Evening star., 1938-06-19
FIVE BILLS TOAD
CIVIL SERVICE ON
RAMSPECK'SL|ST
Georgian Predicts All Will
Be Passed at Next
Session.
REVISED RETIREMENT
PLAN WILL BE PUSHED
Extension to All Groups Will Be
First Measure on Which
Action Will Be Sought.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

Five measures designed to benefit
Government employees will get early
consideration when Congress recon-
venes, Chairman Ramspeck of the
House Civil Service Committee prom
ised last night. He predicted that all
would be passed, thereby improving
the service and strengthening the
morale of all classes of Federal workers.
First, Representative Ramspeck said
he would take up bill similar to the
measure he sponsored in the session
Just closed, authorizing the President
to extend the civil service to all groups
and calling for classification Of the
field service. Both of these proposals
were part Of the Presidents reorgan-
ization program, and it was because
OF this that Mr.. Ramspeck did not
push for separate action in the House
last session
Revised Retirement Bill.
The second bill is a revised retire
ment measure on which extensive
hearings were held during the last
session. Representative Ramspeck feels
that his committee ought to be able
to act on this measure next year with
out further or at least prolonged hear.
ings. The Senate passed the Neeley
bill, similar measure, and this is
satisfactory to Mr.. Ramspeck with
one exception. He is opposed to re-
duclng optional retirement below 60
years, unless at a reduced annuity.
He has no objection to optional re-
tirement at any age if the annuity is
computed at the value as based at
the normal retirement age.
Some groups of employees and civil
service associations have been advo-
cating optional retirement at any age
after 80 years service. Representative
Ramspeck pointed out, however. that
years OF service have no connection
with the cost to the Government of
retiring an employe The cost to the
Government depends entirely, he en-
phasized, on the life expectancy of
tne employe at date of retirement.
therefore, he argues, you can't disre-
gard age when providing when an
employe can retire.
To Take Up Appeals Board.
The Civil Service Committee also
is due to take up promptly the ques-
t1on OF some form Of board of ap-
peals for the workers. Chairman
Ramspeck expressed confidence that
the committee will be able to work out
solution OF this problem. Some
groups have been advocating an inde-
pendent board. some are willing to
lntrust the duties to the Civil Service
Commission, while another plan ia
for temporary boards for each par
ticular appeal.
Another problem is what to do
about employees who are neither under
civil service nor under the Social Sc
curity Act. The administration has
special commission making an in
tensive study of this matter, Senator
Neeley, Democrat, of West virginia
represents the Senate; Representative
Ramspeck represents the House and
President Mitchell the Civil Service
Commission.
A careful study is being made Of the
various groups not now covered by
either law. And another problem con-
nected with that study, which Mr..
Ramspeck thinks should be worked
out, Is what provision should be made
for protecting the retirement rights,
built up during long years of Gov
eminent service, of an employe who
transfers to private employment and
comes under the Social Security Act.
Under present conditions all that can
be done is to allow him to withdraw
his own retirement contributions, plus
per cent.
Mr.. Ramspeck argues that there
should be some coordination between
Government retirement and social Sc
curity. He would favor a transfer
from the retirement fund to the So
cial security sufficient to care for the
employe to the extent that he would
be entitled If he had been building
up an expectancy under social Sc
curity during the years he spent in
the Fedora lservice.