Evening star., 1940-01-13
10 Cut
u. :. Worker
Benefits Seen
Possible Merger
With Social Security
Cited by Rumspeck

Government employees were
warned anew last night by Chair
man Ramspeck of the House Civil
Service Committee that a strong
movement may develop on Capitol
Hill to reduce their benefits under
the Federal retirement system by
merging the system with social Sc
curity.
II hope this will never happen"
the Georgian told meeting of the
Retirement Federation of Civil Serv-
ice Employees of Navy Yards and
Stations, but I'm laying the cards
on the table.
Il think we must have an increase
of payments by employees if we are
to protect the retirement system
from those who are trying, I'm told,
to bring it under social security.
II frankly don't know what can
be done, possibly nothing, unless the
conflicting views of the employees
themselves are reconciled to some
extent. I doubt if we in Congress
can justify at the bar of public
opinion what we arg now doing for
Federal employees Under the retire.
ment system.
Provides Comparison.
II think the employees should con-
tribute per cent of their salaries
instead of 3la or 4. The social Sc
curity laws form a new basis for
the public to compare what is being
done for Federal employees and what
social security is doing for the pub
lie. What you pay goes to your ac-
count, and nothing goes to the Gov.
ernment for its obligations under
the law. This deficiency cost-over
per cent of the pay rolls dis
turbing to me-"
The Representative urged en-
ployes to get together for the i'm
provement and strengthening of the
present system because, he warned,
IF fight develops between 10000
900 people and $4,000 Government
employees, 1 think you can guess
which way the politicians will line
up. If 1t comes to a fight. I doubt
! If you have enough friends among
the politicians to save you"
An effort to get through liberal
lied retirement legislation at the
last session of Congress was blocked
when certain groups opposed raising
the employe contribution.
Some rs delegates, attending a
dinner meeting in the Hamilton
Hotel, applauded Mr.. Ramspecks
remarks. The delegates had come
here from New York, Boston, Nor
folk. Philadelphia, Rhode Island and
other communities which have naval
stations, to get the views of members
of Congress about retirement legis-
lation at the present session and to
discuss the question among them
selves.
Senators Speak.
Speakers included Senator Bulow
OF South Dakota, chairman of the
Senate Civil Service Committee, who
greeted the delegates, told a few
jokes and sat down; Representative
Edith N. Rogers of Massachusetts,. a
Republican member of the House
Civil Service Committee; Senator
Mead, Democrat, of New York and
Louis Fisher. chairman of the
retirement division, Civil Service
Commission They were introduced
by Francis Black, retired mechanic
of New York City. president of the
retirement federation.
Mrs. Rogers expressed her deep
interest in a good retirement law
and extension of the merit system
She asked if members of Congress
had been invited to the dinner so
that the delegates could tell them
what to do.
Hardly that" replied Mr.. Black,
with grin, but perhaps you'll
hear from us later" The group
already is on record, it was said
for an increase in the employe
CT ltribution if that is necessary
to improve the system.
Lauds Merit System.
Mr.. Fisher told the delegates that
"the merit system is the bulwark
of our Government" He advised
them to get behind House bill to
permit the President to extend the
classification system
Senator Mead promised the dele
gates that well help you with your
retirement. if you'll help us to keep
from getting retired" On second
thought, he added, the employees
were not to believe he was urging
them toward technical violation
of the Hatch Act prohibiting Fed
eral employees from participating in
politics.