Evening star., 1942-02-18
Pensions
Continued From First Page.)

the congressional retirement plan
may be overshadowed by a greater
controversy over the general PEN
sion proposal.
When he told the Senate he in
tends to seek pension for 1900 600
elderly people in misery or desti-
tuition" Majority Leader Barkley,
apparently recalling that the gen.
eral pension plan heretofore con-
sidered has called for a general
transaction tax. to pay the cost, re-
minded Senator Downey that rev.
enue measures cannot originate in
the Senate under the Constitution
Senator Downey countered with
the statement his amendment
would carry no revenue raising
feature, but would provide for pay
ment of pensions to the destitute.
Aid for All Past 60.
Senator Downey announced later
that the general pension amend
ment he will offer would require the
Federal Government to pay $50 a
month to all persons past go. on the
basis OF need. He said 1t would be
in addition to the old age assistance
now paid to needy persons on a So
so matching basis with the Federal
Government.
He will offer it in the Senate to-
morrow as a substitute for the bill
expected to come from the Civil
Service Committee calling for re-
peal of the congressional retirement
benefits recently voted for men,
bers Of Congress. Senator Downey
said he was not prepared to predict
his amendment would carry, but be-
lieves 1t will receive substantial sup
port.
After the Civil Service Committee
had heard President Harry B
Mitchell of the Civil Service Com
mission, for two hours this morn
ing, Senator Byrd won his fight
to resume the hearing at 8 o'clock
tonight, to expedite report to the
Senate tomorrow.
Byrd To Aid Witnesses.
When Senator Meade, Democrat,
of New York pointed out the SEN
ate once Bhilding H. undkf Eaiard
at night and that witnesses might
encounter difficulty getting In the
building, Senator Byrd replied:
"I am chairman of the Senate
Rules Committee (Which has, GUS
tody of the Senate structure) and
I will see that they are admitted"
Senator Lee, Democrat, Of Okla
homa had served notice shortly
after noon that he would move
today to repeal the congressional
pension law as part of the Navy
bill. but was prevailed on by Ma
jority Leader Barkley to give the
committee until tomorrow.
Senator Lee declared that the irri-
tation created by the pension pro-
posal was overshadowing the fall of
Singapore and should be wiped out
Of the picture at once.
Senator Chavez, Democrat, Of New
Mexico declared he was more in
terested In the pending bill, affect
ing the situation and condition Of
American prisoners of war today,
than he was in the question whether
the congressional pension should be
repealed.
where is that unity for which
we are all calling?" he said. Lets
show a little unity and put this bill
through without delay"
ConnalIy Jocular.
Senator Connally of Texas, chair
man of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, rose and asked Senator
Barkley if he would get the news
papers to say that the Senator from
Texas was here and voted No on
the pensions for Congressman" He
would be satisfied. he said, if that
could be done. The Texan was
poking fun at the majority leader
and other members Of the Senate
who were intensely interested in
getting the repeater through without
delay.
IF some of us who were not here
had been here, and some Of those
who were here had given this matter
more consideration" said Senator
Barkley, this present controversy
would have been avoided Senator
Barkley was one Of the Senators not
present when the pension bill was
originally passed.
"I think we should act on this
matter in the most dignified way
possible and in no panic" he con-
tinued. 'I think we should give, the
Senate Civil Service Committee a
chance to report out the repeal bill.
And so, although ] have said that
I would offer q repeater as an