Evening star., 1932-07-22
Firemen, Park Officers and
Mount Vernon Highway
Force Also Affected.
LEAVE TO BE REDUCED
TO PERIOD OF IS DAYS
State Department Informed Those
on Leave Lose Pay Until They
Start for Posts.

The Police and Fire Departments,
the park police Mount Vernon High
way police and probably other speci-
fed groups will receive a pay cut OF
ga per cent, but will get a 15-day
vacation with pay under the economy
act. it appeared today in a decision of
Controller General McCarl to Lieut..
Col. U. S Grant. Sd, director of public
buildings and public parks.
The decision mentioned by name
only the park police and the Mount
Vernon Highway police. AS these two
are in the same status In the economy
bill as the Police, Fire Departments
and others. McCarl's decision was be-
lieved to be a precedent which he will
follow in answering questions about all
other groups similarly treated in the
economy act.
Exception on Leave.
McCarl told Col Grant that the
park police are not subject to the
provisions of section 103 of the (econ-
omy) act suspending all rights to re-
celve annual leave of absence with pay
during the fiscal year 1888"
The police and firemen had been re-
ceiving 20 days leave with pay. McCarl
held that they now are subject to Sec
tion 2l5 Of the economy act. which re-
duceS the annual leave allowable to
those persons who may get it TO Is
days.
The rank and file of Government en-
ployes receive pay reduction by an
other means, the compulsory furlough,
which will deduct months pay in re-
turn for "a days compulsory leave The
percentage OF compensation deducted
from the two groups is therefore viz
tually the same.
Question Of Status.
Taking up the question as TO whether
the park police fell under military or
civilian status. McCarl said: "A clear
intention is shown whenever the term
civil or civilian appear Tin the economy
acJ to use the same in their broad
est sense to distinguish the civil branch
of the Government from the military
and to distinguish the personnel of the
one only from the personnel of the
other without regard TO the subdivision
for activities of the respective branches.
and when thus used all personnel must
be considered either as civilian or mill
tary. While the compensation and
leave privileges Of officers and members
OF the United States Park Police are
governed by statutes separate from
statutes applicable either to the civil or
military branches of the Government.
their duties relate to preservation OF
order and enforcement Of laws, civilian
service. and not to war or national
defense, a military service
Further light on the bearing OF the
economy act on pay of emergency Off
GERS who are employed by the Govern
ment was cast today by McCarl in
decision to Gen Frank T. Hines, ad-
ministrator of veterans affairs. A re-
tired emergency officer whose retired
pay exceeds the rate of 81 900 per an
mum, holding a civilian position with
compensation exceeding the rate OF
81 900 per annum, the combined COM
pensation and retired pay exceeding the
rate Of $4,000 per annum, the civilian
compensation is subject to reduction by
reason of the legislative furlough, five
day week or percentage reduction in
compensation. which must be impound-
ed, and likewise the retired pay is sub
ject to the percentage reduction, which
must be impounded.
Ruling to State Secretary.
But the loss sustained by the employe.
McCarl said, in his civilian position by
reason of the legislative furlough. five
day week or percentage reduction. may
be made up by payment OF retired pay.
not to exceed the rate of $4,000 per
annum. to the extent that retired pay
as reduced by Section 106 Of the statute
is available for that purpose.
In a decision to the Secretary Of
State. McCarl held that foreign service
officers and employees in the United
States on leave of absence were placed
automatically in a "non-pay status be-
ginning July l, 1882. and will remain
so during all time absent from their
posts of duty on leave" But McCarl
said that they resumed their pay status
on the date when they began their re-
turn trip to their posts of duty.