The Washington times., 1933-09-05
MOVE To SLASH
OFFICER PAY
ALSO LOSES
Federation Officials Warmly
Defended; Fight on to
Restore Lost Leave
BY DUNCAN FORSYTH


KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept. S.
The national officers won a de-
cisive victory over insurgent local
groups seeking to put them ION
the spot" as the second days SeS-
sion of the twelfth convention Of
the National Federation of Fed
eral Employees opened here today.
Several resolutions, the first Of
the convention to be reported,
were submitted by locals through
out the country demanding a
salary reduction for Luther c.
Steward, president, and Miss Ger
trude M. McNally, secretary-treaS-
urer, commensurate with the wage
cuts of Federal employees, and also
demanding that these officers re-
nnquish all outside business to de-
vote their entire attention to the
Federation.
Proposals Assailed
The more than 500 delegates
voted down both proposals on
recommendation of the commit
tee on officers reports. DR.. Wal
ter P. Taylor, of Tucson, Ariz.,
the chairman of the committee,
in recommending nonconcurrence
with the salary reduction pro-
poSalS, declared:
"JuSt because the Federal
Government has reduced our
salaries is no reason why we
should curtail the salaries of
our national officers. 1t would
be a glaring inconsistency on
our part to ask Congress to
restore our basic salaries and
then to turn around and cut
our own officers earnings"
In denunciatory resolution, ac-
cusing President Steward of being
"more interested in private enter
prises with which he is connected
than the welfare of the Federal
Employees" an Oklahoma local de-
manded selection of another man
to succeed Steward as president.
Custer Defeated
It was said, however, that
Stewards interests outside the or
ganization were minor, and the
proposal was defeated.
Louis A. Rosafy, of Washington,
chairman of the powerful COM
mittee on leave and hours, de-
clared that he expected to report
out resolutions on the questions Of
annual leave and sick leave some
time today.
Matter of Right"
The demands of the delegates
on this question provide for the
80 days annual leave as "a mat
ter of right" instead of the pres
ent system leaving it to the dis
cretion of the department head.
It is the intention of the ma
tional officers and other officials
of the federation that employees
are entitled to sufficient leave
to permit those who live in dis
tant States to visit their homes
and to carry on normal personal
business.
Convention leaders also con-
tend that annual leave to the
amount Of 80 days is necessary in
view of the fact that numerous
employees are working under Sc
we're mental and physical strain.
12O Days, Cumulative
In addition to the 80 days leave
each year, it is being urged that
the leave be made cumulative
that is, allowing employees the
privilege of accommodating their
leave from year to year.
It has been suggested that the
maximum cumulative period be
set at 120 days.
At present only IS days annual
leave is permitted, with no cumu'
lative privileges. During the
fiscal year 1882, employees had
no leave whatsoever. All time
taken off was taken under the
81-3 per cent furlough plan.
Cumulative sick leave for all
Government employees is the other
demand which will be made by
Mr.. Rosafy's committee.