Evening star., 1939-08-16
Seeks to Clarity Action
On Neely Bill.

To the Editor Of The Star:
So much has been said in the local
press to the effect that the A. F. of l..
killed the bill to liberalize retirement
benefits to Federal employees by indors-
ing the Nicely bill, that some clarifica-
ton Of this statement emanating from
Luther Steward, president of NJ F. F. E.,
is needed.
The Neely bill which reduced the op-
tional retirement ages from co. So and
68 to 58 so and "a after 80 years serv-
ice, carried an increase from 3I2 per
cent to 4 per cent as deduction from
Federal salaries to pay for retirement
benefits. This bill met not only with
the approval of William Green of
the A. F. of L. but was generally ap-
proved by all Federal organizations. Yet
Mr.. Ramspeck, who was chairman of
the Civil Service Committee, refused
during the entire session of the Seventy
Fifth Congress to release this bill from
his committee and permit it to come to a
vote in the House. Finally during the
Seventy sixth Congress, which has Just
adjourned, Mr.. Ramspeck brought forth
substitute version of the Neely bill.
which had already twice passed the
Senate.
This substitute version OF Mr.. Rams
peck's made compulsory retirement ages
IS and TO instead of 81, IS and TO as
under existing law, with optional re-
tlrement at go providing one had 80
years service. The deduction from en-
ployes' salaries was Increased from 81
per cent to per cent, instead of
per cent as provided in the Senate bill.
The Ramspeck bill also carried a pro-
vision to retire members of Congress
who had passed the age of As and who
had served five years in Congress.
In spite of Mr.. Ramspeck's favoring
retirement Of Congressman at As with
five years service, he has consistently
opposed retiring Federal employees at go
with 80 years service to their credit
on account of the cost involved.
fortunately the House rejected this
feature of his bill pertaining to retiring
congressman at As.
Mr.. Luther Steward, president of the
N. F. F. E. came out in favor of the
Ramspeck bill which carried the per
cent contribution from Federal salaries.
since there were so many differences
to be ironed out between the Senate's
bill, known as the Nicely bill, and the
House bill sponsored by Ramspeck, it
was necessary to send the bills to con-
ference. Senators Bulow, Nicely and
Frazier were the Senate conferees with
Representatives Ramspeck, Sirovicn,
Rogers, Randolph and Halleck serving as
House conferees. 1t could hardly be ex-
pected that the Senate, having twice
approved the Nicely bill, would yield on
all points to the provisions embodied in
the Ramspeck bill. Finally, compro-
mise amount of AZ per cent deduction
from employees salaries was agreed upon
and submitted to the representatives of
the employees organizations waiting out
side the conference room.
Charles I. Stengle, president of A. F.
G. E., says:
"As further evidence that any charge
laid against the A. F. G. E. as helping
to kill the bill is false, quote from
page 14,518 Of the Congressional Rec
ord Of Saturday, July 20, 1899, from
the remarks Of Representative Ramspeck
when he called up the conference re-
port on S281 in the House.
Representative Ramspeck said, among
other things, the following:
"I think it Is also fair to state that
Mr.. Frank Bennett, president OF the
Railway Mail Association; Mr.. William
Horner, legislative representative of the
National Federation Of Post Once Clerks,
and Mr.. Charles I. etengle, president