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'14 ALLOTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO

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COVER THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

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HEARING

BEFORE THE

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Lon- COMMITTEE ON

OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE

—

=533 ISE OF REPRESENTATIVES

rR

EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

H.R. 8827 and H.R. 8856

BILLS TO EXTEND THE ACT OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1961, RELATING

TO ALLOTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PAY, TO COVER THE

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

MAY 12, 1964

Printed for the use of the

Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

: 2-868 WASHINGTON : 1964

ar. *oommommillli
COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE

TOM MURRAY,

JAMES H. MORRISON, Louisiana

THADDEUS J. DULSKI, New York

DAVID N. HENDERSON, North Carolina

ARNOLD OLSEN, Montana

MORRIS K. UDALL, Arizona

DOMINICK V. DANIELS, New JerseN

LINDLEY BECKWORTH, Texas

HARLEY 0. STAGGERS, West Virginia

ROBERT N. C. NIX, Pennsylvania

JOE R. POOL, Texas

ALBERT W. WATSON, South Carolina

EDWARD R. ROYBAL, California

CHARLES H. WILSON, California

Tennessee, Chairman

ROBERT J. CORBETT, Pennsylvania

H. R. GROSS, Iowa

AUGUST E. JOHANSEN, Michigan

GLENN CUNNINGHAM, Nebraska

GEORGE M. WALLHAUSER, New Jersey

ROBERT R. BARRY, New York

KATHARINE ST. GEORGE, New York

EDWARD J. DERWINSKI, Illinois

ROBERT F. ELLSWORTH, Kansas

HOMER E. ABELE, Ohio

ALBERT W. JOHNSON, Pennsylvania

SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTED To CONSIDER H.R. 8827 AND H.R. 8856

EDWARD R. ROYBAL, California, Chairman

CHARLES H. WILSON, California ROBERT F. ELLSWORTH, Kansas
CONTENTS

Statement of—

Evans, John R., vice president, Columbia Typographical Union No. Page

101, and chairman of the legislative committee 10

Humphrey, Harry J., Deputy Comptroller, Government Printing

Office 5

Lankford, Hon. Richard E., U.S. Congressman from Maryland 3

Leftwich, Joe E., Legislative Committee of the Government Printing

Office, representing the Columbia Typographical Union No. 101 9

Leich, Harold H., Chief, Program Planning Division, U.S. Civil Service

Commission; accompanied by Frank Witham, program planner 3

McCart, John, operations director, Government Employes' Council,

AFL—CIO 8

Meagher, George, legislative representative, American Federation of

Government Employees 6

Reid, James, administrative assistant to Hon. Carlton R. Sickles,

Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland 2

ALLOTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER

THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1964

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMIThIE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE,

ashington, D.0 .

The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., in room 215, Cannon House Office

Building, Hon. Edward R. Roybal (chairman) presiding.

Mr. ROYBAL. The hearing will come to order.

This subcommittee was appointed to consider H.R. 8827, sponsored

by Mr. Sickles, of Maryland; and H.R. 8856, sponsored by Mr. Lankford, of Maryland; similar bills which will bring the Government

Printing Office within the purview of the act. of September 26, 1961,

relating to allotment and assignment of civilian employees' compensation.

(The bills referred to follow:)

[H.R. 8827, 88th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To extend the Act of September 26. 1961, relating to allotment and assignment

of pay, to cover the Government Printing Office, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States

of America in Congress assembled, That paragraph (1) of the first section of the

Act entitled "An Act to authorize pay with respect to civilian employees of the

United States in cases of emergency evacuations, to consolidate the laws governing allotment and assignment of pay by such employees, and for other purposes",

approved September 26, 1961 (75 Stat. 662; 5 U.S.C. 3071). is amended—

(1) by striking out the word "and" immediately following "(F) the

Library of Congress ;" ;

(2) by adding

" ( G) the Government Printing Office; and" immediately below

"(F) the Library of Congress ;" ; and

(3) by striking out " ( G )" and inserting in lieu thereof "(H)".

