Chapter 375. For the retirement of employees of the Panama Canal and the Panama Railroad Company, on the Isthmus of Panama, who are citizens of the United States
5,875 words·~27 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-46/chapter-375-6342937·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 375.— An Act For the retirement of employees of the Panama Canal and the Panama Railroad Company, on the Isthmus of Panama, who are citizens of the United States. March 2, 1931.[[H. R. 15865](/us/bill/71/hr/15865).][[Public, No. 781](/us/pl/71/781).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That all employees Retirement of Federal personnel of the Panama Canal, etc.of the Panama Canal on the Isthmus of Panama, and all employees of the Panama Railroad Company, on the Isthmus of Panama, who are citizens of the United States and whose tenure of employment is not intermittent nor of uncertain duration, shall come within the provisions of this Act. automatic separationAutomatic separation.
Sec. 2. All employees to whom this Act applies shall, after reaching Upon reaching age of 62 years.the age of sixty-two years and having rendered at least fifteen years of service on the Isthmus of Panama, be automatically separated from the service and retired on the annuity provided for herein; and all salary, pay, or compensation shall cease from that Salary, etc., to cease.date: *Provided*, That if the Governor of the Panama Canal certifies *Proviso.*Temporary retention upon certificate by Governor.to the Civil Service Commission that by reason of his efficiency and willingness to remain in the service, the continuance of such employee therein would be advantageous to the service, such employee may be retained for a term not exceeding two years, upon the approval and certification by the Civil Service Commission, and, at the end of the two-year term, by similar approval and certification, be continued for an additional term not exceeding two years: 1472Final separation except in special cases. *Provided, however*, That no employee shall be continued in the service beyond the age of retirement for more than four years, except that where the Governor of the Panama Canal certifies, and the Civil Service Commission agrees, that by reason of expert knowledge and special qualifications the continuance of the employee would be advantageous to the service, further extensions of two years may be granted.
Superannuation retirement.Age and service requirement.All employees to whom this Act applies who would be eligible for retirement from the service upon attaining the age of sixty-two years shall, after attaining the age of sixty years and having rendered at least thirty years’ service, computed as provided in section *Post*, p. 1474.7, of this Act, be eligible for retirement on an annuity as provided Option allowed employee.in section 6 of this Act. Retirement under the provisions of this paragraph shall be at the option of the employee, but if such option is not exercised prior to the date upon which the employee would otherwise be eligible for retirement from the service, the provisions of this Act with respect to automatic separation from the service shall apply. voluntary retirementVoluntary retirement.
Sec. 3. Age and service requirement.
(a)Any employee to whom this Act applies who shall have attained the age of fifty-five and rendered at least twenty-five years of service, of which not less than fifteen years shall have been Computation of annuity.rendered on the Isthmus of Panama, may voluntarily retire on an annuity equivalent in value to the present worth of a deferred annuity beginning at the age at which the employee would otherwise have become eligible for retirement, computed as provided in section 6 of this Act, the present worth of said deferred *Post*, p. 1474.annuity to be determined on the basis of the American Experience Table of Mortality and an interest rate of 4 per centum, compounded annually.
(b)Any employee to whom this Act applies may voluntarily retire on an annuity computed as provided in section 6, who shall have attained the age of fifty-five and rendered at least thirty years of service on the Isthmus of Panama (inclusive of absences while in the service of the United States during the World War), of which not less than three years shall have been in the employment of the Isthmian Canal Commission or the Panama Railroad Company between May 4, 1904, and April 1, 1914. disability retirement-medical examinations requiredDisability retirement. Sec. 4. Annuity allowed on application of Governor if physically or mentally disqualified.
