The Washington times., 1917-01-20
DENIES DEFICIT Is
BAR TO A RAISE
Machinists' Head Sees No Argu-
ment Against Increase for
U. S. Workers. i

n. r. Alifas, president of the local
union of the International Associa-
ton OF Machinists. denied before .
meeting of the Federal Employees
Union in National Rifles Armory last
night, that the present deficit In the
Treasury is a reasonable argument
to be used by Congress against
higher wage scale for the Govern
ment employees in the District.
THE Government employees are not
responsible for that deficit" said Mr..
AIifas, whose organization has thous-
ands Of members employed In Govern
ment navy yards and arsenals. ia
fact. no one Is responsible. The pres
ent revenue law was adopted at \
time. when preparedness was not BE-
ing thought OF. 80
People Approved
Since the enactment OF this rev
enue law a great war has started In
Europe and this country has begun
to increase its expenditures for na
tional defense. And the people of
this country. as near as their views
are obtainable,, have approved this de-
Tense program
Therefore, this deficit is not tbs
result of mismanagement of the pub
lie funds, but merely the acts OF Con
gress in carrying out what apparent
ly rs the will of the people.
Natural Condition.
This deficit, then. Is a natural
condition which has arisen as,the re
suit OF circumstances and must b.
met by Congress. Whatever revenue
plan the Government adopts, the Fed
eral employees will do their share to
meet IL.
1--WE feel that we have justice on
our side, and we believe that X We
can properly present bur plea to the
IaboringS people of the country they
will approve it and give US their sup
port
Denounees Argument.
Mr.. Alifas also denounced the other
argument used by members of Con-
gress, that there is always a Ions
waiting list for Government Jobs.
and. therefore. according to the law
OF supply and demand. there Is no
need for increasing the pay of these
Government, employees when so many
others are ready to take their places
at their present salaries.'
I'VE can answer this argument"
continued the head Of the machinists.
by pointing out to Congress that
the private civil service schools OF
the country induce hundreds Of men
and women to take their courses and
then put their names on the waiting
list by telling them what good jobs
they can get in the Government"
No Long. Waiting Lists
In this connection, Mr.. Alifas de
clared that in the case of trained me
chanics in the Government navy yards
and, arsenals, for which the civil
service schools cannot train appli-
cants. there seldom is long list OF
waiting applicants, which, MI Alifas
said proves that the Government
scale of wages Is lower than that OF
private corporations.
Mr.. Alifas declared that the Gov.
ernment is discounting the advant--
ages OF the eight-hour law and thirty
days annual leave, which the Fed
eral employees enjoy, by paying them
comparatively low wages.
Those AristocratIe CIerks.-
A humorous word-picture OF "the
folks back home" sitting around the
fire in the village store and reading
with alarm the news from Wash
ington that their representative in
Congress voted for an increase in the
pay "of those aristocratic" Govern
ment clerks in Washington was
painted by Assistant Secretary OF La
Dor Louis F. Post.
You must remepber." said Mr..
Post, that to a good many peojle
through the country. who probably
never had more than four or 1ve
hundred dollars at time, 5000 looks
mighty big. And they feel that they
are going to be taxed for your in
crease"
First Step Taken.
After a lengthy analysis OF the process
Of labor and the right OF every man to
get a fair compensation for the labor
he. performs. Mr.. Post concluded:
IT hope that this winter you will get
an increase in your compensation. but
if you do not you must feel that in the
perfection Of this organization you have
taken the first step toward betterinG
your conditions. and that is big ac-
compliShment.
Mr.. Post declared that the steady
increase in the cost of living meant
nothing more than a reduction in sal
airy for the Government employees, ana
that. therefore, they were merely ask
ing Congress to restore their reduced