Evening star., 1922-11-16
Federal Employees Union Ap.
peaIs for SterIing-LehI-
bach Bill.
SAY DELAY IS. BLOCKING
WORKINGS OF CONGRESS
Legislation Declared Needed for
Intelligent Consideration of De-
partmental Appropriations.

The necessity for immediate action
upon the Sterling -Lehlbach bill for re-
classification of the federal civil service
was brought to President Harding's at
tention today by the executive council
OF the National Federation Of Federal
Employees, composed Of elected repre-
sentatives of government workers in all
federal services in all parts OF the
United States
Congress cannot proceed intelliRently
to its task Of appropriat.ng for the ex-
ecutive departments of the government
until a final action has been taken
upon this BILL" the federation officials
urged in a statement left at the White
House today.
Text of Appeal.
The statement brought to the atten-
ton Of the President follows:
"As measure Of efficiency and
economy in administration, this bill is
second to none that will come before
the Congress at its next sessions. As a
measure Of justice and fair play to the
government workers. it is equally i'm
portant If the government, in the treat
ment OF its personnel. is to rank with
the modern minded employees Of the
United States.
Held Essential to ConRress,
We urge further that the adoption
OF this reclassifcation bill is essential
to the transaction Of public business
IN the short session of Songress
While the bill is pending Songress
cannot proceed intelliigently to its
task of appropriating for civil service
salaries and is faced with the neces-
sity in respect TO all supply bills of
continuing the present cumbersome
system of salary appropriations with
all Its inequalities. wastefulness and
injustice. The Sterling-Lehlbach CHI bill
Classics the service by duties with
rates OF pay according to skill. train
ing. responsibility and efficiency, and
provides for administration on a uni
form basis Of equal pay for equal
work. Appropriating for the service
as thus provided for. Congress would
be able not only to know the Just re-
qutrements OF the departments Of the
government. but to maintain 4 close
check upon the returns for its ex-
Asked for Aid.
I'VE respectfully ask, Mr. President,
that you present this matter to Con-
gress in Your message to the special
session. The Sterling-Lehlach bill was
passed by the House of Representa-
tives last December by a vote Of 24s
to s.. 1t was reported favorably,
with some amendments. by the Senate
committee on civil service last Feb
ruary. Since that date il has been in
a subcommittee of the Senate appro-
priations committee awaiting action
on the compensation schedules
I'VE respectfully submit that action
should be no longer deferred, and we
respectfully urge that you bring the
matter forcibly to the attention of
Congress" (Signed) Luther c. Stew
ard. Washington. D. c.. president:
John Fitzgerald. Brooklyn. n. V, first
vice president: w. c. Carpenter. Spo-
kane. Wash. second vice president;
Gertrude NJ. McNally. Washington, d.
c.. third vice president: NJ. J. Hines.
Leavenworth. Kan. fourth vice presi-
dent: S. Tyson kinsell. Philadelphia,
Pa. fifth vice president: Charles L.
Wiegand, Baltimore. Nd. sixth vice
seventh vice president: l.. J. Tierney.
St. Paul. Mimi. eighth vice president:
Lee r. Whitney. Milwaukee. Wis.
ninth vice president. and James p. Nc
Keon. Washington. d. c.. secretary
treasurer.