Evening star., 1932-12-25
HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO SEEK FULL PAY
FOR SNOW MOVERS
Representative Mccormack
to Ask Exemption From
Economy Act.
SAME STATUS PLANNED
FOR POSTAL WORKERS
Massachusetts, Democrat Declares
Congress Didn't Intend to Re-
duce Emergency Employees.

Representative Mccormack. Democrat
OF Massachusetts, will introduce Tues
day, when the House reconvenes. a
resolution to pay to the emergency
workers on snow removal the amount
deducted from their pay under pro-
visions of the economy act. His reso-
luton also will cover all of the part
time postal workers in Washington and
all over the country, who are handling
the Christmas mails.
Mccormack intends to speak vigor-
ously on the floor of the House on
the question. He already has conferred
with members of the special committee
who drafted the economy act and they
have assured him that no such deduc-
tions from temporary workers was in
tended ana that they will support his
resolution. His resolution is in line
with the La Guardia amendment to the
1reasury-POst Office approximation
bills provisions fo- continuing the
economy act for the fiscal year 1884,
which exempts from the 8l3 per cent
cut all those who receive not more than
S83.33 per month. Representative Nc
Cormack was one of those most active
in having the La Guardia amendment
approved.
AS his contribution to the Christmas
cheer Of these temporary employees,
Representative Mccormack says he Is
confident his resolution VIII be passed
promptly by the House, because Con-
gress had no intention that the pay
cut under the furlough system should
apply TO such temporary workers.
One Eleventh Deducted.
Representative Mccormack explained
that the deduction made from those
engaged on snow removal in the Capt.
tal, most Of whom were destitute and
improperly clad for such work, was one
eleventh Of their pay. because they were
rated as per diem emp.oyes The de-
ductiOn from the temporary employees in
the Postal Service handling the Christ
mas mails was 6i3 per cent the ststu-
/ tary cut for regular employees being ap-
/ piled TO them. Their rate OF pay is IS
cents per hour. minus 81 per cent.
The purpose of the resolution I have
drafted and intend to introduce as soon
as the House reconyenes," said Repre-
sentative Mccormack. is to order that
refund be made to the workers on
snow removal who had the one-eleventh
deducted from their meager sa!ar.e7.
1t is also to take care Of the NAM
thousand temporary employees at pres
ent being employed throughout the
country on Christmas work.
Congress never intended" he
tinued, that the deducti-rs shJIG
applied to such character Of Togl.
temporary employees for bricf PEI
The House recently corrected that q.
understanding ard injustice under IT,
economy act by an amendment to II,
Treasury-Fost Office appropriation b..
continuing the economy act provisions
applicable to all the big appropriation
bills carrying salaries for Government
! workers.
The Controller General has had no
alternative in view of the mandatory
wording of the economy act last year,
which language. unintentionally and un-
consciously employed by Congress. has
imposed this reduction on men they had
no thought Of including in the general
pay cut.
Passage Is Expected.
1T is contrary to all rules Of common
sense and fair play as well as resulting
in extreme hardship I have talked with
members OF the special committee that
drafted the economy bill and they as
sure me that such deduction from pay
for short-time work of this character
was never IhOusnI OF ana llat lney VIII
support me.
The immediate passage of my resolu-
ton is only fair and proper. expect 1t
to pass without delay My purpose in
| introducing 1t is to correct this terrible
| injustice just at the Christmas season
| for those who are obliged by the very
| nature of the work to suffer hardships
| for the meager salary they receive. Con-
greSS never had any thought that such
an injustice would develop, and am
confident that Congress will be eager to
! correct it.
The work of snow removal in Wash
ington and the work of handling Christ
mas mails throughout the country has
brought some small cheer into thou
sands Of destitute homes, and certainly
no member Of Congress desires to have
| that small cheer and comfort dinlin-
| iShed by their direction or approval"
Representative Mccormack long has
! been interested in the welfare Of Gov
| ernment employees. He is a member OF
| the Ways and Means Committee and
! has been mentioned as having strong
support for the post of House leader in
| the next Congress.