[H.R. 8856, 88th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To bring the Government Printing Office within the purview of the Act of

September 26, 1961, relating to allotment and assignment of pay and other matters

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States

of America in Congress assembled, That paragraph (1) of the first section of the

Act of September 26, 1961 (75 Stat. 662; Public Law 87-304; 5 U.S.C. 3071 ) , is

amended by striking out

"(F) the Library of Congress; and

" (G ) the municipal government of the District of Columbia."

and inserting in lieu thereof

" ( F) the Library of Congress;

" ( G) the municipal government of the District of Columbia; and

" (H) the Government Printing Office."

1
2 ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO

Mr. ROYBAL. The act of September 26, 1961, Public Law 8'T-304,

authorizes the head of each department covered by the act to provide :

(1) For the continuance and advancement of pay to which civilian

employees in cases of emergency evacuations are entitled; and (2) for

allotments and assignments of pay by such employees.

Under the provisions of the first section, the act now applies to the

departments and agencies of the executive and judicial branches, the

municipal government of the District of Columbia, the General Accounting Office, and the Library of Congress. These bills will extend

the authority provided by the act to the Government Printing Office.

It is my understanding that the basic reason being advanced as

justification for this legislation is to provide a means for employees

of the Government Printing Office to have the same benefits now enjoyed by employees of the executive branch in regard to the right of

the employees to authorize setoffs from their compensation for union

dues and for State income tax purposes.

Hon. Carlton R. Sickles has his legislative assistant present.

The subcommittee will now hear from him.

STATEMENT OF JAMES REID, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT TO HON.

CARLTON R. SICKLES, REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE

STATE OF MARYLAND

Mr. REID. Mr. Chairman, in behalf of Congressman Sickles I would

like to say we are very happy you scheduled hearings on this bill. We

intend to file a statement later with the subcommittee.

The Congressman himself had hoped to testify this morning. The

House Education and Labor Committee has been in executive session

since about 9:45 working on the antipoverty legislation and that is the

reason for his not being here.

We hope you can support this measure and we intend to file a statement with the committee detailing the reasons for our introduction of

the bill and we hope you will get behind it.

Mr. ROYBAL. All right, sir; thank you very much.

(The statement of Congressman Sickles follows:)

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN CARLTON R. SICKLES, OF MARYLAND

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that you have scheduled hearings on H.R. 8827.

This measure would bring the Government Printing Office under the provisions

of Public Law 87-304. Among other things, this would provide the authority

for the withholding of Maryland and Virginia State income taxes from the pay

of those employees working for the GPO who wish to do so.

This legislation is favored by the State of Maryland and the employees of the

GPO. Mr. James L. Harrison, Public Printer, has no objection to the passage of

this bill. I hope members of the committee will give this bill their support.

Mr. ROYBAL. Hon. Richard E. Lankford has a statement which,.

without objection, will be submitted for the record.
ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO 3

(The statement referred to follows:)

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D.C., May 8, 1964.

Hon. Tom MURRAY,

Chairman, House Post Office and Civil Service Committee,

213 Cannon House Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I was very glad to learn that you are going to hold a

hearing on May 12 on legislation I have proposed (H.R. 8856) which would

amend existing legislation so as to permit the Government Printing Office to

withhold State income taxes from the pay of its employees.

As you know, the act of September 26, 1961, permits certain Government agencies, but not the Government Printing Office, to withhold State income taxes

from salary checks. However, the Comptroller General has ruled that in the absence of specific authority the Public Printer cannot withhold State income taxes.

H.R. 8856 would give the Public Printer that authority.

I believe that the reasons for enactment of this legislation are self-evident.

There is no question that it would be much more convenient for the employees

of the Government Printing Office if they were to have their State income taxes

withheld from their salary checks. I have been informed by the Printing Office

that they could accomplish this very easily.

