Evening star., 1947-05-07
Bill for Civil Service
Liberal Retirement
Facing RecoIlIniial
By Joseph Young

The LANCER Chavez bill to lib
|eralize the civil service retire.
ment system faces the threat
OF Senate recommital, It was
learned today.
Opposition is reported developing
In the Senate to the measure on the
question Of cost. Supporters OF the
bill contend the measure won't cost
the Government any more than 1t
lis now paying into the retirement
fund, but opponents of the measure
assert this is not the case.
Those opposing the bill are re-.
ported considering the Introduction
Of "a motion to recommit the bill
back to the Senate Civil Service
Committee for further study and
revision. Should such q motion be
successful, it would probably kill the
bills chances for passage this year.
LANCER Musters Votes.
Chairman LANCER OF the Senate
Civil Service Committee believes,
however, he can muster enough
Senate votes to beat down any re-
comnital motion. But Senator
LANCER and other of the bills sup
porters are quietly working behind
the scenes in an effort to dissuade
opponents from making the recon-
initial motion.
Federal employees unions consider
the bill the most important piece of
legislation affecting Government
workers in this session of Congress
and are extremely anxious that it.
be enacted into law before Congress
adjourns.
Those Senators who contend the
bill will cost the Government con-
siderable amount of money are re-
ported to have called In outside
actuaries for their opinion. The
Senate Civil Service Committees
actuary has reported the measure
will not result in increased Govern
ment contributions to the retire.
ment fund-at least not for num-
ber OF years.
Supporters See Savings.
S&RkCl tC& . Vi bllC bl1l CO11LCl1Q t1l6
administrative savings that will be
made under the proposed new for
mula, plus the proposed / per cent
increase in employees salary contri-
buttons to the fund, will pay for the
bill.
An attempt was made yesterday
to gain speedy Senate passage of
the bill, but it was blocked by Sem
ators who said they desired more
information on the measure. The
bill was brought up on the unani-
nous consent calendar, and the OBJ
jections were insufficient to block
action until a later date.
Senator LANCER said he will seek
Senate consideration of the bill
within the next few days. II any
motion to recommit is made, it will
be offered at that time.
The bill would increase annuity
benefits to Government workers
upon retirement, increase annuity
payments to. those Federal workers
already retired and provide survi-
Worship insurance benefits to the
widows and children of deceased
Government employees.
Butler Files Pay Bill.
Meanwhile, a bill to increase Gov
ernment employees salaries by $3.50
annually until the cost of living goes
down has been introduced by Rep
resentative Butler, Republican, of |
New York.
Mr.. Butler, a member of the House /
Civil Service Committee, said the
bill would provide that the $3.50 in
crease remain in effect until living
costs approximate prewar levels.
Mr.. Buffers bill yesterday was the
first Federal pay raise measure in
troduced at this session by Repub-
lican, although last week seven
House Democrats introduced similar
Government union groups are
determined to wage a strong fight
for wage-raise bill, but the chances
are exceedingly slim that this econ
omy-minded Congress will approve
such legislation.