Evening star., 1932-12-06
IRESC|ND|NG OF PAY
| CUT ACT DEMANDED
| BY LABOR BODIES
Back Appeal of u. S. En-
ployes Before Senate Econ
| Omy Committee.
GOVERNMENT LEAD ASKED
jim KEEPING WAGE LEVELS
Mcclellan Appeals to Patriotism in
Accepting of Salary
| Reductions.

Spokesman for the American Fedora
ton Of Labor and the Washington Gen.
tral Labor Union went before the Senate
Economy Committee today in support
of the appeal of Government employees
against continuing the reductions In
FEDERAL salaries established by the econ
omy law.
Edward F. McGrady, representing the
A. F. OF L., declared the Government
should take the lead in maintaining
wage levels rather than to encourage
salary reductions. He said the economy
act should be rescinded.
Frank j. Coleman of the Central La
Dor Union took the same position and
said that II the economy act cannot
be repealed, it should be amended to
correct various inequalities.
McGrady took issue with members of
the committee when they pointed to the
Treasury deficit and inquired how this
money could be raised to restore Gov
ernment salaries to where they were
last year.
Appeals to Patriotism.
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of Ten
neSSee, said that when the Government
Is IN good shape he agrees with the con-
tention that it ought to take the lead in
establishing higher wages, but that with
the Treasury running $3.50 900 600 be-
hind he said he thought I'VE ought to
be patriotic enough to accept a reduc-
tlon. Senator McKellar also pointed
out that the purchasing power of the
employees dollar is greater now due to
lower prices.
McGrady said he did not think the
question of patriotism entered into the
accepting of pay reductions.
THE fact that the Government f.
running behind $4,000 900 a day is Moth
ing to be alarmed at" McGrady de-
clared. THE trouble is we are getting
panic-stricken."
McGrady argued that the United
States IS perfectly solvent. and that if
II continues to encourage the holding
down OF salaries, the effect will be to
reduce purchasing power, and that will
result IN a paralysis of business. He
said private industry is encouraged to
cut salaries every time the Government
cuts. The cost of living, he said may
fiuctuate overnight, but that It takes
years to get salary levels back when
they are reduced
Claims Imported Labor.
When members Of the committee in
| qu1red about the effect of the public
building program in washington, Mr..
Coleman pointed out that large per-
centage of the workmen are brought in
by the out-of-town contractors.
In this connection, Senator Bing-
ham. Republican, of Connecticut said
another factor is that q considerable
part of the expenditures on these build
ings goes into various States of the
Union for materials and supplies.
James H. Windsor of the Pressmen's
Union explained objections of employees
in the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing to the economy law.
Clyde M. Mills of Columbia Typo-
graphical Union presented the plea Of
Government Printing Office employees re-
garding accumulated leave printing of
flce workers earned during the fiscal
year 1922. but were unable to get the
benefit of under the economy act in
this fiscal year. He explained that the
law for the printing Office requires en-
ployes to accumulate leave for an entire
year before taking it. He asked for an
amendment to take care of the last
fiscal year. He also advocated a pay
dif1erential for night work.