I also understand that the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of

Virginia have endorsed this legislation, and that there is no objection to it from

any quarter. Therefore, I strongly urge that your committee give favorable consideration to H.R. 8856.

I would appreciate it if you would make this letter a part of the record of the

hearings.

Best wishes.

Sincerely yours,

RICHARD E. LANKFORD,

Member of Congress.

Mr. ROYBAL. We will now hear from Mr. Harold H. Leich, Chief,

Program Planning Division, U.S. Civil Service Commission.

STATEMENT OF HAROLD H. LEIGH, CHIEF, PROGRAM PLANNING

DIVISION, U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

Mr. LEICH. Mr. Chairman, I am accompanied by, Mr. Frank

Witham, of the Program Planner Division of the Civil Service

Commission.

We appreciate the opportunity to appear before your committee

this morning in order to present the views of the Civil Service Commission regarding H.R. 8827, introduced by Mr. Sickles, and H.R.

8856, introduced by Mr. Lankford, which are similar bills designed

to bring the Government Printing Office within the purview of the

act of September 26, 1961, Public Law 87-304, relating to emergency

evacuations payments to Federal civilian employees and allotments

and assignments from their pay.

On May 11, 1964, Chairman John W. Macy, Jr., of the Civil Service

Commission dispatched a letter to the Honorable Tom Murray, chairman of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, setting

forth the Commission's views on these two bills.

I have extra copies of the letter here and would suggest that the

letter be made part of your committee's hearing record.

Mr. ROYBAL. Without objection, that will be done.
4 ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO

(The letter referred to follows:)

U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,

Washington, D.C., May 11, 1964.

lion. Tom MURRAY,

Chairman, Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, House of Representatives,

Room 213, Cannon House Office Building.

DEAR Mn. CHAIRMAN: This is in further reply to your requests of January 3,

1964, for the Commission's views on H.R. 8827 and H.R. 8856, similar bills which

would bring the Government Printing Office within the purview of the act of

September 26, 1961, relating to allotment and assignment of pay and other

matters.

The act of September 26, 1961 (Public Law 87-304), authorizes the head of

each department covered by the act to provide for the continuance and advancement of pay to its civilian employees in cases of emergency evacuations, and

to provide for allotments and assignments of pay by such employees. This

act now applies to all departments and agencies in the executive and judicial

branches, to the municipal government of the District of Columbia, and to the

General Accounting Office and the Library of Congress in the legislative branch.

H.R. 8827 and H.R. 8856 would extend the authority provided by this act to the

Government Printing Office.

The authority to the head of each department under the act of September 26,

1961, to provide for evacuation payments and allotments and assignments of

pay is permissive. However, the regulations and procedures established under

this authority by departments in the executive branch must be consistent with

regulations of the Civil Service Commission issued pursuant to section 6 of

the act and Executive Order 10982. If included within the purview of the

act, the Government Printing Office, not being in the executive branch, would

not be subject to the Commission's regulations.

The Commission sees no objection to the enactment of legislation such as

proposed in H.R. 8827 and H.R. 8856 to bring the Government Printing Office

within the purview of the act of September 26, 1961.

The Bureau of the Budget advises that from the standpoint of the administration's program there is no objection to the submission of this report.

By direction of the Commission:

Sincerely yours,

JOHN W. MACY, Jr., Chairman.

Mr. LEIGH. In brief the letter states the Commission has no objection to the coverage of the Government Printing Office under Public

Law 87-304, and points out that the Government Printing Office, if

covered, would not be subject to the regulatory authority of the Civil

Service Commission which the President granted under Executive

Order 10982.

That order applies to executive branch agencies only and does not

govern the two present legislative branch agencies, the Library of

Congress and the General Accounting Office, which are already

covered under Public Law 87-304.

Therefore, if these current bills are enacted, the Public Printer

would have full authority to carry out such provisions of Public Law

87-304 as he deemed necessary.

