Evening star., 1932-04-10
WORKERS
TO FIGHT PAY CUT
"Last Ditch" Announcement
Against Hoover Proposals
includes FWrIough.

I'VE intend to fight all pay cut and
forced furlough proposals to the last
ditch Miss Gertrude NJ. McNally, sec
retary-treasurer Of the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees, asserted last
night in discussing the proposals to re-
duce Federal pay.
Already unalterably opposed to the
principle of pay cut as sponsored by
the House Economy Committee, Miss
McNally also put the federation on
record as opposed to President Hoover's
new suggestion at the White House con-
ference yesterday to furlough Federal
workers without pay, in order to prevent
dismiSSals.
The committees plan, which calls for
an IL per cent cut on all salaries, with
an exemption of 81 900, is considered
by Miss McNally as the less desirable of
the two proposals. She explained
it would be more difficult to return sal
aries to present levels from percentage
pay cut.
Furiough Lesser Evil"
The federation is of the opinion, ac-
cording to Miss McNally, that there
would be more likelihood Of Federal pay
returning to its present level If the
forced furlough without pay were placed
in effect than If fiat pay cut were
made.
But we are very much against them
BOTH she said. THE conditions under
which Federal employees have been
working have become harder since last
November, when the Government stop
ped filling vacancies. Work has piled
up, forcing extra work and longer hours,
because vacancies are not being filled.
Federal employees have been at the
bottom of the heap long enough. Why
pile up more trouble for them by a
pay cut?"
Increasing indication is coming from
the country, Miss McNally emphasized,
to show how serious a Government pay
cut may be, as an example to industry.
There has been much pressure put on
Congress from industry to force pay
cut Of Government workers, according
to Miss McNa1ly, but she said that re-
Gently there had come about Surpris-
ing shift of opinion On the part of
many local chambers of commerce
throughout the country.
Positions Are Changed.
Whereas the Chamber of Commerce
Of the United States, she explained, Is
still in favor of pay cut, many local
chambers which formerly were in favor
of Federal pay cut are now changing
their stand.
The proposal to cut congressional,
Cabinet and the Presidents salary also
will meet with resistance from the
Federation of Federal Employees, Miss
McNally said.
'cIf there is any Congressman up
there who thinks he isn't worth S10,-
900 then he should go home and let
a $4,000 man come in his place" she
said. I'VE are perfectly sincere In this
position, as we need good men In Con-
gress, the best we can get. Those who
are dong good work in Congress are
worth much more than that. And
everyone knows that the President Is
underpaid for the tremendous respon-
sibility he carries"
Proposed elimination Of the Saturday
half holiday meets with objection from
the federation, Miss McNally claiming
that abolition Of this half holiday would
greatly lower morale of the Federal
force. She charged that the House
Economy Committee proposal of $1o,-
000,0 600 savings from such elimination
was entirely too high, as the only extra
cost, she said, had been an appropria-
ton of $6,000,000 for the postal service
Defends Superannuates.
Also opposing the suggested retire
ment of all superannuated employees,
Miss McNally said this would be "very
inhuman" in the first place, and would
probably stop some very valuable re-
search or administrative work for which
persons had been peculiarly well quail
fed, and for which they had been re
tanned. She favored instead a provi-
sion to retire everyone who had reached
the age Of so years, after is years Of
service, who desired to retire.
suggested elimination of automatic
promotions, as Miss McNally explained
workers would be satisfied to hold the
salaries they now have. Suspension of
extra pay for overtime and night serv-
ice, she explained. would affect only
the Customs, immigration, Govern
ment Printing Office and Postal Service.