Evening star., 1933-09-08
ROOSEVELT ASKED
TO HALT PAY CUTS
Executives of Federation Of
Federal Employees Make
Plea in Open Letter.
By J. A. FOX.
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

6teu C0ffe8pouoenI Oh Ine star.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-. September g.
President. Roosevelt was asked to halt
the policy Of wage cuts, furloughs and
other burdens imposed on Government
workers by the successive economy
act" In an open letter issued here today
by the executive council Of the National
last night wound up its twelfth con-
vention.
The letter signed by President Luther
G. Steward and the other officers, de-
clared 1t bespoke the cause Of 600, 900
civilian employees and expressed the be-
Lief that relief for these mot only would
result in improved Federal service, but
would assist materially in the great
current effort to restore our country
to economic health"
For many of U.s." the letter said,
'the Governments regular staff. the
depression has meant q vast overload
Of work with constantly diminishing
corps of workers, and whole set OF
conditions, growing out OF the So-called
economy legislation, wholly out Of har-
mony with the fundamental spirit OF
the national recovery act. The mainte-
nance of our purchasing power is as
desirable, our work as important to
national security, welfare and safety,
and our example as potent IN promot-
ing true recovery as that Of any COM
parable group.
Never Shared Prosperity" Pay.
"It is generally recognized that the
Federal Government employees never
shared IN the prosperity pay rates, but
we felt that the stability Of Govern
ment employ, the recognition Of true
merit, and possibility Of advancement
were important counter-balancing fac
tors. Now, furloughs, pay cuts, dis
missals and threat Of general economic
insecurity all have combined to create
q situation most disturbing to morale.
Only you, Mr.. President, can help US.
We have appreciated beyond telling
your activity In behalf of national re-
covery. May we now request you most
respectfully to strengthen your own
hands and the credit Of the country by
q most vigorous and unmistakable stand
In behalf Of the merit system, by urging
Congress to adopt q thorough going,
scientific classification Of Government
positions and rates Of pay, not only for
the District Of Columbia, but for the
feld also; to stop the policy Of dis
missa!s, wage cuts, furloughs, non-flll-
ing OF vacancies, discharge Of married
persons and other rigid and basically
unsound restrictions affecting Federal
personnel which have accompanied the
So-called economy acts"
Members Of the federation still here
read with interest an Associated Press
dispatch from Washington, published
this morning, making known that the
Budget Bureau had called for 1885 eSti-
mates on the old base pay rate, hoping
that 1t was indicative Of Q changed em-
ployment policy.
Ask New .Biu Of Rightsn
Fifty thousand organized workers en-
rolled under the banner Of the Federa-
ton today stood committed to q new
bill Of rights" In keeping with the
extgenctes Of the times, for themselves
and their fellows In Government sery-
ice.
Winding up the twelfth convention
here last night, the federation put the
finishing touches to the program to be
urged before the next Congress In, the
interest Of Uncle Sans vast civilian
army, chose Is their leader for the en-
suing two years, Luther C. Steward Of
Washington, who has served as presi-
dent Of the federation for all but the
first few months Of its existence Of l6
yea5, and adjourned to meet ii 1885
In Yellowstone National Park.
The convention had moved with such
machine-like precision since convening
Monday morning, that but few Of the
major Legislative issues with which &
was originally confronted, remained 10
be disposed Of at the wind-up.
Seek "Csart Il Appeals.
. with. unanimity, the delegates Yoted
to seek readjustment Of the charges
which the Government levies for qnar-
fters, sahsigtence and laundry for those
0f it, workers. on station. took the same
course On . proposal 70 eek . court
Of appeals" to handle questions involv-
ing personnel. and With but scattered
"noes" went On record In favor Of re-
pealing the marital status provision Of
the economy oct. which separated either
husband or vile from service when re-
duct1ous of fofce are necessary.
| Earlier n the convsntius Affirmative