In summary, Mr. Chairman, we believe that since the executive

branch agencies are covered by the legislation, and two of the major

legislative branch agencies are already covered, that it would be

appropriate for the Government Printing Office likewise to be covered

and therefore the Civil Service Commission has no objection.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my statement. I will be glad to

try to respond to any questions the committee might have.

MT. ROYBAL. Mr. Ellsworth?

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Is it your understanding that this legislation would

permit employees to ask that their State income tax be withheld? It

would not require it to be withheld; is that correct?

0
ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO 5

Mr. LEIGH. That is my understanding, that this would be entirely

permissive on the part of the employee, assuming that he were a

resident of one State and working in another State. Under those

conditions he could request, and it would be entirely permissive on his

part, to have such income tax withheld.

Mr. ELLswoRTH. While the executive branch and several organizations under the legislative branch can do that, the Government Printing Office cannot do that as it now stands?

Mr. LEICH. That is my understanding.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Are there other institutions that should be

brought in under this legislation that have been left out inadvertently

•or otherwise?

Mr. LEICH. So far as the executive branch is concerned they are

completely covered. We have not made a study of the extent to which

organizations in the legislative branch might not be covered.

Mr. EnswoRTH. Thank you.

Mr. ROYBAL. Thank you very much.

We will hear now from Mr. Harry J. Humphrey, Deputy Comptroller, Government Printing Office.

STATEMENT OF HARRY I. HUMPHREY, DEPUTY COMPTROLLER,

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Mr. HUMPHREY. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I

appreciate this opportunity to appear before this committee in behalf

of the Public Printer, who had a prior commitment, in order to furnish a statement of the views of the Government Printing Office relative to H.R. 8827 and 8856. These bills propose the extension of the

act of September 26, 1961, relating to allotment and assignment of pay,

to cover the Government Printing Office.

Upon passage of Public Law 87-304 no action was taken by this

Office to implement the provisions of this act as the Government

Printing Office was not named as one of the agencies affected. However, when it was ruled that this act was to cover the authorization for

allotment and assignment of pay by employees for other than emergency evacuation purposes, we decided to verify our position as to the

effect of this law by requesting a decision of the Comptroller General.

On August 8, 1963, the Comptroller General ruled that since the

Government Printing Office is not specifically mentioned it is not one

of the departments covered by the act, and secondly, since regulations

or orders issued pursuant to the authority granted by the act cannot

have a greater scope than that authorized by the act, it follows that the

Government Printing Office is not subject to any such regulations or

orders. Therefore, no action was taken to establish regulations in the

Government Printing Office for the implementation of this act.

Should the proposed inclusion of the Government Printing Office

under this act be approved by the Congress it will require some additional work to provide the necessary accounting for the allotments

and assignments of pay authorized. However, the Public Printer

wishes to inform the committee that he has no objection to passage of

this bill as it will place the Government Printing Office within the

same provisions of the law in this respect as the other agencies of the

Federal Government.
•

6 ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO

Mr. ROYBAL. I have a letter dated January 8 to Chairman Murray

from the Public Printer, James L. Harrison.

Without objection we shall insert that letter at this point in the

record.

(The letter referred to follows:)

JANUARY 8, 1964.

Hon. Tom MURRAY,

Chairman, Committee on Post Office and Civil Service,

House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In accordance with your request of January 3, 1964,

I am furnishing, in triplicate, comment on the following proposed legislation:

H.R. 8827, introduced by Congressman Sickles; and H.R. 8856, introduced by

Congressman Lankford; pertaining to covering the Government Printing Office

within the act of September 26, 1961, relating to allotment and assignment of

pay.

I have no objection to passage of the above bills, as they will place the Government Printing Office within the same provisions of the law as the other agencies

of the Federal Government, in this respect.

Sincerely yours,

JAMES L. HARRISON, Public Printer.

