Evening star., 1932-05-25
CONGRESS WARNED
AGAINST PAY CUTS
BY UNITED GROUPS
Patriotic, Business, Church
and Labor Interests
Join in Appeal.
GREEN CITES GROWING
SUFFERING AND UNREST
Maintenance of Federal Paw Roll
Held Vital Need-Economy
Measure Sharply Scored.

Sharp resolutions opposing final con-
gressional approval of the House econ
omy bill were adopted last night at
joint meeting of patriotic, labor, busi-
ness and religious interests in the
American Federation of Labor Building.
The resolutions were adopted after
William Green, federation president,
warned:
There's terrible feeling abroad. I
don't know how long labor can main
tain industrial peace and I'm appre-
hensive of the coming Winter If one
thing will save the situation, it will be
Tor Congress to say, Regardless of what
private Industry does, we won't cut Fed
eral wages This would go a long way
to allay the spirit Of unrest"
Prominent Leaders Help.
Other speakers fighting the suggested
pay cuts included F. G. Fraser, COM
mander Of the District Department.
American Legion; Father John O'Grady,
representing Archbishop M. j. Curley
OF the Catholic Church; John T. Tay-
lor, national legislative representative
OF OF the American Legion: L. S. Ray of
the Veterans OF Foreign Wars: E. Claude
Babcock, national commander of the
Disabled American Veterans, Mrs. Ed
wilma Austinberry Of the National Wom-
ans Party: D. r. Glass, chairman of
the Joint Conference on Affiliation with
the American Federation of Labor: Col
Orvel Johnson Of the Reserve Officers
Training Corps Association; j. B. Dick
man Of the Cleveland Park Citizens
Association; Dorsey w Hyde. jr.. secre-
tary Of the Washington Chamber of
Commerce: DR.. H. H. Harmon. pastor
of the National City Christian Church;
Gwendlyn Geach of the National League
OF Women Voters; DR.. William A. Shell
ton. pastor of the Mount Vernon Place
Methodist Episcopal Church South. and
II. A. McConangher, president of the
Metal Trades Council of the Panama
Canal Zone
The resolution follows:
1T Is the sense of this National
Emergency Committee on LEGISLATION
Affecting Federal Employees TO defeat the
lnsld1ouS and treacherous propaganda
now attacking our Government. its or
ganlZatlon and personnel, both civil and
military, and its relief of war veterans
who have offered and given their service
to their country in time of national
need We call upon our membership
throughout the Nation. and through
them the entire citizenship. to acouaint
the Congress with the need for care
1uIIy and deliberately considered reve-
INCREASING laws for current budget
needs and for Capital project legislation
Tor elimination OF the unemployment
problem
We protest the hysterical and secret
chamber legislation proposed and re-
Sultlng from such propaganda and its
hurried and lll-conSidered enactment.
Saving Is Doubted.
I'VE believe that the so-called econ
omy bill will not result in economy.
instead 1t will break down at a single
blow enactments Of Congress adopted
over long period of years after full
and deliberate hearings. mature inves-
tlgation and consideration. and that the
so-called economy bill should be re-
jected by Congress"
Mr.. Green said it is the patriotic
duty OF the A. F. L. to resist all efforts
to lower the living standards of the
country. He said wages had only been
advanced to the present level after a
long struggle. To lower them now, he
insisted. would constitute an attack on
nome, business, social and spiritual life.
He also cited the consequent reduction
IN the buying power of Washington
residents should the suggested cuts 70
through.
To reduce Government wages"
Green said, would be economically
wrong and fundamentally unsound.
Our whole economic system would be
dlsiocated. The Government represents
human values. If it fails to maintain
Its own standards. it will help industry
10 lower the standards of millions. II
seems terrible to me that the Govern
ment has to destroy human values to
balance the budget
Green closed with an attack on Com
munism.
Father O'Grady said a reduction in
wages would constitute the worst
method the Government could follow
IN meeting the economic crisis, He
said Congress had been talking of saw
ing few million dollars rather than
OF developing real economy program
He suggested as solution a huge nro-
gram of public works.