Evening star., 1931-12-15
GREEN PROTESTS
i. S. PAY CUT BILL
A. F. l. Leader Expresses
-. Il
Views on Measure of Penn
syIvania Representative.

Reiterating its intense interest Sin
the economic welfare of fellow workers
employed in the Government service"
the American Federation of Labor,
through its president, William Green.
today protested the proposal contained
in two bills recently introduced in Con-
greSS to reduce the wages and salaries
OF all Government employees.
1t is the intent and purpose of the
federation, Green said in a letter to
Chairman Byrns of the House Appro-
priations Committee, to oppose any at
tempt on the part of Congress Ito
lower the living standards of Govern
ment employees through the imposition
OF reduction in wages" A bill recently
introduced by Representative Rich of
Pennsylvania inspired the letter of pro-
test, it was stated.
Text of Letter.
Green's letter to Representative Byrns
states, in part:
Because of my deep solicitude for
the economic and social welfare of the
thousands of Government employees and
because OF the feelings Of apprehen-
sion which prevail in the minds of the
officers and members of the American
Federation of Labor, I am writing you
regarding suggestions which have been
made in various quarters that a sub
stantial reduction in wages should be
and must be imposed upon Government
employees. I know of no action which
lie Government could take which would
arouse so much disappointment and
dissatisfaction. The laboring people
employed in private industry in all sec
tionS of the land will join with the
Government employees directly affected
in vigorous protest against a lower
ing of the standards of living through
the imposition of a reduction in wages
upon Government employees.
May I take the liberty of remind
ing you that during the war period and
following the war. when many workers
we're more fortunate than Government
employees in SO far as wages and con-
ditions of employment were concerned,
Government employees were not so for
tunate as to receive increases of pay
commensurate with the increase in the
cost of living.
Makes Vigorous Protest.
II wish to present to you, and
through you to the leaders of Congress,
a most vigorous protest against any
attempt to reduce the modest wages
end salaries paid Government en-
ployeS. The officers and members of
the American Federation of Labor
could not, under any circumstances,
give approval to such a legislative
policy nor could they reconcile them
selves to such action on the part of
Congress.
Il most earnestly request you to op-
pose vigorously any attempt to reduce
the salary of Government employees.
will be pleased if I may receive from
you favorable response to the request
which I have herein submitted"
The reply of Representative Byrns
to this communication stated, in part:
Immediately upon returning to
Washington gave an interview to the
press in which stated that I was not
in favor of considering the question of
reduction of Government salaries until
every other means of balancing the
budget be resorted to and was found
wanting; that 1 felt the burden should
be upon the higher bracket incomes
which had received substantial reduc-
ton. I further said that If it finally
appeared that salary reductions were
absolutely necessary that those with
the high salaries be first to receive the
reduction"