Evening star., 1917-01-15
WILL WAGE FIGHT
ON SENATE FLOOR
Government Clerks to Per-
suade Friends to Lead Effort
for Increased Pay.
MAY FORCE ECONOMIES

Plans are being developed by repre-
sentatives of organizations of govern
ment employees and of the American
Federation of Labor to have friends
made a strenuous fight on the floor OF
the Senate to have some provision for
increased salaries for government en-
ployes placed in the legislative appro-
priation bill. The Senate appropria-
tions committee rejected the proposed
House increases.
When informed of the action of the
Senate appropriations committee today,
H. L. McLarin, president of the Fed
eral Employees Union, said that means
big fight on the floor Of the Senate:
Senators are to be interviewed and
facts concerning the condition Of many
employees in the government service
ploys. it is declared. have many friends
in the Senate who are willing to put
up big fight to have the Senate pro-
vide increases in salaries.
AS one official stated today: IF we do
! not win on the floor of the Senate every
one there will know that he has been
through fight
Although not yet conceding defeat,
President McLarin, in statement. said
that should the increases finally fail. the
Labor behind it. stands ready to attempt
to force economies in the government
service in other ways. The elimination
Of so-called pork" from bills in Con-
gress will be one of the principal mat
ters to be watched by the committee.
Appeal to Senators by Letter.
Letters are being sent to every member
of the Senate. inviting his attention to the
c$o of fha g
representatives at the hearings before the
Senate appropriations committee and say
ing that the decision of the democratic
caucus to hold government appropriations
to the smallest possible amount cannot
be construed to include the proposed raise
for government employees.
We are very much disappointed" says
Mr.. McLarin's statement. ''at the action
Of the subcommittee Of the committee on
appropriations. but realize that 1t is in
line with the contemplated action Of the
Senate on all appropriation bills. We are
bringing every possible influence to bear
on the Senate to have favorable action
ever. il the Senate sticks to the attitude
it has taken in this subcommittee we
shall certainly expect it to adhere to the
position in all other appropriation bills
and cut out all increases.
Attention is invited to the fact that
there has just been passed the omni-
bus hsh hatcheries bill appropriating
5000, 900 for the establishment of ffsh
hatcherfes all over the country. This
has been denominated as q pork. bth
to q large extent. though as matter
Of fact 1t Is very worthy bill. 1t is
reasonable to suppose that In view of
the fact that all members of Congress
do not share In the items of this bill,
that they will have to be taken care of
in some other bill Of the pork ma
ture. We submit that the flsh hatcher
-
the increases in pay for government
employees. We will certainly expect
Congress to live up to the adopted
policy of economy in all matters, and
leave of the river and harbor and pub
lie buildings bills altogether. with sub
stantiaI parings on the national de-
tense appropriation measures.
Complain Of Being Singled Out.
I'VE dislike very much to be made
the only object of economy and hope
that the economy will not either begin
with US or end there. The attention
of Congress has been invited to the
fact that the influence of about 500, 900
employees of the United States is back
of this bill. and that many of these
employees are affiliated with and
part of the American Federation of
Labor. AS this organization never takes
up cause which is not just. mem
bers of Congress should give due
strength of the American Federation
of Labor is with the employees in their
fight for increased pay.
'If we are defeated in this matter,
as we are not yet by any means, we
will continue our efforts with redou-
bled energy to bring about the other
reforms SO necessary in the govern
ment service"
Text of Special Plea.
The letter to the senators says:
THE organized government employees
have been endeavoring to secure some
substantial increase in pay. particu-
larly for those whose pay has not
been increased since 1853. This in
crease is particularly necessary at this
the cost of living.
The appropriations committee of the
Senate granted us herring and our
evidence was submitted to them. This
hearing has been printed, and we hone
that you will read it.
I'VE now understand that because of
the impending deficit the democratic
caucus has resolved that appropriations
shall be limited to the smallest possi-
BILE amounts. We submit that this reso-
luton should not be construed to
prevent the increases in salaries and
wages which we seek. The deficit is
due to the preparedness program. The
revenue system was never intended to
meet the expenditures involved in this
program. and must be changed to Sc
cure the additional revenues. The
whole country is thoroughly prosperous
and wages have been universally ad-
last few years. whereas our rates OF
pay have remained stationary. The
government employees are thus not
sharing in any way in the general
prosperity. but, on the contrary are
subjected to the prevailing high prices
Just as are the other citizens Of the
United States who have received in
creases in salaries and wages