Evening star., 1948-01-25
Progressive Clauses
In Retirement Bill
Pledged by Lsnger

Chairman LANCER OF the Senate
Civil Service Committee said yes
terday he and Senator Chavez,
Democrat, of New Mexico, would
seek "the most progressive provi-
sions" in the Government retirement
legislation in the coming confer
ences on it's final draft.
House and Senate conferees are
to meet this week to iron out diff
ferences between the bills as passed
by both branches.
Senator Langer yesterday issued
a statement yoicing delight at the
action of the Senate Friday in unan-
imously passing the Taft bill, re-
vision of one sponsored earlier by
Senators LANCER and Chavez.
Progressive Provisions.
Speaking of the impending con-
ferences. however, he said he and
Senator Chavez would adhere" to
the most progressive provisions in
cluding reinstatement of the origi-
nal Section l, elimination of the
Williams amendment and wiping out
the 35-year limitation on the num-
Der of years to be used for comput-
ing retirement pay.
In addition to Senators LANCER
and Chavez, Cenate conferees of the
bill are Senators Taft of Ohio and
Baldwin of Connecticut, Republi-
cans, and Johnston, Democrat, OF
South Carolina. House conferees
will be named tomorrow.
Original Section One, which is
included in the House bill, permits
employees who are dropped from
Federal payrolls through no fault
of their own, and who have worked
for the Government for 25 years or
more, to get annuities at that time
without waiting for regular retire
ment age.
Williams Amendment.
The Williams amendment written
into the Senate bill would have the
effect, it is explained, of reducing
somewhat the increase in benefits
which would go to persons already
retired. There are about 10000
persons in this class.
The Senate bill puts limit OF 35
on the number of years of Govern
ment service which may be counted
in computing the annuities of the
individual worker, regardless OF how
many more years he may have
served.
The House bill would use the
total number of years served, with
out limit. officials say there are
5000 persons now in Government
service with longer than IS years
of service
With reference to Senate passage
Of the bill, Senator LANCER said 1t
had approved the most advanced
social thinking in civil service re-
tirement legislation"
Took Year to Accomplish.
1T has taken year to accom-
plish this end" he added. But
the result of teamwork now is com
pletely evident. Without a dis
senting vote, the Senate gave its
sanction to the legislation
He described the four principal
features of the bill as amended ln
the Senate as: =
81, A new formula for computing
annuities providing l per cent OF
the average salary over the five
highest consecutive years, plus SD
multiplied by the number of years OF
service not to exceed So, or i " per
cent of the average FIVE highest
consecutive years of salary multi
piled by the number of years OF
service not to exceed 80. - T.
Widow Benefits.
%. Those who are widowed after
the act becomes effective will re-
ceive arlnsaities payable at age5Q
eoils1 50 per cent Of the annuity
the husband would have received
upon retirement, based on the same
service and salary. If there are
minor children, the annuity is pay
able Immediately, regardless OF age
of the widow and until death or re-
marriage. Orphaned children will
receive one quarter the annuity that
would have been payable to the
father, subject to a $3.50 maximum
per child but not to- exceed $500
where there are three or more chill
dren and payable until attainment
of age 18.
"3. Those leaving the service be-
fore becoming eligible to retire may
receive a full refund of all contribu-
tions plus interest, or in lieu thereof
an annuity to begin at age 62.
a. Those already retired will re-
ceiye an increase in annuitieS of 25
~. oapt mt tn exceed 5000 Der