Evening star., 1944-01-20
Civil Service Praised
For Barring Law Firm
In Fund Collections

Chairman Ramspeck Of the House
Civil Service Committee expressed
satisfaction today over the action OF
the Civil Service Commission in pro-
tecting former Government en-
ployes against payment of legal fees
for collection Of their retirement
funds.
The Civil Service Commission's S
action and Mr.. Ramspeck's state
ment followed an offer by WASH
ington law firm I'd obtain refunds for
a 20 per cent fee. This firm sent a
circular letter to the same people
whose names appeared on q list the
commission said today it had fur
nished only to members of Congress
Mr.. Ramspeck said the act of the
commission in reminding 10000 for
mer Federal workers they need no
legal advisers to collect the refunds
when they want them and sup
plying them with proper forms for
Withdrawals should meet the prob
lem.
Asked about complaints that de-
lays, sometimes as long as a year,
are encountered before former Fed
eral workers receive their retirement
checks, an official Of the commits
sion's retirement division said tran
sactions generally are completed
within 10 to 20 days, when the ac-
counts are properly filled out by
the agency in which an employe
worked.
Act to Speed Payments.
Where their attention is called to
long delays, it was explained off,
ciak promptly endeavor to remedy
the situation quickly. Generally the
delays are due to the backlog of
applications facing agencies, 1t was
said.
The commission referred the
complaint to the Grievance Com
mittee of the District Bar Asso-
ciation on August II, 1912. Frank
H. Myers, secretary of a subcom-
mittee of the Grievance Committee,
said today that all matters pending
before the committee are confiden-
tlal, and he would neither confirm
nor deny that the committee was
considering taking action in the
case.
Complying with requests of three
unnamed members of Congress, the
commission said it furnished to
them lists of former employees on
January %, 1912. One of the re-
quests for information had been
made in 194l.
On January rs, 1912, the commits
sion says it notified the Senate Ap-
preparations Committee it had COM
pleted compilation of the list. On
that same date local law firm
sent circular letter to employees
whose names appeared on the list
furnished by the Civil Service Com
mission.
On February 6, 1912, the commits
sion sent letter to all eligibles
advising them not to incur expense
OF an attorney, but to make appli-
cation to the commission direct if
they desired to withdraw funds due
them
Law Firms Letter.
The letter sent out by the law
firm follows:
Our office has specialized for
some time past in representing both
the United States contractors and
employees of the United States Gov
ernment in securing additional
amounts claimed to be due.
We note that there is an amount
still due you in connection with your
former employment in the Govern
ment and we are therefore writing
to ask If you would be interested
in securing refund of same In
most cases Of this character the
amount approximates 8. de-
letion by Civil Service Commission
IF you would care to have our
firm represent you In this matter,
We would be glad to do so for a fee
equal to 20 per cent of the amount
recovered, with the understanding
that there would be no charge
whatever unless we are successful.
IF this is satisfactory, kindly ex-
ecute and return the inclosed power
of attorney, and the matter will have
our prompt attention.
tSignature)
"P. S.-Of course if you are still
employed in the Government, you
cannot apply for this refund, as the
claim covers a final adjustment of