Evening star., 1942-02-10
Avalanche Of Letters
Demands Repeal Of
Congress Pension Act
House May Vote Release
Of Resembling Measures
Held Up by Committee
- the Associated Press.

- the Associated Prsss.
An avalanche of letters from
back home, the like of which
hasn't been seen on Capitol Hill
since the days Of neutrality re-
peal, put the pressure of voters
today behind a growing move
ment for repeal of the new law
setting up pensions for members
Of Congress.
Following quickly on the heels of
the derisive Bundles for Congress"
movement. the outpouring of letters
apparently was having noticeable
results with some legislators.
Chairman Ramspeck of the House
Civil Service Committee told re-
porters that upward Of q dozen bills
seeking repeal Of the pension act
already have been referred to his
group, but indicated no immediate
action was contemplated on any OF
them.
Justified, Ramspeck Holds.
Although Representative Ram
speck stuck Of his original conten-
ton that the pensions for Congress
men were justified, Representative
Smith, Republican, of Ohio, assailed
them as entirely unjustif1ed" and
urged their immediate repeal.
Representative Smith declared in
dignantly that unless his own repeal
bill or some similar measure Is sent
to the House floor by Mr.. Rams.
peck's committee, he would circu.
late . petition to compel the COM
mittee to release q repeater for
House consideration.
And I haven't any doubt about
getting the necessary 218 signatures
to force . vote" he added.
II propose" he said on the fool
yesterday. TO give an opportunity
to each House member to make 9
public record of his position and to
express disapproval of the clan
destine manner in which the Rams
peck bill was sneaked through the
House"
Would Ban 250, 900 Others.
Smiths bill would abolish pensions
not only for members Of Congress
but also for some ESQ, 900 appointive
Office holders he said were given
pension privileges under the blanket
provisions Of the Ramspeck bill.
Legislators who professed ig-
norance of the pension bill provi-
sions got cold comfort from Repre-
sentative Vinson, Democrat, of Geor-
gia. who chided them for not keep
ing abreast of what was going on in
the House.
Said Mr.. Vinson:
In my judgment 1t is a reflection
on the member to claim ignorance
Of what Is in q bill. What's he sent
here for but to find out what's going
on?"
Mr. Ramspeck, VINO took full re-
sponsibility for including Congress
members in the pension bill, said
he did not know what action his
committee would take on the repeal
proposals.
SAlS IOf ouppOrt.
He reafilrmed his original con-
tention that members of Congress
are entitled to pensions" remark.
ing it would be a fine thing If some
Of the members could have the cour.
age to stand up and let the people
Of this country know the trials anc
the tribulations here.
I'VE are doing for ourselves nc
more and no less than we are doing
for . million and q quarter other
people," he asserted.
Mr.. RamSpeck told colleagues that
too many people had the idea Con-
gress members "eat free down here
In the restaurant, e" get your
haircut free =" and all of your
other expenses are paid for by the
United States Treasury. They dc
not think you pay any income taxes,
when you know and I know that
you pay more income taxes in pro-
portion to your gross income than
does the average person. because
you cannot deduct expenses"