Mr. ROYBAL. Will the additional work require any additional

personnel?

Mr. HUMPHREY. I do not believe it will. We have the electronic

equipment to handle our payroll operation and I believe it can be

programed to fit in without any material increase in cost.

Mr. ROYBAL. Mr. Ellsworth?

Mr. ELLSWORTH. I have no questions.

Mr. ROYBAL. That will be all, sir.

Thank you very much.

We will hear next from Mr. Hubert P. by, a representative of the

Composing Division Scale Committee, Government Printing Office.

(No response.)

Mr. ROYBAL. We will hear, then, from Mr. George Meagher, legislative representative, American Federation of Government Employees.

STATEMENT OF GEORGE MEAGHER, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

Mr. MEAGHER. Mr. Chairman, I am George Meagher, director of

legislation. The American Federation of Government Employees endorses both bills, H.R. 8827 and H.R. 8856, which would bring the Govment Printing Office under the purview of dues checkoff.

We have a statement which I would like to file for the record and

just make a short brief comment on the statement.

Mr. ROYBAL. Without objection the statement will be filed for the

record.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ON THE

BILLS, H.R. 8827 AND H.R. 8856, To INCLUDE THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

IN THE BASIC LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY FOR VOLUNTARY ALLOTMENTS BY FEDERAL

EMPLOYEES

Inasmuch as the bill H.R. 8827, sponsored by Representative Sickles, of Maryland, has a single, practical purpose and that purpose is beneficial to a sizable

group of Federal employees, it is the viewpoint of the American Federation of

Government Employees that the bill should become law. The same favorable

opinion applies equally to H.R. 8856, a similar bill by Mr. Lankford, of Maryland.
ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO 7

Enactment of such legislation is necessary because of the omission of the

Government Printing Office from the act of September 26, 1961, Public Law 87-

304, which contains the basic legislative authority for voluntary allotments by

Federal employees for any purpose.

This law became recognized as the statutory authority for allotments for such

purposes as State income taxes and union dues. Authority for allotment for

union dues was affirmed by the Comptroller General in a decision given Chairman

John W. Macy, of the Civil Service Commission, January 7, 1963 (B-40342 and

B-132133) and for State income taxes in a decision of June 4, 1963 (B-104553).

The only aspect of allotments by Federal employees of significance with respect to H.R. 8827 is the matter of coverage of the act of September 26, 1961.

Section 1 of the act plainly applies to "each executive department of the Government of the United States of America" as well as to "each agency and independent

establishment" and to "each corporation wholly owned or controlled by such

Government."

The act also specifically mentions the judicial branch and the government of

the District of Columbia but it does not indicate blanket coverage of the entire

legislative branch. It refers only to the General Accounting Office and the

Library of Congress.

The report on the bill H.R. 2555 in the 87th Congress, which became Public

Law 87-304, indicates the desire of Congress to have conformity of regulations

issued by the President and by agency heads in the legislative branch:

"* * * although, in the case of those departments outside the executive branch,

the regulations of the head of each department technically are not subject to the

Presidential regulations, it is anticipated that, in the interests of uniformity,

these regulations will conform, as nearly as practicable, to the Presidential

regulations."

The report did not, however, say anything about the extent of coverage in the

legislative branch. It became necessary therefore for the Public Printer to request a ruling by the Comptroller which was given August 8, 1963 (B-152126).

The Public Printer asked two questions: 1. Is the Government Printing Office

included in the law, though not specifically mentioned; and 2. If it is not included, is it subject to any regulations or orders issued under authority of Public

Law 87-304?

The Comptroller General replied negatively to both questions:

"Section 1 of the act does not generally include the legislative branch of which

the Government Printing Office is a part, in defining the 'departments' covered

by the act. Therefore, since the Government Printing Office is not specifically

mentioned, it is not one of the departments covered by the act.