(a)Any employee to whom this Act applies who shall have attained the age of fifty-five years and shall have rendered at least fifteen years of service on the Isthmus of Panama, and who shall have become physically or mentally disqualified to perform satisfactorily and efficiently the duties of his position or of any other position of approximately equal compensation to which he might he assigned, because of the strenuous or hazardous nature of such position, shall, upon the request or order of the Governor of the *Proviso.*Medical examination required.Panama Canal, be retired on an annuity computed in accordance with the provisions of section 6 hereof: *Provided*, That no such employees shall be so retired except after an examination and finding as to his mental or physical disqualifications as hereinafter provided.
(b)If totally disabled. Any employee to whom this Act applies who shall have served for a total period of not less than five years, and who, before becoming eligible for retirement under the conditions defined in section 2 hereof, shall have become totally disabled for useful 1473and efficient service in the grade or class of position occupied by the Disability by reason of willful misconduct.employee, by reason of disease or injury not due to vicious habits, intemperance, or willful misconduct on the part of the employee, shall upon his own application or upon request or order of the Governor of the Panama Canal, be retired on an annuity computed in accordance with the provisions of section 6 hereof. No claim shall be allowed under the provisions of this section Time for executing application.unless the application for retirement shall have been executed prior to the applicant’s separation from the service or within six months thereafter. No employee shall be retired under the provisions of Medical examination.this section unless he or she shall have been examined by a medical officer of the United States, or a duly qualified physician or surgeon or board of physicians or surgeons, designated by the Commissioner of Pensions for that purpose, and found to be disabled in the degree and in the manner specified herein. Every annuitant retired under the provisions of this section, unless Annual examinations thereafter, unless disability permanent.the disability for which he was retired be permanent in character, shall at the expiration of one year from the date of such retirement and annually thereafter, until reaching retirement age as defined in section 2 hereof, be examined under the direction of the Commissioner of Pensions by a medical officer of the United States, or a duly qualified physician or surgeon, or board of physicians or surgeons designated by the Commissioner of Pensions for that purpose, in order to determine the nature and degree of the annuitant’s disability, if any. If an annuitant shall recover before Temporary payment of annuity upon recovery.reaching the age at which he would otherwise have become eligible for retirement and be restored to an earning capacity which would permit him to be appointed to some appropriate position fairly comparable in compensation to the position occupied at the time of retirement, payment of the annuity shall be continued temporarily to afford the annuitant opportunity to seek such available position, but not in any case exceeding ninety days from the date of the medical examination showing such recovery. If the annuitant shall fail to obtain reemployment through no Status of annuitant thereafter, failing reemployment.fault of his own within the ninety-day period in any position included in the provisions of this Act, he shall be considered as involuntarily separated from the service as of the date he shall *Post*, p. 1474.have been retired for disability, and if otherwise eligible, entitled to an annuity under section 5 of this Act to begin at the close of said ninety-day period based on the service rendered prior to his retirement for disability. The Commissioner of Pensions may order or direct at any time Degree of disability to be ascertained.such medical or other examination as he shall deem necessary to determine the facts relative to the nature and degree of disability of any employee retired on an annuity under this section. Should Annuity payments suspended on failure to be examined.an annuitant fail to appear for any examination required under this section, payment of the annuity shall be suspended until the requirement shall have been met. In all cases where the annuity is discontinued under the provisions Discontinued annuities.of this section before the annuitant has received a sum equal *Post*, p. 1477.to the amount credited to his individual account as provided in section Difference between contributions and amount paid, to be returned.11
(a)hereof, together with interest at 4 per centum per annum compounded on June 30 of each year, the difference, unless he shall become reemployed in a position within the purview of this Act, shall be paid to the retired employee, as provided in section 11
(b)hereof, upon application therefor in such form and manner as the Upon reemployment, amount refunded to be redeposited.Commissioner of Pensions may direct. In case of reemployment in a position within the purview of this Act the amount so refunded shall be redeposited as provided in section 11
