a per-
sonal account to which will be imme-
diately credited all his contributions In
the past, together with the interest
thereon. There will in the future be
credited to such account OF each en-
ploye his contributions with interest
less the sum Of 81 per month, which
viii remain In the retirement and dis
ability fund without specific ALLEGATION
Consequently, all moneys in the retire
n1ent fund wiz be carried as the prop
erty Of those contributing 1t except such
moneys as have been and may here
after be, from time to time, appropri-
ated to the fund and the dollar month
ly deduction. Out of this residue there
win be paid to each annuitant the sum
of $50 for every year Of service, not
exceeding 80, which constitutes, under
the provisions Of the law, basic an
nuity Of not less than $3.50 or more
than $9eo. This basic annuity Of $50
per year Of service viii be enjoyed by
all retired employees, regardless Of their
salaries In active service or the amount
Of contributions to their credit in the
fund.
'In addition to this basic annuity
there viii be paid to annuitants an
additional annuity which viii be equal
20 whatever annuity the money to the
credit OF the retiring employe can pur-
tables Of annuity values. This addi-
tional annuity obviously costs the Gov
eminent nothing nor has any relation
to or effect upon the annuities or con-
tributions Of any other person.
Refunds Provided.
'In the event Of voluntary separation
from the service before reaching retire.
ment the employe receives back the
amount to his credit in the fund as
shown by the books. In every other
case where an employe Is not retired,
either because Of death before reaching
retirement age or involuntary separation
from the service not for cause, the en-
ploye receives back not only the amount
ed monthly from his contribution and
placed In the general fund, including
the interest thereon. In the event OF
death of an annuitant before the pay
fnents of that portion Of the annuity
provided by an employees contributors
have been exhausted the balance to his
credit is paid TO his legal representa-
tives. An annuitant, however, Is given
the option to provide for himself an
increased annuity by waving the right
to such refund. 1t is expressly provided
In the amendment that whenever an
annuity under these provisions should
be less than under the provisions OF
s. 49,. the latter shall be substituted.
"The effect of the forging provisions
Is at once to increase substantially the
annuitieS of those who have ana WIZ
hereafter be retired on an average salary
Of less than 81 200. It will make DEN
mite and certain the rights Of all par
Elephants Of the retirement system IN
the money they contribute. 1t VII
make definite and certain the obliga-
ton of the Government TO appropriate
for the purpose Of meeting It's oDnga.
tions under the system. It will AFFORD
TO each employe the opportunity K
secure a retirement annuity comparable
to the money he has paid in for that
purpose"
Recommends Changes.
While voting for the bill as the best
measure obtainable under existing con-
ditions in the House, Representative r
Walton Moore of Virginia declared Il
should be amended to take care OF the
per diem employees Of the District gov
eminent, and recommended othel
changes, in part. as follows:
THE bill should be amended so as u
give per diem employees of the Distric
of Columbia, of whom there are more