Evening star., 1942-02-13

was "endeavoring to continue to
smear the members of Congress"
Il have never smeared the mem
bers of Congress" Senator Byrd
shouted back in reply. Il resent that
statement
The campaign of daily speeches
and statements against the pension
act marked debate at the Capitol
yesterday. ...-
Representative Nichols, Democrat,
of Oklahoma said he expected to
have at least $50 signatures-more
than a majority by next Tuesday
night on petition urging the Civil
Service Committee to bring to the
floor repeal bill now pending.
Called "ActuarialIy Unsound."
Declaring the national morale
has been disturbed by this un-
fortunate incident" Representative
Youngdahl, Republican, of Mime
sofa said that If no action has been
taken by the Civil Service Commit
tee on the repeater within 80 days,
a petition to discharge the commit
tee from further consideration will
be offered. Meanwhile, he said. he
is working for prompt repeal action.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, said in statement he in
tended to vote for repeal because
this is most unfortunate time"
to extend retirement benefits to
members of Congress. The Pension
Acts provisions, as far as the Presi-
dent, members of the Cabinet and
members of Congress are concerned,
"are actuarially unsound," he said
Representative Hare, Democrat. of
South Carolina took different
slant on the question by contending
that the legislation actually does
not apply to members Of Congress.
He quoted the amendment as appli-
cable only to "of11cers and employees
in or under the legislative branch"
of the Government, and asserted
that under the Constitution a men,
ber of Congress is a member of the
legislative branch, but not an oficer.
Affect on Bond Sales Feared.
Representative Knutson, Repub-
lican of Minnesota concluded his
criticism of the legislation with the
remark: IF there's anything in the
world more cowardly than a Con-
gresham, it's two Congressman"
Representative Murray, Repub-
lican, Of Wisconsin said he feared
the pension act might make it nee
essary to increase the appropria-
ton for the sale Of Defense bonds
because OF public resentment and
the necessity of a more intensive
sales campaign
Warning against destruction of
"the faith Of the American people
in their Government" Senator Nor
ris, Independent, of Nebraska added
his voice to the protests.
The veteran liberal, who voted
against the retirement plan orginal-
ly and has since said he would
never accept Government pension,
told reporters he has seldom re-
ceived such violent and sustained
protests as have come to his Office
in reaction to the pension plan.
He predicted that repeal would
be voted quickly whenever the legis-
lation is brought before either SEN
ate or House.
Earlier, it was brought out that
whoever told President Roosevelt
that he could pay in few dollars
a year for the next three years and
retire under the new pension law
for life at half-pay-or $37 500 an
nually-was all wrong.
Representative Ramspeck, Demo-
crat, of Georgia, co-author of the
new law, and Civil Service Com
mission officials said person
must serve IS years in order to
receive the maximum half-pay re-
tirement benefit. This meant, they
added, that the President would
have to pay in s131, ,250-5 per cent
of $4,000 for IS years-and serve
61a more four-year terms before
he could retire at $37 500, at IS or
86. The President is go now.
And this payment of $13l $50
would be exclusive of per cent
interest, compounded annually, on
the $33,750 the Chief Executive
would be required to pay into the
fund on his salary for the last
nine years in the White House.
The President told his press con-
ference last Tuesday that a friend