(b)hereof.*Post*, p. 1478. 1474 No annuity if receiving compensation for disability.Vol. 39, p. 742.No person shall be entitled to receive an annuity under the provisions of this Act, and compensation under the provisions of the Act of September 7, 1916, entitled “An Act to provide compensation for employees of the United States suffering injuries while in the performance of their duties, and for other purposes,” or such Act as Claimant not debarred from greater benefits.amended, covering the same period of time; but this provision shall not be so construed as to bar the right of any claimant to the greater benefit conferred by either Act for any part of the same period of time. Fees, etc., for medical examinations.Fees for examinations made under the provisions of this section, by physicians or surgeons who are not medical officers of the United States, shall be fixed by the Commissioner of Pensions, and such fees, together with the employee’s reasonable traveling and other expenses Payment of.incurred in order to submit to such examinations, shall be paid out of the appropriations for the cost of administering this Act. involuntary separation from the serviceInvoluntary separation from service. Sec. 5. Payment, if eligible and before reaching retirement age.*Ante*, p. 1471. Should any employee fifty-five years of age or over to whom this Act applies, after having served for a total period of not less than fifteen years and before becoming eligible for retirement under the conditions defined in section 2 hereof, become involuntarily separated from the service, not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency, such employee shall be paid as he may elect, either—
(a)Return of salary deductions. The amount of the deductions from his basic salary, pay, or compensation, including accrued interest thereon computed as prescribed in section 11
(b)hereof;
(b)Immediate life annuity. An immediate life annuity beginning at the date of separation from the service, having a value equal to the present worth of a deferred annuity beginning at the age at which the employee would otherwise have become eligible for retirement, computed as provided in section 6 of this Act, the present worth of said deferred annuity to be determined on the basis of the American Experience Table of Mortality and an interest rate of 4 per centum, com-pounded annually; or
(c)Deferred annuity to begin at retirement age. A deferred annuity beginning at the age at which the employee would otherwise become eligible for retirement computed as provided in section 6 of this Act. Deferred annuity, with special service and age between 45 and 55 years.Any employee who has served for a period of not less than fifteen years, and who is forty-five years of age, or over, and less than fifty-five years, and who becomes separated from the service under the conditions set forth in this section shall be entitled to a deferred Immediate annuity at 55, authorized.annuity, but such employee may, upon reaching the age of fifty-five years, elect to receive an immediate annuity as provided in paragraph
(b)of this section. Annuity payments to cease upon reemployment.Should an annuitant under the provisions of this section be reemployed in any position included in the provisions of this Act, payment of annuity shall not be allowed covering the period of such Status thereafter.reemployment, and an annuity based upon involuntary separation shall not be allowed upon subsequent separation from the service unless such subsequent separation shall be involuntary. method of computing annuitiesAnnuities. Sec. 6. Computation of amount. The annuity of an employee retired under the provisions of this Act shall be composed of—
(1)Service in Panama or military, etc., service in Tropics. A sum equal to $37.50 multiplied by the number of years of service, not to exceed thirty years, rendered
(a)on the Isthmus of 1475Panama, or
(b)in the military or naval service of the United States in the Tropics; and
(2)The annuity purchasable with the sum to the credit of the Purchasable annuity added.employee’s individual account, including accrued interest thereon computed as prescribed in section 11
(a)hereof, according to the experience of the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund as may from time to time be set forth in tables of annuity values by the board of actuaries; and
(3)Thirty dollars multiplied by the number of years of service Service elsewhere.rendered and not allowable under paragraph
(1)hereof: *Provided*, *Proviso.*Limit in number of years.That the number of years of service to be used in computing the allowance under paragraph
(3)shall not exceed the difference between thirty and the number of allowable years of service under paragraph (1); and
(4)Thirty-six dollars multiplied by the number of years of service Service with Isth mian Canal Commis sien, etc.rendered on the Isthmus of Panama, either in the employ of the Isthmian Canal Commission or the Panama Railroad Company, between May 4, 1904, and April 1, 1914. In no case, however, shall the total annuity paid exclusive of that Total annuity limited.provided in paragraph
(4)hereof, be less than an amount equal to the sum of— The average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation, not to exceed $2,000 per annum, received by the employee during any five consecutive years of allowable service at the option of the employee, multiplied by the number of years of service used in computing the annuity under paragraph
