Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29
Committee to Fight Govern.
ment Salary SIashes
Organized.
FOUR POINT PROGRAM
CONDEMNS PROPOSAL
Strong Local Backing Assured
Federal Workers to OPP
pose Bill.

: Acceptance by William Green. presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor. Of the Craftsmanship Of the
newly organized National Emergency
Committee on Legislation Affecting
Federal Employees was announced yes
terday.
Numerous speeches in opposition to
threatened slashes in the pay of Gov
eminent employees and other phases of
the economy bill passed recently by the
House were made at an organization
meeting of the committee in the Amer
lean Federation of Labor Building.
c. W. Browning, committee vice
chairman, summed up the program as
consisting of:
Il. The welfare OF the Nation, with
equal chance of employment for all.
-. Our own interests and the in
terest Of those We represent.
%. The fact that parliamentary
tactics adopted in the Congress make
it difficult II not entirely impossible
to secure fair hearings upon or to OBJ
tain open, decisive action on any spe-
ciflc section Of the legislation which is
under consideration.
a. Therefore the combined group de-
clares its intention to defeat the whole
economy measure as proposed now by
the Senate"
Other expressions at the meeting in
Guided:
Business Approves.
Dorsey W. Hyde, secretary, Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce: The busi-
ness men in Washington are behind this
movement 100 per cent, and are aligned
against the NATIONWIDE program to
undermine faith in and respect for
Government employees. Business men
are in very close relationship with
Government employees. They are the
highest grade employees and are al
ways straight dealing in their business
relations.
Thinking business men in Washing
ton shall bring this to the attention Of
business men everywhere. We are in
favor OF economy. but not in form
handicapping and reducing salaries
which are already low.
The National Chamber Of Commerce
10 years ago. with reference to pro-
posed reclassification measures. ex-
pressed itself as entirely in favor OF re-
classification revision according to
present standards The last report Of
the special committee stated, we feel
that these changes need not entail any
reduction in the present scale OF sal
aries Furthermore. the manager of
the National Chamber Of Commerce
stated he was not in favor of cutting
salaries"
Opposed BY Martin.
I'D. Martin of,the National Educa-
tional Association: The N. E. A. has
had no meeting since the present
emergency arrived. but our secretary.
Mr.. ]. w. Crabtree has given his own
viewpoint, which reflects the viewpoint
of the association. in which he is abso-
lutely against any step backward. He
has communicated that viewpoint to
members Of Congress and has expressed
the hope that the National Congress
would not set the precedent for private
industry to move backward. but that
rather, it should hold the line and move
forward"
&C. Fraser, department commander.
American Legion: I'VE are absolutely
opposed to it. for the minute you cut
Government salaries the more depres-
sion and more unemployment there Will
be-"
John T. Taylor. national legislative
officer Of the American Legion: The
American Legion is opposed to any re-
duction in the wages of our Federal
employees, not merely because a large
proportion are veterans26 per cent Of
to the principle from an economic point
Of view"
Women Voice Views.
L. S. Ray of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars: The Veterans of Foreign Wars
are unalterably opposed to any cut in
Federal salaries, believing that any
move made by the Government in this
direction will be carried out in indus
try throughout the country"
Miss Gwendolyn Coach. National
League of Women Voters: If you have
followed the appropriations measures
you have noted that certain activities
Of the Children's Bureau would be
taken away by this bill on the plea of
economy. We believe in economy, but
not that 1t should start on mothers
and babies. It is the unemployed who
need aid such as the Government gives,
and we believe that the best service we
know of. such as the Children's Bureau
has rendered, should not be cut off as a
false economy Also of interest is sec
ton 209 in discrimination against and
in dismissal Of married women. 1t Is a
principle Of the League of Women
Voters that people shall be dismissed
because of being incapable Of doing
their work and not because they are
married women"
E. Claude Babcock, national COM
mander, Disabled American Veterans
of the World War: THE D. A. v. stands
with every program for the public good,
and in this matter it seems to me that
there is an opportunity for public good. -
Lieut.. Col. Orwell johnson, represent
ing the Reserve Officers Training Corps
Association of the United States: The
r. o. T. C.. is Immediately interested
in military training in schools and COL
leges. Our objective is to better Amer
lea for Americans, just as it is the
objective of every person here. We
look upon the proposed cut in wages
for Federal employees as disastrous
move"
w. c. Roberts. Legislative Commit
tee, American Federation of Labor: Il
am very glad to know that there are
so many groups in the City of Wash
ington and the Nation who have come
to the rescue Of the Federal employees.
I do not know Of any more contempti-
BILE piece Of legislation than that pro-
posed by the Economy Committee OF
the House and possibly the Senate"
MISSION MEET PLANNED