Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-05
FEDERAL WORKERS
URGE ECONOMY ACT
REPEAL At HEARING
Special Senate Subcommit-
tee Hears Attack Delivered
by Various Groups.
MARITAL PROVISIONS
ABOLITION is SOUGHT
Discussion of This Section Takes
Up Most of Session-Pay Cut
Opposition Voiced.

Representatives of various groups OF
Government employees appeared before
the Special Subcommittee of the Senate
Economy Committee today with further
arguments for the repeal of the econo-
my act, or for the amendment of GER
tain features regarded as unjust and
Negotiable.
Among those who testified today were:
John Arthur Shaw, president OF the
American Federation of Government
Employees; Mrs. Edwina Avery, CHAIR
man of the Government Workers
Council of the National Woman's Party;
Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Worrell Of the
League of American Civil Service; w.
j. O'Brien and Thomas E. Colley. rep
resenting Navy Yard workers who were
furloughed recently; Edward j. Roche
of the Allied Printing Trades Council.
presenting certain questions OF special
interest to the Government Printing
Office; N. P. Alias of the local branch
of the International Association OF Ma
chinists; R. A. Barton, City Firefghters'
Association, and R. E. Marsh, who pre-
scented a brief covering certain phases
of the economy act for the organization
of professional employees Of the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
A vigorous appeal for striking out the
marital provision of the act was made
by Mrs. Avery, on behalf of the Govern
ment Workers Council, supported by a
group of Navy Yard workers.
Discussion Takes Up Session.
Most of the morning session was
taken UP with a discussion of this sec
ton, which provides that when dis
missals are necessary, married persons
must go first, if husband or wife also is
in Government service.
While Mr. Shaw was outlining the
general opposition of Government work
erS to the pay cut and other restric-
lions in the economy law and urging
the Government to lead the way back
toward a better level of salaries
throughout the country, committee
members indicated the Treasury deficit
Is in their minds as an obstacle to the
relief asked.
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat, of Ten
nessee, wanted to know where are We
going to get the money, with deficit
OF $3.50, 100000 in five months Of the
fiscal year?"
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of South
Carolina, added that the deficit is in
creasing at the rate of 100000 day.
Taxation Held Preferable.
Mr.. Shaw argued that the Govern
Inent should separate capital items from
current expenses, declaring that private
industry follows that rule. He also
argued that taxation to meet the deficit
would be preferable to having the
Government lower the living standard
by encouraging salary reductions.
Mrs. Avery commended that the mar
ried persons clause is wrong in principle,
has resulted in injustices, and should
be taken out of the economy act.
Witnesses from the navy yard told
of group of mechanics there who re-
Gently were placed on indefinite fur
lougn without pay. 1t was testified
that these men first received notices
several months ago that they would be
laid off because of the marital pro-
vision, that this notice was Cancelled,
and recently they were notified of in
definite furlough because of lack of
work. Committee members indicated
they would seek further information
regarding navy yard furloughs.
Urges Acts Discontinuance.
Mrs. Wcrrell urged discontinuance of
the economy act at the end of this
fiscal year, but told the committee that
If a further sacrifice from Government
employees cannot be avoided, it would
be better to establish $500 exemp-
ton on all salaries, and 10 per cent
cut on the balance
Senator Dickinson. Republican, of
Iowa, who conducted the hearing today,
pointed out that the Senate committee
originally favored a straight pay cut of
that kind, but that efforts in the Senate
later resulted in establishing the fur
Tough plan.
Mr.. Roche explained the claim of
Printing Office employees to accu-
mulated leave which they earned but
have not received during the last fiscal
year, before the economy law passed,
and asked an amendment to correct
this inequity. He also took up the
question of the pay differential for
night work In the Printing Office