PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 84 -APR . 24, 1939 Retired officers re- ceiving annuities on effective date of act. Increases in annui- ties not retroactive. Annuities not to be reduced; exception. Payment upon death of officer who has not established valid claim. Proviso. Officers with at least 15 years ofservice; an- nuity to widow. Retirement and dis- ability fund, invest- ment. Moneys not subject to legal process, etc. Excess of accumu- lated contributions over accumulated an- nuity payments. Payment of; order of precedence. reduced by an amount equal to one-half the annuity which he elects to have paid to his widow. If the age of the officer exceeds the age of the wife by more than eight years, the annuity of the officer will be reduced by an amount equal to one-half the annuity which he elects to have paid to his widow plus an additional reduction equal to 2 per centum of such widow's annuity for each year, or fraction thereof, that the difference in age exceeds eight: Provided further, That a retired officer who is receiving an annuity on the effective date of this Act, if the husband of a wife to whom he was married at the time of his retirement and for a total period of at least five years, shall be entitled under the same terms and conditions set forth above, to elect to receive a reduced annuity, a portion of which will be continued on his death throughout the life of his surviving widow, but all such elections by retired officers shall be made within six months following the effective date of this Act, and they shall all be effective on the same date, to be prescribed by the President: And provided further, That no increases in annuities under this Act shall operate retroactively and nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as reducing the rate of the annuity received by any retired officer on the effective date of this Act, unless the officer voluntarily elects to receive a reduced annuity as provided herein. "(f) In case a Foreign Service officer shall die without having established a valid claim for annuity, the total amount of his deduc- tions with interest thereon at 4 per centum per annum compounded on June 30 of each year, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, shall be paid upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor in the order of precedence given under paragraph (i) of this section: Provided, however, That if the deceased officer ren- dered at least fifteen years of service and is survived by a widow to whom he was married for at least five years, such widow shall be paid an annuity equal to the annuity which she would have been entitled to receive if her husband had been retired on the date of his death, under the provisions of paragraph (j) of this section, and had elected to receive the reduced joint and survivorship annuity under paragraph (e) hereof, providing the maximum annuity for his widow, unless prior to the date of his death he shall have elected, in lieu of such widow's annuity, and with the approval of the Secre- tary of State, the return of his deductions with interest as provided in the first part of this paragraph covering officers dying without having established a valid claim for annuity. "(g) The Secretary of the Treasury is directed to invest from time to time in interest-bearing securities of the United States such portions of the Foreign Service retirement and disability fund as in his judgment may not be immediately required for the payment of annuities, refunds, and allowances, and the income derived from such investments shall constitute a part of said fund. "(h) None of the moneys mentioned in this section shall be assign- able either in law or equity, or be subject to execution, levy, or attach- ment, garnishment, or other legal process. "(i) In case the total contributions of the retired officer, exclusive of additional voluntary contributions made under paragraph (c) of this section, together with interest at 4 per centum per annum compounded annually up to the date at which annuity payments cease under the terms of the annuity, exceed the annuity payments exclusive of any additional annuity purchased with voluntary con- tributions made under paragraph (c) hereof, accumulated at the same rate of interest up to such date, the excess of said accumulated contributions over said accumulated annuity payments shall be paid 586 [53 STAT.
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