Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-02
HEAD Of FEDERAL
WORKERS EXPECTS
PERIODIC RAISES
WEIGH Act Called First Step
for Parity With Other
Civilian Employees.
STEWARD MAKES ANNUAL
REPORT TO CONVENTION
Says General Recognition That
Relief Is Imperative Is Most
Important Point.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich, Septem-
Der 2.-DeScribing the WEIGH salary
act, that added more than SCI 00o, 900
annually to the Federal pay rolls, as
the first step along the way toward
bringing the Federal employe TO parity
with other civilian workers, Luther C..
Steward, president of the National
Federation of Federal Employees, pledged
the organizations activity in broad
range of subjects in his biennial re-
port to the federation's convention here
today.
More important even than the amount
of increases involved in the WEIGH DILL
he said, was 1.-THE recognition by the
Congress, the President, and by the
general public, that Federal employees
were, as group, underpalo, ana tnae
relief was imperative"
Bills providing for the retirement OF
employees will be pushed. Steward SAID
as will be efforts to secure simple
workable system of service ratings. he
expressed the opinion that system OF
periodic increases in salary may be
established and the average restrictlon
in appropriation bills permanently
eliminated.
Benefits Seen From Survey.
'"The feature Of outstanding impor-
lance in the WEIGH act" Steward Salo,
was the mandatory provision calllng
for a survey and collection of facts to
form the basis of intelligent personnel
legislation" The federation anticipates,
he said, that proceeding out OF this
survey will be various legislation pene-
fitting the Federal employe.
Among the immediate interests OF the
federation, for the provision OF Whlcn
bills will be introduced in the next reg,
lllar session of Congress, Steward named
the following:
Retirement, carrying the increased
annuity and the more liberal method
of computation, but with optional re-
tirement after 80 years OF service,
years less than the retirement ages car
ried in existing law.
A shorter work week. THE growing
sentiment for shorter work week mas
enabled your national officers TO MAKE
substantial progress in the direction OF
securing legislation for a Saturday hall
holiday the year around" he said.
Bills covering the subject IN SO lar as
it relates to our membership will be IN
troduced at the next regular session
and there is reason to believe that
favorable action will be had" he-sald.
Congress Will Get Data.
Gas a result of information which will
be developed by the survey, 1t Will be
possible to lay before Congress authorl-
tative data in regard to hours OF work
and conditions of labor OF Federal en-
ployes, which will be used as the basis
for remedial legislation covering en-
ployes who are either at the present
time required to work seven days a week
or an excessive number of hours day..
The overtime situation is still unsat1s-
factory, Steward reported, with limit
ed few exceptions. 1t is confidently be-
liveded," he told the convention, that
the time is not far distant when as the
result of the establishment OF general
policy on this question. overtime legis-
lation, covering the entire Federal es-
Enlistment, may be enacted"
Progress was reported in the effort TO
extend the competitive classification
service, and Steward recommended that
the convention "go on record as ap-
proving the extension OF the merit Sys-
tenn to all civilian positions other than
policy making ones, in order that the
fight may be continued until the only
entrance in the Federal service will be
through proven fitness and q system OF
promotion established, based upon DEM
onstrated satisfactory performance OF
duty"
Standardized Leave.
The subject of standardized leave was
discussed by Mr.. Steward at length.
"The effort Of the National Federation
I'm previous years to bring. into the
foreground the deSirability of stand
ardized leave law as a measure of eff
Gent administration has borne SubStan-
tial fruit during the last two years." he
reported.
ian interdepartmental committee.
working under the direction of the chief
co-ordinator, has been devotiug atten-
ton to this important subject. It is
safe to predict that the whole leave SUBJ
xI,f1I ho faI fn of
the next regular session. in December,
and we are sanguine that a measure
embodying 80 days leave with pay and
general sick leave of Is days per an
mum, cumulative to- 100 days, will be
introduced. This measure will have
general administrative support, which
will tend greatly to eliminate delay in
enactment of this important piece of
legislation"
Federal employees in the mass"
Steward said, like other human beings
In the mass, are proverbially short
sighted, and the severe reverse sustained
In the battle for better Federal per-
sonnet conditions through the malad-
Ininistration Of the classification act of
1928 had very discouraging effect
upon the group most vitality affected.
l. Public Opinion Enlightened.
""rhe marked development of more
enlightened public opinion as to Fed
eral personnel conditions and q recog-
milton of the necessity for improving
such conditions is even more impor-
tant," he asserted.
In view of the fact that it has al
ready been demonstrated that the en-
ployes' contributions are carrying dis
proportionate share of the annual cost
OF the maintenance of the Federal re-
tirement system, there can be no valid
argument" he declared, against in
creasing the annuity without any fur
Their increase of the employees contri-
buttons In order that the proportion of
the cost of the system may be more
nearly divided between the Government
and the employee"
Quoting from reports Of the board OF
actuaries, Steward said there were on
July 80 last 1921 employees retired on
account of age and $3.50 on account
of disability. The number on the re-
tirement roll as of June. 80 last was
1891, he said, and the average an
nuity was $746.28, as compared with
the average annuity OF $72l June 80
1927.
Substantial Progress Reported.
"Federal employees who have not YET
grasped the importance of organization
and employees who have associated
themselves with the type of pseudo or.
ganizations which spring up, exist and
pass away with perennial regularity