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Captain Robert A. Stone - 11     September 14, 1948

an annuity and other benefits equivalent to $152 a month where the proposed air line pilot's plan would provide $67 a month, given the same conditions as to length of service and retirement age, and in which the aggregate premiums paid to the commercial company are not more than 200 per cent of the level of taxes to be collected under the pilot's system.

* * * * *

Your letter appears to be written on the assumptions that (a) Congress will immediately pass whatever kind of retirement system is proposed by the air line pilots, irrespective of the extent to which it differs from every other retirement system enacted by the Congress, and (b) that all the desirable features that any one could think of can be incorporated in the initial enactment. It is perhaps possible that there is about to be a revolution in Congress which would produce a completely new philosophy of the legislative process; but I would hesitate to advise any promoters of legislation to count on it. Usually a bad approach to initial legislation delays by several sessions the accomplishment of the objective sought. Advocates of almost any legislation must be prepared to compromise, and, frequently, unessential elements or features known to be unobtainable are included in a bill as preparation for bargaining; but an initial approach going to very great extremes is usually thought by Congressmen to be not worth wasting time on.

The main question about the proposed bill is not whether it ought not to have ages reduced and service requirements shortened and pensions and other benefits increased, but whether it may not have already gone too far beyond any legislation which Congress has ever remotely contemplated. The main question which the pilots have to answer is do they want legislation or don't they. If the answer is that they do want legislation, they will necessarily forget about anything like retirement age for every one at 50; for that is wholly incompatible with any legislative prospect.

Very truly yours,

Murray W. Latimer

c/c Mr. Behncke
    Capt. Foster
    Capt. Stiles
    Capt. Gitt