Evening star., 1932-12-15
Terms PAY CUTS !
petit larceny
Representative Boyan Hits
Economy Moves and
Promises Fight.

Wage cuts under the economy act
were assailed as petit larceny by Rep
resentative Boylan, Democrat, Of New
the District Department, American Fed
eration Of Government Employees.
Speaking at session in the Hamil.
ton Hotel, the New Yorker said con.
gressional friends Of the workers ARE
going to try to eliminate the furlough,
and. failing that, to make the exemp-
tion $500" He emphasized that at
will be over our dead bodies that they'll
add anything more to what you have
lost"
Boylan called the $1,440 average SAL
ary starvation wages" He pointed
out that for many years Government
salaries were at standstill and with
the furlough were cut down again to
the same basic rate Of 1893"
Sees Every One Afraid.
ut is an anomalous situation we are
facing" he continued 1.-THE banks are
filled with money, but every one Is
afraid You don't know what to ex-
pect. In time of depression I think
salaries should be increased, but In
stead of that we find SO cents being
cut OF a charwoman's salary and $1.43
of a messengers salary. That, to my
mind, is petit larceny.
Il made the statement in the House
that the Government should be in
dicted for grand larceny for It's re-
tirement policy, because it TOOK too
much and gave too small Dement'S In
return"
From an economic standpoint, the
speaker continued, he always has been
opposed to wage cuts. IF you cut the
purchasing power Of individuals, it A.
fects the whole economic structure" Re
said. Il always have contended that
Government salaries are too low. In
fact, I was surprised when I came to
Washington and found men and women
in responsible positions working for such
picayune salaries. / attributed 1t to the
fact that you haven't been aggressive
enough. You ought to be more aggres.
sive to get what's coming to you ana
more"
American Federation of Governments
Employees. told the assembly We are
not fighting a selfish battle for our.
selves, but for every man and woman
who works"
Recalling that he had heard the
statement made that 1t is q patriotic
duty for employees to accept salary cuts
during the time Of economic stress,
Shaw asserted that it was not only
patriotic duty not to do so, but, on the
contrary, that it was patriotic duty
to fight to get back what was our pay
year ago" The American business
man, he added. sis learning that his
earnings go up as living standards go
up and are reduced as living standards
60 down. Cutting wages reduces living
standards and means that profits must
fall proportionately."
Share-Work Plan Hit.
Clyde Mills, president Of Topographic
cal Union No. lo1, raped the share
work plan. declaring it SIS Communism
in its worst form" He termed 1t b
move Of employers to beat down the
five-day week objective.
Reports were made by Ethel NJ.
Smith. chairman of the Legislative
Committee, and William s. Douglass,
chairman Of the Economy Act Sub
committee. Helen c. McCarty, chair
man of the National Organization Com
mittee, told Of the strides the federa-
ton IS making in adding membership.
George A. Warren. attorney in the So
licitors office, Interior Department, and
a member OF the A. F. @. E., and
Edward j. Roche. president of the
Allied Printing Trades Council and
head Of the Federations lodge at the
Government Printing ONCE. also spoke.
The meeting was presided over by
Michael D. Schaefer. president OF the
District department, which includes 80
lodges.