(1)hereof, and divided by forty; and the average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation, not to exceed $1,600 per annum, received by the employee during any five consecutive years of allowable service at the option of the employee, multiplied by the number of years of service used in computing the annuity under paragraph
(3)hereof, and divided by forty: *Provided*, That *Provisos.*Annuity upon retirement from Panama Railroad Company.the annuity paid a retiring employee of the Panama Railroad Company in such service on June 30, 1931, shall be an amount equal to 2 per centum of the average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation, not to exceed $5,000 per annum, received by the employee during any five consecutive years of allowable service at the option of the employee, multiplied by the number of years of allowable service rendered prior to July 1, 1931; plus the amount to which the employee is entitled under the provisions of this section, exclusive of paragraph (4), for service rendered subsequent to June 30, 1931: *Provided, however*, That the sum to be used in computing Computing purchasable annuity.the annuity purchasable under paragraph
(2)of this section shall include only contributions made subsequent to June 30, 1931: *And provided further*, Years of service.That the number of years of service to be used in computing the annuity under paragraphs
(1)and
(3)of this section shall not exceed the difference between thirty and the number of years of allowable service rendered prior to July 1, 1931. The annuity granted under paragraphs (1), (3), and
(4)of this Annuity limited to three-fourths annual salary, etc.section shall not exceed three-fourths of the average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation received by the employee during any five consecutive years of allowable service at the option of the employee. Any employee at the time of his retirement may elect to receive, Increased annuity at employee’s option.in lieu of the life annuity herein described, an increased annuity of equivalent value which shall carry with it a proviso that no unexpended part of the principal upon the annuitant’s death shall Computations of periods of service.be returned. For the purposes of this Act all periods of service shall be computed in accordance with section 7 hereof, and the annuity shall be fixed at the nearest multiple of twelve. 1476 Bonuses, etc., excluded as “basic salary, pay, or compensation.”The term “basic salary, pay, or compensation,” wherever used in this Act, shall be so construed as to exclude from the operation of the Act all bonuses, allowances, overtime pay, or salary, pay, or compensation given in addition to the base pay of the position as fixed by law or regulation. computation of accredited serviceAccredited service. Sec. 7. Periods of service included in computing. Subject to the provisions of section 8 hereof, the service which shall form the basis for calculating the amount of any benefit provided in this Act shall be computed from the date of original employment, whether as a classified or an unclassified employee, in the civil service of the United States or under the municipal government District of Columbia.of the District of Columbia, including periods of service at different times and in one or more departments, branches, or independent offices of the Government, and service on the Isthmus of Panama with the Isthmian Canal Commission, the Panama Canal, or the Panama Railroad Company; also periods of service Overseas, military, naval, etc.performed overseas under authority of the United States and periods of honorable service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Deduction of periods entitling to pension, etc.Guard of the United States. In the case of an employee, however, who is eligible for and elects to receive a pension under any law, or retired pay on account of military or naval service, or compensation under the War Risk Insurance Act, the period of his military or naval service upon which such pension, retired pay, or compensation is based shall not be included, but nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to affect in any manner his right to a pension, or to retired pay, or to compensation under the War Risk Insurance Act in addition to the annuity herein provided. Periods of separations, etc., excluded.In computing length of service for the purposes of this Act all periods of separation from the service, and so much of any leaves of absence without pay as may exceed six months in the aggregate in any calendar year, shall be excluded. Fractions of a month disregarded.In determining the total periods of service upon which the allowances are to be computed under section 6 hereof, the fractional part of a month, if any, shall be eliminated from each respective total period. credit fir oast servicePast service. Sec. 8. Deposits to credit of fund by employees hereafter brought within purview of Act. All employees coming within the provisions of this Act after the effective date thereof shall be required to deposit with the Treasurer of the United States to the credit of the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund referred to in section 9 hereof, under rules to be prescribed by the Commissioner of Pensions, a sum equal to 2½ per centum of the employee’s basic salary, pay, or compensation From July 31, 1920, to July 1, 1926.Thereafter.received for services rendered after July 31, 1920, and prior to July 1, 1926, and also 3½ per centum of the basic salary, pay, or compensation for services rendered subsequent to June 30, 1926, together Interest rate.with interest computed at the rate of 4 per centum per annum compounded on the last day of each fiscal year, but such interest shall not be included for any period during which the employee was separated from the service. Upon making such deposit the *Proviso.