Evening star., 1933-01-12
UNITY IN PAY CUTS
BATTLE ISURGED
Federation of Federal En-
pIoyeS Hears Officers At
tack Economy Act.

a united front. by Government work.
ero in their fight on inequities of the
Ecc-o7ny Act was urged by leaders of
the National Federation of Federal EN-
r,oyes when officers comprising the
Executive Council were guests of the
District Federation at a dinner at the
Willard Hotel last night.
The event climaXed three-day Ses-
zion of the council, and was marked
b. presentation to the National Fedora
ton CT portrait of Luther C. Steward,
the president, for which the member
ship over the country had contributed
Steward, along with other speakers,
stressed the need for unity
Describing the economy act as "set-
tiag a record for stupid legislation" "
President Steward said the additions
now proposed for it provided a COM
bination that one might expect from
somewhat subnormal child" He as
serted that it was without any redeem
ing features. and criticized in particu-
lar the plan to remove from the Civil
Service Commission personnel records
and distribute them in the various
agencies to which they pertained.
Paradox Is Cited.
He also recalled that while one group
of Senators is holding hearings on a
proposal to shorten the working week
generally, others in the governmental
economy program are, paradoxically,
proposing to lengthen the hours of en-
ploNnent for some workers without al
loving additional compensation.
Miss Gertrude McNally. secretary
treasurer, told her associates that If
the lame duck Congress wfl1 do some
thing else but firlb;lstef. We may, get rid
of some of the obhoxiouS things that
nre troubling us"
Ulrey ]. Billef Of washington, seventh
vice president, said that he never knew
such economy hysteria" in the 43 years
since he enteted Government service,
but, he counsel1ed don't be discour-
aged; it will all pass away
Vice Presidents. Speak. ..,...-
Other national officers who spoke
were John Fitzgerald Brooklyn, first
vice president; Lee r. Whitney, Mil
waukee, second vice president; Charles
L. Wiegand, Baltimore, third vice presi-
dent, who is also president OF the Mary
land Federation Of Federal Employees;
Walter P. Taylor, Tucson, Ariz, fifth
vice president: John W. Ross, Norfolk,
G4htAA VIC w .ASNP-
sher, Philadelphia, eighth vice presi-
dent, and George L. Evans, Denver,
ninth vice president. The only absen-
tee was j. P. Thompson OF San Fran
cisco, fourth vice president, who was
kept away by illness.
John w. Ginder, president OF the
District Federation, presided, and after
his Introductory speech in which he
outlined the activities of the federation
in the decade and half of its exist
ence. turned the session over to Leslie
C. McNemar, the toastmaster.
The latter in brief talk, described
his associates as "the most unselfish
courageous. patriotic group of people In
the United States today"
Portrait Is Presented.
The presentation of the portrait was
made by DR.. Franklin j. Meyer, chair
man of the committee which arranged
the gift. After it had been unveiled
by Miss Matilda Lindsay, national or
ganizer, it was accepted by First Vice
President Fitzgerald, who lauded Stew
ards administration which has contin-
ued for almost the entire life Of the
federation. Richard S. Meryman, the
artist who painted the portrait, was
guest at the dinner with Mrs. Merry
man.
Another feature was the announce
ment of the winners of the federation
slogan contest, the report of the judges
being presented by Louis A. Rosafy.
The first prize of SIS was awarded to
Mrs, Albra E. Reising of the Veterans
Administration, for Never Falter;
Fight Ever; other winners were: Sec
end prize, $40, Mrs. Ruth Curry
Brooks, Labor Department; third, IS,
Miss Jean L. Gait, Veterans Admins
tration; fourth, SIS, Miss Lucia A. Hen
derson, Interior Department, and fifth,
$5, Robert A. Halter, General Account
ing Office Honorable mention went to
Miss BERTHE May Pote and Mrs. Daisy
Edgerton, both of the Department of
Agriculture.
Visiting members of the federation
Were present from Boston, New York,
Jersey City, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Richmond, and messages of felici-
Iation came from many locals through
out the United States.