Evening star., 1946-01-20

be automatic" since
objections to most alternative proposals
are that they would foster serious per-
sonal issues and schisms.
Considered much more likely of adop-
ton are proposals in the La Toilette
Monroney draft calling for an increase
in pay for members to $4,000 a year,
for legislation to enable members to
become eligible for Federal retirement
on fully contributory basis, for in
creased stats for each committee and
increased assistance for each member
and for expansion of the Legislative
Reference Service and the staff of the
Office of Legislative Counsel to inform
members on legislative problems and to
draft proposed legislation for them.
Higher Pay Is Urged.
On the question of congressional pay
it is easy to say: IF member of Con-
gress is not content with $4,000 year,
why does he keep running for re-
election?"
But, our advocates of reform reply, it
Is just as pertinent to say If you think
your representative on the board of di-
rectors of the greatest corporation on
earth, which spends billions each year,
orders billions in taxes and directs
thousands of details of your life is worth
no more than $4,000, that is the kind
of a representative you will get" A
stockholder in a private concern, they
add, would take different view.
The amount of pay a member of Con-
gress should draw, or whether he should
be permitted to retire partly at Govern
ment expense, caused quite furore in
the past several years-to degree be-
yond its Importance, according to reform
advocates. They say Congress has been
timid beyond degree and reluctant no
end; that the constituents would under
stand if only they were told the whole
story.
This the reform advocates have sought
to do in the past year, through testi-
mony, newspaper and magazine articles
and the like. The congressional job,
they say now is certainly a full-time
job, leaving the average man no real
opportunity to fatten his purse on pri-
vate occupations, and is worth no less
than $4,000 a year. The La Toilette
Monroney Committee is said to favor a
more modest $4,000, which would cost
an additional s2,655 900 per year, or a
mere fraction of cent per month per
taxpayer.
Many Extra Costs.
In consideration of the present $40, 900
pay, they say, it should be remembered
that the member of Congress also pays
large slice in taxes. In addition he
has large expenditures incident to con-
gressional service. Not only does he live
much of the time in expensive Wash
ington, but must make frequent outlays
for necessary entertainment, including
free meals for visiting constituents; for
contributions to party and other worthy
causes; for political campaigns; for
maintenance of two domiciles, one in
Washington and one back home; for
extra trips, not on Government expense
accounts, back home to see constituents;
for maintenance of an Office in his dis
trict or State; and for living scale
commensurate with dignity of posi-
tion."
Congress several years ago adopted a
measure, which was signed into law, to
permit its members to be included in
the Federal retirement system, but
somebody out West yelled Bundles for
Congressmen" and the act was repealed.
The new congressional retirement
plan, now awaiting action in the House,
is different. 1t requires the usual per
cent salary contributions that all Fed
eral workers pay so that present mem
bers must put up at least $4,000 cash
to cover the past five years of service,
or more on the same S per cent basis,
If they wish to buy credit for longer
periods of past congressional service.
And it provides smaller annuities than
the pensions available to the civil serv-
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