*When deposit not required.employee shall be entitled to credit for the period or periods of service involved: *Provided*, That no such deposit shall be required on account of services rendered for the Panama Railroad Company Failure to deposit.prior to January 1, 1924: *Provided further*, That failure to make such deposit shall not deprive the employee of credit for any past service for which no deposit is required under the provisions of this section. 1477 deductionsDeductions. Sec. 9. Beginning July 1, 1931, there shall be deducted and withheld Monthly deductions from salaries.from the basic salary, pay, or compensation of each employee to whom this Act applies a sum equal to 5 per centum of such employee’s basic salary, pay, or compensation. The amounts so Procedure to be proscribed.deducted and withheld from the basic salary, pay, or compensation of each employee shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States to the credit of a special fund to be known as the Transferred to special fund.Canal Zone retirement and disability fund, in accordance with the procedure now or hereafter prescribed for covering into the United States Treasury the deductions from salaries under the Civil Service Vol. 41, p. 614; Vol. 44, p. 004.*Ante*, p. 468.Retirement Act of May 22, 1920, as amended, and said fund is hereby appropriated for the payment of the annuities, refunds, and allowances as provided in this Act. The Commissioner of Pensions is hereby authorized and directed Credit due from previous funds transferred to.Vol. 41, p 614.to ascertain the amount, including accrued interest, due employees of the Panama Canal coming within the purview of this Act from the civil service retirement and disability fund created by the Act of May 22, 1920, and to certify same to the Secretary of the Treasury, who is hereby authorized and directed to transfer such amount on the books of the Treasury Department to the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund. The board of directors of the Panama Railroad Company shall Transfer of assets in the Panama Railroad pension fund.cause to be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury, for credit to the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund, the gross assets in the Panama Railroad pension fund at the close of business on June 30, 1931, applying to employees included within the provisions of this Act, subject to the assumption of the liabilities of that fund as of the close of business on June 30, 1931, by the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund. Every employee coming within the provisions of this Act shall Consent by employee of deductions inferred.be deemed to consent and agree to the deductions from salary, pay, or compensation as provided herein, and payment less such Payment, a full discharge of all claims for services except annuity.deductions shall be a full and complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands whatsoever for all regular services rendered by such employee during the period covered by such payment, except the right to the benefits to which he shall be entitled under the provisions of this Act, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation affecting the salary, pay, or compensation of any person or persons to whom this Act applies. investments and accountsInvestments and accounts. Sec. 10. The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest from time to Unused portion of special fund In Federal securities, etc.time in interest-bearing securities of the United States or in Federal farm-loan bonds such portions of the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund as in his judgment may not be immediately required for the payment of the annuities, refunds, and allowances herein authorized, and the incomes derived from such investments shall constitute a part of such fund. return of amounts deducted from salariesReturn of amounts deducted from salary. Sec. 11.
(a)Under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Amounts deducted to be credited to individual accounts, to date of Act.Civil Service Commission the amounts deducted and withheld from the basic salary, pay, or compensation of each employee for credit to the civil-service retirement and disability fund or the Panama Railroad pension fund, covering service rendered prior to the effective date of this Act, shall be credited to an individual account 1478of such employee to be maintained by the Panama Canal, and the amounts deducted and withheld from the basic salary, pay, or The same thereafter, less $1 per month.compensation of each employee for credit to the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund, covering service from and after the effective date of this Act, less the sum of $1 per month or major fraction thereof, shall similarly be credited to such individual account.
