Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1954-10-07
Lewis

system for those years.
This, it can be seen, raises a
problem involving repayment OF
large sums of money for the aver
age family covered, if they want
to get maximum benefits from
the civil service system.
Their contributions already
made to social security will not
count towards the levy for civil
service retirement. (They will, in
some instances, retain certain so.
cial security coverages and bene.
fits for limited periods of time as
result of their past contribu-
tons, but that will be all.)
OF course, it should be noted
that there is no absolute require.
ment that employees make the pay
ment. If they don't, it simply
means they will have a good bit
less in retirement benefits.
Also, it should be noted that
the repayment can be made in
easy" installments, officials note
so much payday, or whenever
desired.
However, the Importance of the
requirement, involving as it does
a good many hundreds of dollars
in cash for many families, is one
that will loom large in the per-
sonal finances of the thousands
of employees involved.
There may, in fact, be some
strong move legislative-wise to
afford them some relief-to give
them full credits for pension pur-
poses for their years under social
security, or to provide some par
tial credits towards the civil serv-
ice payment for their payments
to social security.
However, the legislative picture
here is so unpromising that EN-.
ployes involved should not pin
too much hope on it. Best bet, if
you're one of those employees ex-
pected to be brought in under CS
retirement, is to plan your bud
getting now for the repayment.
On the matter of the cut in take
home pay, the legislative remedy
appears to be a little closer at
hand.
There is still a bright prospect
of a federal pay raise of next
year-with amounts of around Z
per cent getting prominent men,
tion-and this should cover the
cut in take home pay if it mate
rialiZeS.
HATCH ACT: Here are some
timely queries illustrating some
of the fine points government
people should know about the
Hatch (anti-politics) act.
Q. May l wear a campaign but
ton?
A. Yes. However, csc notes
that, while it is not unlawful to
wear such buttons, or to put polit-
ical stickers on your own car Gun
less the latter is forbidden by local
ordinance) it is felt that displays
of this kind on duty are not ap-
propriate. For example, it's not
good idea to wear the button to
work, or to put the sticker on
your car if you use it to ride
around on government business.
@. I'm in the government and
my wife isn't. She wants to get
into political activity, but I'm
afraid it's not a good idea for us.
What about it?
A. Since she's not in the gov
eminent, there is nothing to re-
strict her partisan activity. You're
not expected to control your wife
in such matters. The only way in
which you might be liable is if
she is really doing partisan cam
paigning or engaging in similar
activities directly for you because
you can't do it personally. The
same applies to other members of
your family. They are not re-
stricted from political activity, so
long as they are not engaging in
it on your behalf.
Q. What are some of the of
fices which federal employees may
hold without violating Hatch Act?
A. Justice of the peace, for ex.
ample, if appointed and not elect
ed. Also they are permitted $50
far as the Hatch Act is concerned)
positions on boards of public II.
brarieS and religious or charit.
able institutions and the like.
Service as notary public also is
permissible.
JOBS: Five new examination
announcements are listed in civil
service:
Accountants, at S3,410 a year,
for work in the general account
ing office, are sought by the
board of examiners at GAO in
Washington.
Industrial hygieniSts, principal
ly with Navy, are needed, starting
at $4,205 and 5000 a year. File
applications directly with the Elk,