DuPont deserves credit for changing executive pensions in the same way it is changing those for lower-level workers.

Trust funds protecting executive pensions even when ordinary workers' pension plans are underfunded, and hefty "retention" bonuses for executives of near-bankrupt companies, are all the rage these days.

The senators also said that if companies wanted any help from Congress, they would have to stop quietly protecting executive pensions while paring back pensions for employees.

Companies are blaming the government for things that are within the companies' control; yet they usually overcome all these "problems" when setting up generous executive pensions.

The boom in executive pensions began in the 1980's, after the federal government enacted a law limiting the amount of an employee's salary that a company can consider when contributing to pension coffers.

In many cases, executive pensions give benefits that are far more generous than rank-and-file workers receive, even after the differences in salaries are taken into account.

But the most prominent proposals, including President Bush's, would not alter basic rules covering executive pensions.

"We are not aware of evidence that executive pensions are uniquely protected from the realities of increased costs and pressures on pension provision," Mr Cridland added.

For example, the auto maker confirmed today that it had trimmed a special executive pension that pays Roger B. Smith, its former chairman, more than $1.1 million a year.

In recent years, corporate boards have increased the size of executive pensions at an even faster pace than pay has grown.