(b)Return of deductions on transfer to position not included in Act. In the case of any employee to whom this Act applies who shall be transferred to a position not within the purview of the Act, or who shall become absolutely separated from the service before becoming eligible for retirement on annuity, the amount credited to his individual account shall be returned to such employee together with interest at 4 per centum per annum compounded on *Provisos.*Involuntary separation.June 30 of each year: *Provided*, That when any employee becomes involuntarily separated from the service, not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency, the total amount of his deductions with interest thereon shall be paid to such employee:Redeposit upon reinstatement. *And provided further*, That all moneys so returned to an employee must, upon reinstatement, retransfer, or reappointment to a position coming within the purview of this Act, be redeposited with interest before such employee may derive any benefits under this Act, except as provided in this section, but interest shall not be required covering any period of separation from the service.
(c)Amount credited to deceased annuitant’s account to bo paid to his representative. In case an annuitant shall die without having received in annuities purchased by the employee’s contributions as provided in
(2)of section 6 hereof an amount equal to the total amount to his credit at time of retirement, the amount remaining to his credit shall be paid in one sum to his legal representatives upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor, unless the annuitant shall have elected to receive an increased annuity as provided in section 6 hereof.
(d)It deceased employee ineligible for retirement. In case an employee shall die without having attained eligibility for retirement or without having established a valid claim for annuity, the total amount of his deductions with interest thereon shall be paid to the legal representatives of such employee.
(e)Payment to guardian, etc. In case a former employee entitled to the return of the amount credited to his individual account shall become legally incompetent, the total amount due may be paid to a duly appointed guardian or committee of such employee.
(f)If no guardian, etc., of amounts not exceeding $1,000. If the amount of accrued annuity or of refund due a former employee who is legally incompetent does not exceed $1,000, and if there has been no demand upon the Commissioner of Pensions by a duly appointed executor, administrator, guardian, or committee, payment may be made, after the expiration of thirty days from date of death or of separation from the service, as the case may be, to such Legal effect of payment.person or persons as may appear in the judgment of the Commissioner of Pensions to be legally entitled thereto, and such payment shall be a bar to recovery by any other person. payment of annuitiesPayment of annuities. Sec. 12. Monthly, by check. Annuities granted under the terms of this Act shall be due and payable in monthly installments on the first business day of the month following the month or other period for which the annuity shall have accrued; and payment of all annuities, refunds, and allowances granted hereunder shall be made by checks drawn and issued by the disbursing clerk for the payment of pensions in such form and manner and with such safeguards as shall be prescribed by the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations governing accounting that may be found applicable to such payments. 1479 Applications for annuity shall be in such form as the Commissioner Applications for.of Pensions may prescribe, and shall be supported by such certificates from the heads of departments, branches, or independent offices of the Government or the Panama Railroad Company in which the applicant has been employed as may be necessary to the determination Certificate from head of department, etc., required.of the rights of the applicant. Upon receipt of satisfactory evidence the Commissioner of Pensions shall forthwith adjudicate the claim of the applicant, and if title to annuity be established, a proper certificate shall be issued to the annuitant under the seal of the Veterans’ Administration. Annuities granted under the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of this Commencement and continuance.Disability and involuntary separations.*Ante*, pp. 1472, 1474.Act shall commence from the date of separation from the service and shall continue during the life of the annuitant. Annuities granted under the provisions of sections 4 and 5 hereof shall be subject to the limitations specified in said sections. benefits extended to those already retiredRetired employees. Sec. 13. In the case of those employees of the Panama Canal or Benefits of Act extended to.If retired on annuity.Vol. 41, p. 614.the Panama Railroad Company who before the effective date of this Act shall have been retired on annuity under the provisions of the Act of May 22, 1920, or said Act as amended, or as extended by Executive orders, or under the provisions of the Panama Railroad pension plan, the annuity shall be computed, adjusted, and paid under the provisions of this Act, but this Act shall not be