Evening star., 1933-03-16
The Federal Pay Cut.


AS long as Congress ws5 disposed to
Slash away at the pay Of Federal
workers without raising a finger to re-
duce the scandalous expenditures on
vote-getting veteran bounties the Fed
eral employees and a majority Of fair
minded members of Congress were able
to assume and to hold an unassailable
position in protesting Federal pay roll
slashing. There was the other point,
which can not be successfully chal-
lenged, that Federal workers were
underpaid during the days Of prosperity
and are not now overpaid during the
days of economic distress.
But in this new emergency most Of
the organizations representing Federal
workers have wisely refrained from pro-
testing the additional pay cut. In the
first place that cut has been linked
definitely with an even heavier reduc-
ton In veteran bounties. In the second
place the cut Is only part Of the
whole program, now taking definite
shape, to reduce Government expendi-
lures and bring the Federal budget into
balance. Everybody realizes the abso-
lutte necessity Of this step. The sacri-
fees it imposes upon the individual
ere the inevitable, If harsh, accompani-
ments. It is to the great credit Of the
Federal workers that as q body they
have lifted no voice In protest or COM
plant.
The extent Of their new pay cut now
rests with the President. With the
help Of the Budget Bureau and other
governmental statistical agencies. he will
Immediately proceed to an analysis OF
the decline in the cost Of living, upon
which, In part, is to be based the extent
of the pay cut. As those familiar with
the economy bill passed yesterday know.
it is the hope Of its sponsors to make
the salary reductions yield saving Of
approximately $125, 100000. This figure
can be studied in its relation to the
greater saving Of $38s, 900, 900 expected
from reducing the bounties to veterans
not suffering from war-inflicted dis
abilities. The maximum pay cut posi-
bic Is is per cent. The total pay cut
will include the reduction Of eight and
a third per cent already made under
the furlough plan, so that the maximum
additional pay cut will be six and two
thirds per cent. The only salary reduc-
tion made outright through the economy
bill passed yesterday was the salary
reduction Of Congressman. The men,
bers Of Congress cut their own pay nf-
teen per cent to $500, leaving to the
President the extent of the cut to be
applied to other Federal employees.
The straight salary cut is not with
out its advantages. It will be substi-
tuted for the furlough plan, which has
been found unsatisfactory in applica-
ton, no matter how sound the theory
on which it was proposed. The annual
leave with pay will be restored, al
though this annual leave will now be
fifteen instead Of the original thirty
days. The reduction will become ef-
fective on the first of the month follow
ing the Presidents orders, which prob
ably means the first Of April, and will
continue throughout the next fiscal
year. Should there be marked change
in the cost of living during this period,
however, the President is empowered
to change the pay scale accordingly.
For some Of the employees, who have
suffered a greater reduction than eight
and third per cent under the furlough
plan, the straight pay cut Of fifteen
per cent will be less burdensome. For
those. in this fiscal year, who have al
ready suffered pay reductions approx
mating fifteen per cent there will be
no additional deductions. For all Of
them the pay reduction might be ac-
cepted as new starting point for a
climb upward. And climbing Is more
exhilarating than slipping.