"Secondly, since regulations or orders issued pursuant to the authority granted

by the act cannot have a greater scope than that authorized by the act, it follows that the Government Printing Office is not subject to any such regulations

or orders."

The two bills which have been introduced in the House have for their intent

the correction of this situation in which the law apparently does not permit

employee allotments in the Government Printing Office. If enacted, they would

further achieve uniformity throughout the Government service, for there appears

to be no valid reason why there should be different rules or procedure in any

agencies of the Federal Government.

Since there are more than 7,000 persons employed by the Government Printing

Office, extension of the privilege of allotment for such purposes as union dues or

State income taxes, or for other purposes which may provide personal convenience, becomes a matter of considerable importance. In the interest of these

employees, many of whom are members of the American Federation of Government Employees, it is our hope that H.R. 8827 wil be favorably reported for

action by the House.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to comment on this legislation.

Mr. MEAGHER. The report on the bill H.R. 2555 in the 87th Congress, which became Public Law 87-304, indicates the desire of Congress to have conformity of regulations issued by the President and

by agency heads in the legislative branch.

The report did not, however, say anything about the extent of coverage in the legislative branch. It became necessary therefore for the
ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO

Public Printer to request a ruling by the Comptroller which was given

August 8,1963 (B-152126) . The Public Printer asked two questions:

1. Is the Government Printing Office included in the law, though

not specifically mentioned and

2. If it is not included, is it subject to any regulations or orders issued

under authority of Public Law 87-304?

The Comptroller General replied negatively to both questions.

The two bills which have been introduced in the House have for

their intent the correction of this situation in which the law apparently does not permit employee allotments in the Government Printing Office. If enacted, they would further achieve uniformity

throughout the Government service, for there appears to be no valid

reason why there should be different rules or procedure in any agencies of the Federal Government.

We represent employees both at the Washington Government

Printing Office and also the Chicago printing office. We have had

lodges there for over 10 years in both cases.

In behalf of these employees we would like to see them share in the

benefits of the previous legislation.

Mr. ROYBAL. Can you tell us how many employees you represent

who would be involved in this legislation?

Mr. MEAGIIER. About 250, sir. We have a little over 100 in Chicago and the rest would be in Washington.

Mr. ROYBAL. Thank you.

Mr. Ellsworth?

Mr. ELLSWORTH. I have no questions, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ROYBAL. Thank you very much.

We will now hear from Mr. John McCart, operations director, Government Employes' Council, AFL-CIO.

STATEMENT OF JOHN McCART, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR,

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYES' COUNCIL, AFL—CIO

Mr. MCCART. Mr. Chairman, we have supplied the subcommittee

with a copy of our statement. With your permission I would like to

have it inserted in the transcript and proceed extemporaneously.

Mr. ROYBAL. Without objection that will be ordered.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYES' COUNCIL, AFL-CIO

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, the Government Employes'

Council representing 27 AFL-CIO unions with members in the Federal service

including the Government Printing Office, endorses H.R. 8827 and H.R. 8856.

Introduced by Representatives Carlton R. Sickles and Richard E. Lankford,

respectively, the bills authorize the Public Printer to utilize payroll deduction

for State income taxes and union dues at the request of employees.

The council desires to express its appreciation to the sponsor of the measures

and to you and your colleagues on the subcommittee for arranging this hearing.

The purpose of the pending legislation is to extend to Government Printing

Office employees the same opportunity which now exists in other Federal agencies

for employees to designate withholding State income levies and union dues from

their pay. On the part of both the Public Printer and the individual employees

involved, the action would be voluntary.

In the case of union dues, agreement would have to be reached between unions

and management at the Government Printing Office to apply the payroll withholding process. Following such agreement, the individual employee would still

exercise the option of having his dues deducted or not.

0
4

ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER THE GPO 9

In effect, the two bills under consideration simply extend to the Government

Printing Office the 1961 statute (Public Law 87-304) approved by the House

Post Office and Civil Service Committee. That law prescribed the conditions

under which most Federal workers generally and the Federal Government may

allot and assign their pay. It served as the basis for the executive branch

policy permitting voluntary payroll withholding of union dues.

