Evening star., 1929-09-05
BETTER CONDITIONS
SEEN BY LEHLbACH
Tells Federal Workers. Con.
Vention President Fav0rs
Larger Annuities.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
SAULT STE. MARIE. September S.
-Spurred by assertion that the Hoover
administration will give a particularly
sympathetic reception to reform pro-
posals. the M tional Federation of Fed
eral Employees today was disposing of
the. final resolutions with a view to
electing officers and naming the 1881
convention city.
The attitude Of the administration
toward the improvement of working
conditions among Federal employees was
described to the convention yesterday
afternoon by Representative Lehlbach,
Representative, Of New Jersey. chairman
OF the House civil service committee.
Mr.. Lehlbach declared that President
Hoover favors an attractive superannu-
alton law so that an employe of the
Government will welcome rather than
fight retirement.
Forecasts Better Law.
He further predicted that Congress
In the near future would adopt a retire
ment measure providing an annuity of
81 200 instead of $1,000 and a fiat re-
tirement age of so.
The speaker said that "Mr. Hoover,
as an engineer and Secretary of Com
merce and as q lifelong dealer with
men. Is qualified to give unusually intel
ligent consideration to measures in
behalf of Federal employees"
An ovation of several minutes was
accorded Mr.. Lehlbach, introduced by
President Luther Steward as the man
who has meant more to Federal en-
ployes than any other man in public
life"
OF the some so resolutions already
disposed of, those passed at yesterdays
sessions demand minimum salary of
81 500 for every adult full-time employe
OF the Government, maximum six
day week with extra pay for overtime,
civil service court of appeals and re-
Aloval of the restrictions on political
activities of Federal employees.
$50 Resolutions Pending.
The other resolutions favorably
passed upon deal with classification,
compensation, vacations and employ
ment, and more than $50 resolutions
still are to be acted upon.
The social side of the convention had
! climax last night in a grand ball
at the armory here. The only thing to
! mar the pleasure of delegates during
! the day was a slight cerebral stroke
suffered by ]. p. Thompson of Oakland,
| Calf, fifth vice president of the asso-
| citation. The condition CT Mr.. Thomp-
ly improved today at the War Memorial
Hospital.
A bitter debate developed On the floor
yesterday over a proposal to urge the
creation of a permanent medical corps
for the United States Veterans Bureau
similar In operation to that of the
Army, Navy and Public Health Service.
and to urge retirement based on the
length of service. The night ensuing
after the measure was brought Up prob
ably was the most actively contested
Of the convention.
Women Back Measure.
Opponents of the resolution declared
the success of the resolution would be
in effect to build up a new military
organization, giving the doctors in the
Veterans Bureau rank and pay differ
ent from that of civilian workers.
The resolution was championed by
half q dozen women delegates, mostly
from the nursing and hospital classtfi-
cations. They denied that any military
organization would result, but that
doctors are rapidly leaving the Veterans
Bureau because of the hopeless outlook
for better pay ratings. 1t was con-
tended that the doctors should have
an equal chance with private and
military physicians.
The resolution was finally withdrawn
and referred back to the committee on
legislation.
The convention hit the denial by the
Government of the right of Federal en-
ployes to take active part in political
campaigns. President Steward of the
federation led the discussion concerning
the resolution, which provided that the
convention instruct the executive coun-
Gil to make such investigations and take
such steps as may be necessary to secure
amendments to the civil service act and
the rules promulgated Hereunder as to
service the same political rights as are
enjoyed by other citizens Of the United
States.
Charges Manipulation.
Mr.. Steward declared that for the
past 40 years Federal employees have
been the helpless victims of political
manipulation and deprived of a legal
voice of protest.
If they fight back, they lose their
positions, he declared. He said that
the executive council is working to REM
edy this situation. He has no desire,
he said, to throw the membership into
partisan politics, but insists that the
federation give constant attention to
the subject so as to afford the member
ship their necessary rights and protec-
ton from those who do have political
power.
A telegram from President Hoover
to Mr.. Steward, read to the convention
at noon, asked him to tell the conven-
ton delegates that the President shares