Evening star., 1942-02-18
Civil Service Defense
Of Congress Pensions
Assai|ed by Byrd
Action Set No Precedent,
Mitchell Says; Romspeek
To Leod Repeal Move
BULLETIN.

BY ]. A. OLEARY.
Fhe Civil Service Commission wae
taken to task. today by Senator
Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia for
having issued a statement defend
ing congressional pensions, as Harry
B. Mitchell, president of the COM
mission, was telling a Senate COM
mittee that Congress did not es-
tablish a precedent by voting re-
tirement annuities for Its own mem
bers.
Meanwhile, Chairman Ramspeck
Of the House Civil Service Commit
tee, who sponsored the pension meas
ure in the House, announced he will
lead a repeal effort.
MIR. Ramspeck announced late yes
terday in the House that he would
start committee hearings tomorrow.
After Mr.. Mitchell had reminded
the Senators that Congress has
voted pensions for judges and Ger
tain other groups without requiring
contribution, Senator Byrd asked
him why the commission issued q
press release February 7, soon after
the law was signed, and who re-
quested that it be done.
Misstatements Claimed.
Mr.. Mitchell said the commission
felt the newspapers had made a
good many misstatementS about the
law through misunderstanding. He
said he could not say who requested
issuance of the statement, but
learned later that the commissions S
contact man at the Capitol had
heard members of Congress discuss
ing the subject.
Senator Byrd said he wanted to
know what political influence was
connected with the statement.
II know of no political influence
that was exercised except indirectly,
as I have told you," Mr.. Mitchell
replied, adding that he did not know
of any request from Congress until
after the statement was issued.
Senator Byrd then declared that
at a conference in his Office a few
days ago with Mr.. Mitchell one of
Mr.. Mitchell's assistants, Mr.. vi
pond, volunteered the information
that Congressman had requested it. ;"
Pointing out that the commits
sion's press release had stated a
member of Congress would have to
be 81 to retire, Senator Byrd asked
Mr.. Mitchell if it is not a fact that
a member would be eligible to seek
retirement at SIS or in any year
between SIS and 81 on reduced an
nuity.
The witness agreed that was cor
rect.
New Interpretation.
Today's hearing brought out new
Interpretation of the discussed
illustration that a member of Con-
gress with IS years of service could
retire January /, 1943. on payment
of $1.39 if he waited until December
81 to enter the pension system.
Mr.. Mitchell said If he paid his 5
per cent contribution only for the
last day ($1.39) he would get re-
duced annuity. He would not get
the regular annuity unless he paid IN
for three days.
so, if he paid in $401 he could
get the pension?' Senator Byrd in
quired.
Senator Mead, Democrat, of New
York, presiding, interrupted to ex-
plain it would be a pension less the
Government contribution for the
back service"
Figures Read Into Record.
Senator Byrd then read into the
record figures which he said show
that member with IS years Of serv-
ice who paid in s401 this year could
get SALTS a year without making
any back payments. He gave other
illustrations for shorter periods OF
service ranging as follows:
Service starting in 1909, 1896;
1911, $3,711; 1918. $3,245; 1915,
$3,13e; 1917, s2,854; 1919, $2,538;
1921, 50, 1903; 1925, $2,085; 1927, 81 1862;
1929, s1,417; 1881, 1924; 1888, ST.
.o85; 1895, $907, and 1887, $696,06.
| Senator Mead brought out that
situation only applies this year,
pointing out present members must
decide by December 81 whether they
will enter the system, after which
they would contribute 5 per cent OF
their salary, and newly-elected mem
bers would have to decide within six
months whether they wanted to go
An to the retirement system, and
ahen beginning paying the S per
cent.
: Ramspeck's Statement.
: In announcing his decision today
Mr.. Ramspeck said, I'm democratic
Nation such as ours the will of the
people should prevail 1t is now
evident that the majority of the peo-
pie, at this time, favor retirement
legislation for the President, Vice
Presidents, Senators and Represent
atives.
"I am also convinced that this
controversy is causing lack of that
unity so necessary for winning the
war. ."
Steps to attach a pension repeal
rider to the s163, 100000 Deficiency
Bill, which passed the Senate late
yesterday, were dropped after Sen
ator Meade appealed for a fair
chance to enable the committee to
act on the question in regular order.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Idaho,
climaxed several hours of debate on
the question yesterday by warming
his colleagues the country will have
less respect for them if they rush
to repeal the pension provision than
If they stand their ground and ex-
plain the bill on its merits.
Would Salvage Independence.
Declaring that Congress has been
criticized before, and sometimes for
being supine, the Idahoan said that
holding on as we are today to our
last breath of independence, we
cannot 60 before the country with
the admission that a few loose, ire
sponsible editorial writer's have
driven this Congress into confes-
sion of error and guilt"
Pointing out that some of the
critics have pictured members as
selfish politicians, the Idaho Senator
shouted.