Evening star., 1942-02-19

which they serve were not given,
but the testimony raised question
in committee members minds
whether any contractual obligation
has been established, If they have
begun to deposit their salary con-
tributions to the fund.
(Senator Byrd pointed out that
the pending repeal bill contains
a clause requiring the refund OF
any deposits members of Con-
gress may have made since Janu-.
ary "a. when the law passed0
Figures were presented showing
that If President Roosevelt Joined
the system before January /, 1943,
by making his per cent salary
contribution for two years. de-
posit of $7,500-he could retire in
1945 at $17,900.
Senator Byrd explained this would
be counting his IL years as Presi-
dent and z years as Assistant Sec
retary Of the Navy. At q recent
press conference, the President re-
marked that some one had informed
him his retirement annuity would
be $37,5O0, If he Joined the system.
When statistics were given at the
hearing that Mr.. Roosevelt would
have to serve four more full terms
to get that much, Senator Aiken
Republican, of Vermont jokingly
observed he hoped "the President
doesn't set that as his goal"
Mead Gives Figures.
Senator Mead, Democrat. who
has defended the principle of re-
tirement for elected oficials and
contended that II there are any
undue advantages as the law stands
the proper course would be to cor
rect rather than repeal 1t, gave the
additional figures on how 1t would
apply to future Presidents:
A one-term President would pay
in $le,241.75. If he exercized the
option, but would not be eligible to
an annuity, because he would not
have served the 5-year minimum.
T two-term President would pay
In 35244.42 and retire on $8.57l .43
q year.
A three-term President would pay
in $54,473 and reeire on $12.857.14
q year.
Senator Burton, Republican, also
brought out by examining Mr.
Mitchell that even If Congress re-
peals the congressional annuity pro-
vision, any present member OF the
House or Senate, who obtained ap-
pointment to an office in the execu-
tive branch of the Government after
completing his term in Congress,
could count the years served at the
Capitol to become eligible for a re-
tirement annuity.
Senator Burton also raised Ques-
ton as to whether the bill could ap-
ply to the present President, in view
Of the constitutional provision which
says the compensation of the Chie1
Executive shall neither be increased
or diminished during his term o.
ONCE.
Indicates Agreement.
Mr.. Mitchell indicated he though
that might apply, but added that h
understood the President has al
ready said he would not take ad
vantage of the option to join th'
system.
The witnesses who appeared II
defense of providing for member
Of Congress in their old age were
Henry w. Strickland of the Railway
Mail Association, representing 2,40l
clerks; John j. Barrett, United Ma
tional Association of Post Offlc'
Clerks; Charles 1. Stengle, Amer
lean Federation of Government En-
ployes; Leland M. Walker, presiden'
Of the National Rural Letter Car
riers' Association; Miss Gertrude M
McNaily, National Federation o
Federal Employees; Thomas B. Ran
dies, National Association of Posta
Supervisors, and Robert H. Alcorr
Of the Retirement Federation o.
Civil Service Employees in nav!
yards throughout the country anc
a leading authority on the Gov
ernment retirement law.
Mr.. Strickland charged Congress.
sional retirement has been the VIC
tim of vicious campaign of prop.
aganda." He declared newspaper
opposition to the bill came with
"poor grace" because, he asserted
the publications of the country
benefit to the extent Of $50, 900 ,00t
q year through mail rates.
Mr.. Stengle told the committee
that II the talk about fan-dancinl
had started about the time tn,
pension bill passed, "you wouldn1
have been in the headlines, and yol
wouldn't be here tonight holding
an inquest over this bill"
Answering criticism Of the news
papers that cropped up Throughout
the hearing, Senator Byrd, LEADING
advocate of repeal, said he woult
challenge any Senator to point II
q single article that had gone ou
of Washington incorrectly repre-
senting the bill.
Senator Brown, Democrat, o
Michigan, who voted for passage o
the bill, announced he has decided
to vote for repeal of the congress
sional annuity plan.
IT did so before there was an.
public reaction to it." he said. q"
thought that the bill was O goos
one, although I did not think !
would either make or break tn
Nation. considered 1t . might.
small incident. The people did not
Whether right or wrong, editoria
opinion, letter opinion, Gallup Pol
opinion, in short public opinion !
decidedly against It,"