Evening star., 1942-02-24
Pensions
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system, under the bill recently en-
acted into law.
Entitled to Recognition.
Representative Martin Kennedy
Democrat, of New York objected
failing to obtain consent to express
his own views. Mr.. Vinson ther
announced he would seek a special
rule from the Rules Committee
making motion to send the bill
to conference in, order. In2 -
Mr. Kennedy subsequently was
prevailed on to withdraw his objec-
ton, with the understanding he
would be permitted to address the
House for three minutes.
When Mr.. Vinson renewed his
request for unanimous consent Mr..
Kennedy was recognized. He ex-
plalned that he had desired that
this important controversial matter
of pensions for members of Congress
should be handled as a separate
measure, and not as a rider on q
naval bill. For himself he said that
he believed that the retirement sys-
tenn should be extended to cover all
members Of Congress. He said he
thought that men who had served
in the National Legislature for 20 or
80 years were entitled to some
recognition.
Says Hull Would Suffer.
Republican Leader Martin de-
r1ornI that hn hao rfilxy ~, a
of the motion to repeal congress
sional pensions. On the other hand,
Representative Cochran, Democrat,
of Missouri said he would not OBJ
ject to the request Of Chairman Vim
son to vote on the repeal Of pensions
for Congress.
But you are denying to Cordell
Hull, great Secretary Of State, the
right to retire from ofilce with re-
tirement pay" said Mr.. Cochran.
"At the same time you are giving to
the employees Of every other Gov
ernment agency the right to retire
with pay. I think that something
should be done about that"
Chairman vinson explained that
all his preferential motion did was
to instruct the House conferees to
concur In the Byrd amendment as it
related to elective officers and cab
met members. The conferees. he
said, would be In a position to work
out other plans regarding the civil
employees covered in the recent re-
tirement act.
Bill Misrepresented.
Mr.. Ramspeck told the House that
the pension bill had been grossly
misrepresented, that there had been
secrecy or concealment in its orig
inal passage, but that he had decided
to support repeal, despite the fact
he still believed In the justice of
retirement pay for members of Con-
gress.
my personal convictions" he
said, as to the wisdom and justice
of retirement benefits for elected
officials have not changed. II only
my personal position was involved
in the matter I would gladly con-
tinue the fight.
A3O"SFS4s VIC "a AiOW dI VOL. VIC
cannot afford to continue any con-
troversy over which our people are
divided. Our whole attention and
all Of our efforts should be directed
toward the defeat of our enemies.
For that reason and because I am
convinced that the people repre-
sent desire it, have decided to
make no further objection to the
repeal Of this provision.
ri sincerely believe that had this
matter been presented to the public
fairly and correctly, they would not
have objected. That has not been
done, but we cannot stop now to
wage this battle.
I'm some sections Of the country
there is evidence that this con-
troversy is retarding the purchase
Of defense bonds. I am not willing
to take part in continuing con-
troversy that slows up the sale Of
bonds. = 'ofr1
Therefore, let us drop this con-
troversy and devote our total ef-
fort to the fight for liberty and
freedom. Let us do nothing here
to divide our own people. We must
have unity" n