so construed as to reduce the annuity of any person retired before its effective date, nor shall any increase in annuity commence before such effective date. All those who were separated from the service of either the Panama If retired subsequent to August 1, 1920, without annuity.Canal or the Panama Railroad Company on the Isthmus of Panama, subsequent to August 1, 1920, and before the effective date of this Act, not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency, without having been granted retirement annuities due to the act that all of their service which would be allowable under the provisions of this Act was not counted in arriving at their total service, and who are otherwise eligible by having made the necessary contributions to the retirement and disability funds as herein provided, shall, from the effective date of this Act, be paid annuities in accordance wth the provisions of this Act. board of actuariesBoard of Actuaries. Sec. 14. The board of actuaries selected by the Commissioner of To make periodic valuations of Canal Zone fund.Vol. p. 912.Pensions under the provisions of section 16 of the Act of July 3, 1926, shall make a valuation of the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund at intervals of five years, or oftener, if deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Pensions. administrationAdministration. Sec. 15. For the purpose of administration, except as otherwise Under Commissioner of Pensions.provided herein, the Commissioner of Pensions, under the direction of the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, is hereby authorized and directed to perform, or cause to be performed, any and all acts and to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this Act into full force and effect. An appeal to the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs Appeal to Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs.shall lie from the final action or order of the Commissioner of Pensions affecting the rights or interests of any person or of the United States under this Act, the procedure on appeal to be as 1480prescribed by the Commissioner of Pensions, with the approval of the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs. Report annually.The Commissioner of Pensions shall make a detailed comparative report annually, showing all receipts and disbursements on account of annuities, refunds, and allowances under this Act, together with the total number of persons receiving annuities and the total amounts To Congress, with recommendations, etc., of board of actuaries.paid them; and he shall transmit to Congress, through the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, the reports and recommendations of the board of actuaries. Estimates of sums necessary for financing fund.The Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs shall submit annually to the Bureau of the Budget estimates of the appropriations necessary to finance the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund, and to continue this Act in full force and effect. exemption from execution, and so forthExemption of annuities. Sec. 16. Moneys from, non-assignable, etc. None of the moneys mentioned in this Act shall be assignable, either in law or equity, or be subject to execution, levy, or attachment, garnishment, or other legal process. effective date Sec. 17. Effective date, July 1, 1931.Vol. 41, p. 614.*Ante*, p. 468. This Act shall take effect July 1, 1931, and from and after that date the provisions of the Civil Service Retirement Act of May 22, 1920, as amended, shall not apply to employees of the Panama Canal on the Isthmus of Panama or to any other employees coming *Proviso.*Payment of annuity if employee eligible for retirement under Civil Service Retirement Act, only.within the provisions of this Act: *Provided, however*, That any employee of the Panama Canal who shall attain the age of eligibility for retirement without having rendered sufficient service on the Isthmus of Panama to entitle him to be retired on an annuity as provided by section 2 hereof, but whose aggregate employment under the United States would be sufficient in character and duration to entitle him to receive an annuity under the provisions of the Civil Service Retirement Act of May 22, 1920, as amended, will be eligible to retire and receive an annuity under the provisions of that Act and payable from the civil service retirement and disability fund; Return of excess in deductions under provisions herein.and in such event the employee shall be entitled, upon separation from the service, to the refund, under such regulations as the Commissioner of Pensions may prescribe, of any excess in the deductions made from his salary, pay, or compensation under the provisions of this Act, with interest, over those which would have been made at Transfer of account.the rate fixed by the Civil Service Retirement Act as amended; and the Commissioner of Pensions shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the amount remaining to the credit of such employee in the Canal Zone retirement and disability fund, and said amount shall be transferred on the books of the Treasury Department to the civil service retirement and disability fund. Approved, March 2, 1931.