Evening star., 1932-01-08
Declare Move Would Push
Thousands Toward Stark
Poverty Level.
HOLD REDUCTION WOULD
MAKE DEPRESSION WORSE
Conference Will Consider Exten-
sion of Redistribution
to Field Service.

Cutting Government pay would have
the effect Of pushing thousands Of
workers farther down toward a stark
poverty level" the executive council
of the National Federation of Federal
Employees declared today in sweep
ing indictment of the reduction
movement.
Gathering in the Capital to map out
a counter offensive, the council, as It's
opening shot, warned that wage cuts
would make the depression worse" and
coupled this with the declaration that
they not only would not help the
condition of the Federal treasury, but
that they would accomplish nothing
but a tendency toward Generalization
and depreciation of quality and
standsrdS."
The council is composed of the Off
cial personnel of the federation, IL in
numbet, all of whom gathered here
today for the meeting which is an
annual affair for discussion of legis-
lative matters.
I'VE are not deluded by yesterdays
victory" Luther c. Steward, fedora
ton president, said in commenting on
the action of the House Committee on
ment in voting 10 table pay-slashing
proposals.
Preliminary Skirmish.
THAI was only a preliminary skirm-
ish, this movement to cut wages will
recur.
In iN formal declaration in oppoSi-
tion to pay reduction, the council en-
phasized that it had reference not only
to its own membership, which includes
the rank and file of organized Govern
ment labor, but to all on the Federal
pay roll-"Congressmen. members Of
the Judiciary or any other branch OF
Government service"
Another matter to come before the
conference will be the campaign for re-
classification over which the Federation /
broke with the American Federation OF
Labor, which the federation is waging
IN order to get this principle extended
10 the field service.
President Steward characterized this
as foremost for consideration.
THE decrease in the cost Of living
does not Justify wage cuts" the council
states, and reductions would consti- |
tute a peculiarly burdensome and un-
fair tax on a group already underpaid
and overburdened."
Promotions Withheld.
"The impropriety of wage cuts at
this time" it is amplifed, lis all the
more obvious when it is remembered
shat wage increases and promotions
have been withheld from Government
employees for months and that the So
called average wage provisions In ap-
preparation bills have for years pre-
vented pay increases to many alert and
deserving Federal workers"
Enlarging on the argument that the
lowering of pay rolls is not the key to
relief for the Treasury, the council
quotes figures to show that "but II per
cent Of Government expenditures goes
for all ordinary civil functions of the
Government, and but three-fourths of
the II per cent is applied on salaries"
In conclusion, the council says that
cutting wages would tend to lower the
standards Of executive. scientific and
professional work in the Government, to
breed ineflciency and therefore, to re-
suit in WaStefulneSS of funds.
The council tonight will be the guest
OF the District Federation of Federal
Employees at dinner, where there will
be a general round-table discussion.
President Steward is presiding at the
conference which is being attended in
addition by Miss Gertrude McNally,
secretary and the following
vice presidents: John Fitzgerald, Brook
4yhs bCc II. "IuLIlty, milwaukee,,
Charles L. Wiegand, Baltimore; J. P.
Thompson, San Francisco; Walter P.
Taylor, Tuscon, Ariz.; John w Ross,
Norfolk; Ulrey ]. Biller, Washington;
William M. Rapsher, Philadelphia, and
George L. Evans, Denver.
Barbour Opposes Cut.
One Of the Senates new members. w.
Warren Barbour. Republican of New
Jersey, came out today in opposition 10
cutting the salaries of lower paid
Government employees.
Senator Barbour favored a reduction
for members of the House and Senate
and said that if, after retrenchment
has been practiced in other directions,
further economies are necessary, re-
ductions could be made in the higher
Government salaries. He does not be-
heve, however reductions should ex-
tend TO the smaller salaries.
Senator Barbour emphasized that
wages and salaries in the Federal Serv-
ice have never advanced in proportion
TO the rise in wages in civil life for
similar work in the past and that
therefore, any decrease now in the COM
penSation Of Federal employees. when
viewed IN this light, would be a greater
proportionate decrease than has been