The Washington times., 1922-06-21
EMPLOYEES
UNION To
WAGE WAR
Amendment Proposed to Re-
store $40 Status and De- $
feat $50, Cut. 4

feat $50, Cut. q !;
The Madden BILL. providing for
Q reduction in the annual bonus
Of Government employees from
$240 TO $3.50. was scheduled to
be called up in the House early
this afternoon under q special
rule authorized by Chairman
Campbell, Of the Rules Commit
tee.
Congressman Lehlbach, chair
man Of the Civil Service Commit.
tee, announced he viii offer an
amendment to the measure restor-
ing the original $240 bonus, which
would mean that the bill, II
passed, would increase the total
appropriation from approximately
e28, ,000. 900 to $40,000,000.
Contest Il Expected.
On account of the fight contem.
plated by Leihbach It was expected
there would be a bitter contest on
the floor this afternoon. inspired
by the National Federation of
Federal Employees which Is rallying
its friends In the House to the
support Of the amendment. Repre-
scntatives of the federation today
pointed out to many members of
Congress the cost of living In still
rising and that high rents In the
District have offset any decrease
IN any commodity.
The third deficiency bill reported
out of the committee yesterday cuts
the bonus $50, and provides q total
Of s3s.335, $50. The reduction OF $3.50
annual bonus win affect approxi.
mateiy 10000 employees, the majority
Of whom are in the District. The
reduction would also affect District
employees, including school teachers,
policemen and firemen.
A reduction Of the bonus. It is
pointed out, reduces the Govern
msnt workers. pay to less than
compensation Of Federal employees
has not been changed for the past
sixty years. r# -
Increase Is Cited.
In its report, the committee,
states that one Of the factors en-.
tering into the reduction in bonus
is the decreased cost Of living.
''The present bonus OF $240 year
IN the result OF increases from time
TO time until IL has reached the
present rate. Reductions In the
principal elements entering into the
cost of living since the fixing Of
the $40 rate actuated the commit.
tee In recommending the decrease OF
q a 80. faa .
The statement In, the committee's 9
report that the cost Of living has
been reduced, has been assailed by
the Federal Employees Union, who
cite, figures, compiled by the De
partment Of Labor. showing that
there has been, an actual increase OF
per cent since January 1922, OF
farm products, clothing. fuel and
lighting.
There can be no possible JUST.
fication for reduction Of wages
when living costs are rising" Lu.
ther Stewart, president Of the en-
ployes' union, said today. "Espe-
cially can there be no possible Jus.
tification for decreasing the pay OF
Government employees who have
been on the same salary schedule
for more than sixty years"
Until rents come down in Wash
ington, they declare, there can be
no possible justification for the
claim that the cost Of living has
decreased. 2.
1.-THE slight decline in living cost,
which occurred prior to January OF
this year, has been much more than
offset by the increased costs of rent.
II Is contended. "Since January
there has been steady increase, and
there is nothing to indicate that this
increase will not continue, and 10
reduce the thousands Of employees
compensation in Washington would
be TO work very serious hardship
on them," Stewart declares.
Takes Effect July 1.
An. effort will be made by mem
bers OF the union, together with
trade and civic bodies. to have an
Amendment added to the third def.
ciepcy bill. restoring the bonus. The
bfIi. III passed, win take effect July |,
and any change made In the provi.
sions of the measure must be made
before that time. -....
Reoa,,sey of the fact that the
House Appropriation Committee has
waited 80 long In reporting out the
measure, that there will be an at
tempt to jam the, measure through
before members Of Congress. can
"feei the pulse Of the people on
the provisions of the measure.
Heretofore the bill has always
been reported out Of the commit.
tee considerable time before its
passage, and in each instance. the
fight OF the employees to have the
fun bonus restored has been sue.
cessful. Union officials are appre
hensfve. however, this year, II Ia
known, that the fight may. be lost