Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Local Pension
Curb Sought
BY GENE GOODWIN
Star stan Correspondent

Star star Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. "a bill
was set for introduction in the
Maryland Legislature today to
amend q 1885 act which had the
unexpected effect Of furnishing
cities and counties whose local
boys made good in State govern
Iment.
Senator H. Winship Wheatley.
dr., Democrat Of Prince Georges
County. said he Is drafting the
amendment. He was one Of the
sponsors of the 1855 act which
breezed through both houses.
What that act did was to allow
any present State ernploye who
had previously worked for q city
|or county to claim credit In the
State Employees Retirement Eys-
tenn for the time he worked as
IAN elected or appointed city or
county employe.
Since the State retirement law
provides that Its employees retire
lat their highest salary, the credit
for service on a city or county
payroll was given at whatever
salary the State official is cur
rently caring. And although the
lemploye himself was not obli-
gated to increase his contribu-
tons to the State Retirement
Fund, the city or county that
once carried his name on their
payroll had to fork up whatever
their share would be at his cur
rent salary for the time he
worked at the local government
Level.
Frederick Example
To a city such as Frederick
which has two former municipal
lofiicials making big money now
for the State-this act meant a
bill from the State Retirement
System Of $4,000.
The two Frederick boys who
have made good with the State
are Russell H. Mccain, SIS, 000-
Ia-year chairman Of the State
Roads Commission, and Elmer r.
Munshower. $9.350-a-year super
lintendent of State Police.
Senator Wheatley said his bill
would amend the 1855 act to
provide that the city or county
contribution to. the retirement
fund should be based on the Of
ficials highest pay while in the
employ Of the city or county in
volved. The bill will further
state that 1t was not the inten-
ton of the Legislature last year
to make cities and counties con-
tribute in such large amounts to
the State Retirement Fund.
Could Ruin Towns
Ed Mester. executive secretary
of the Maryland Municipal Lea
que, which is supporting the
Wheatley bill, said that strict
enforcement Of the 1855 act as
now written could ruin some of
the little towns Of the State.
He said his organization had
convinced the State Retirement
Board not to press Frederick city
for payment Of the $4,000 bill
for Mr.. Mccain and Mr.. Mum
shower until this session Of the
Legislature has q chance to cor
rect the 1855 act.
Mr.. Munshower. incidentally,
served In various elected and
appointive positions for the city.
Mr.. Mccain. however, can only
LAY claim to being an alderman
at $500 q year.
Meanwhile, the Prince Georges
County bloc here decided to
draft a bin requested by the
county commissioners to au-
Ithorize q $2.5 million bond issue
for an addition to Prince Georges
General Hospital at Cheverly.
The six Delegates and Sena-
tor Wheatley agreed that they
would seek the bond authorize
ton to meet any emergency
situation brought about by the
shortage Of beds and space at
the county-owned hospital. The
only local bills constitutionally
ALLOWED In a 30-day session are
those Of an emergency nature.
The State Senate yesterday
completed the overriding Of
gubernatorial vetoes on two local
Prince Georges Montgomery
bills.