We urge that the subcommittee approve the legislation at an early date.

Mr. ROYBAL. You may proceed.

Mr. MCCART. Mr. Chairman, the Government Employes' Council

has among its affiliates the printing unions in the Government Printing Office, the craft unions in the Government Printing Office, and,

as indicated by Mr. Meagher, the American Federation of Government Employees, so we speak in their behalf.

We appear today in support of the two bills pending before the

subcommittee. I want to express our appreciation to you and to your

colleagues and to the sponsors of the bills, Representatives Sickles.

and Lankford.

I do not think it is necessary for me to expand on the reason that

this legislation is desirable. I would simply like to emphasize this

point: That in the case of both the withholding of union dues and

the withholding of State income taxes this is a completely voluntary

action, on the part of both the Public Printer, the unions, and the

individual employees affected, so that the authority being sought is

simply a legislative sanction to permit the Public Printer and the

unions and the employees in question to express their desire in the

matter.

As you are well aware, the intent of this legislation is simply to

extend to the Government Printing Office the practices now in effect

in the executive branch with the enactment of Public Law 87-304.

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, the 27 unions associated with our council subscribe to this legislation and urge your

early favorable action.

Thank you.

Mr. ROYBAL. I have no questions of this gentleman.

Mr. Ellsworth?

Mr. ELLSWORTH. No questions, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Mr. MCCART. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ROYBAL. We will now hear from the representative of the Columbia Typographical Union No. 101.

STATEMENT OF JOE E. LEFTWICH, MEMBER, LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, COLUMBIA TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION NO. 101; ACCOMPANIED BY SIDNEY E. SORRELS

Mr. LEFTWICH. Mr. Chairman, after what has been said here there

is very little for me to say in response to these bills except that in

behalf of the Government employees I would like to ask for a favorable report from the committee as all employees are interested in it.

Mr. ROYBAL. Do you have a written or prepared statement?

Mr. LErrwicx. No, sir; I do not at this time. However, Mr. John

R. Evans, chairman of our committee, is tied up at the present time

in a labor dispute at the Evening Star. I ask permission to insert a

statement that was prepared by him.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. May we have your full name?
10 ASSIGNMENT OF PAY TO COVER Lah GPO

Mr. LEFTWICH. Jam Joe E. Leftwich.

Mr. ROYBAL. You represent?

Mr. LEFTWICH. I am on the legislative committee of the Government Printing Office, representing the Columbia Typographical Union

No. 101.

Mr. ROYBAL. Thank you very much.

Mr. LEFTWICH. Thank you, sir.

( The statement of Mr. Evans follows:)

STATEMENT BY JOHN R. EVANS, VICE PRESIDENT, COLUMBIA TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION

No. 101, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATivE COMMITTEE

When the bill H.R. 2555 in the 87th Congress was passed it was discovered

that it did not include the employees of the Government Printing Office. The

Public Printer asked for a ruling of the bill as it affects the employees of the

Government Printing Office and the Comptroller ruled that the employees were

not subject to the bill.

Two bills have been introduced in the House to correct this situation: they

are H.R. 8827, by Representative Sickles, and H.R. 8856, by Representative

Lankford, both from the State of Maryland.

There are approximately 7,000 employees in the Government Printing Office

who are interested in having the privilege of allotment extended to them for

the purposes of union dues and State income taxes. In the interest of these

Government Printing Office employees, we hope that H.R. 8827 and H.R. 8856

will receive a favorable report from this committee so that it may be reported

to the House for action in the near future.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this statement to your committee.

Mr. ROYBAL. Is there anyone else who would like to testify for or

against this bill?

(No response.)

Mr. ROYBAL. Without objection, the hearing will be adjourned.

• 44

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1964 L .44

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