Evening star., 1933-06-03
QUOTA D|SM|SSALS
UP TO CONFEREES
Issues Affecting Federal
Workers to Be lroned
Out Next Week.

The final outcome Of provisions af-
fecting Government employees in the
independent Office bill, which passed
the Senate late yesterday. now rests
with conferees for the two branches
of Congress, who will meet early next
week to settle the points Of difference.
Of outstanding Importance to Gov
ernment workers is the question of
what rule should be followed in making
dismissals. The House bill required
department heads to consider State
quotas under the apportionment law
in selecting those to be dropped when
reductions in force become necessary.
This would have worked hardship on
employees from the District OF Column
bia and a number Of States that
happen to be over their quotas. 1t
was regarded also as blow at the
merit system. The Senate moved to
make the rule more equitable by
changing it to require due regard to
be given to efficiency as well as quotas.
Must Pass on Retirement.
The conferees also must pass on the
Senate amendment to the 30-year re-
tirement clause, intended to allow
workers with that length Of service
to retire voluntarily. AS 1t came from
the House the bill provided for pay
ment of retirement annuities to those
with 80 years of service who may be
'involuntarily" separated from the
service during the next two years.
AS passed by the Senate the bill car
ries approximately $713,000,000 for the
various independent establishments OF
the Government, the greater part OF
which is to meet the requirements OF
the Veterans Administration. As It
came from committee the bill carried
s543 ,OOO. 600. The principal increase
made on the floor was the Connally
amendment, placing 25 per cent limit
on cuts in compensation OF service
connected disabilities, which was estl-
mated to increase the expenditure by
$170, 100000. This change climaxed a
tnree-day debate over treatment OF vet
erans under the economy act, and adop-
ton of the amendment cleared the way
for final action on the bill.
The bill also contains a provision
allowing department heads to place the
workers of an Office on rotative FUR
loughs as a means Of spreading employ
ment. No changes were made by the
Senate in this section, so 1t viii not be
at issue in conference.
Wheeler Loses Fight.
A last-minute effort by Senator
Wheeler, Democrat OF Montana, to add
to the bill in the Senate the Sirovich
plan of creating a liaison officer to hear
complaints of Government employees on
civil service matters, with the right OF
appeal to a Civil Service Board OF Ap-
peals failed. The presiding officer
sustained a point Of order made against
the amendment by Senator Byrnes,
Democrat of South Carolina, which
blocked its consideration.
Another effort by Senator Ashurst.
Democrat of Arizona, to allow District
policemen and firemen 20 days OF leave,
as formerly, instead of the present l5-
day limit, also went down under
point of order by Senator Byrnes.
In the case of the Wheeler amend
ment Senator Byrnes said he had not
been able to study the plan, and sug-
pested that it be handled as separate
piece of legislation and considered by
the Civil Service Committee. Senator
Wheeler said the amendment was i'm
portant to employees facing possible dis
mtssal, because it would set up pro-
cedure by which they could have a
hearing If they felt they had griev-
ance, and that it would afford means
of correcting mistakes. Under the plan
the Civil Service Commission would
have appointed the liaison officer, with
a requirement that it be some one with
IS years of Federal service. The three
members Of the Civil Service Commis-
sion would have made up the board
of appeals to hear appeals from rulings
of the liaison officer.
The liaison officer would investigate
all complaints and hold hearings.
Senator Frazier, Republican, of North
Dakota, tried without success to have
the Senate reconsider its action earlier
in the week in striking from the bill
the House section which would have
allowed the President to furlough mill
tary officers on half pay. This will be
one of the sections to be settled in
conference.