Evening star., 1933-05-28
OFFICES MEASURE
| GIVEN PREFERENCE
Senate Will Consider Bill AT.
fecting U. S. Workers
Tomorrow.

tion bill. which contains several gen.
eral provisions affecting Government
employees, will have the right of way
in the Senate tomorrow afternoon
from 2 o'clock on and may be passed
before evening.
When the bill passed the House
several weeks ago, it had in it sec
ton to require Government depart
ments to consider State quotas under
the apportionment law in selecting en-
ployes to be dropped when reductions in
force are necessary. The provision
constituted a source Of danger to en-
ployes from the District Of Columbia
and from q number of States which
happen to have more than their quotas
in the service. The apportienment law
possible, to appointments. The House
provision sought to apply 1t to dis
missals.
Section Is Rewritten.
The Senate Appropriations Commit
tee has rewritten the section, however,
to require departments to consider both
efficiency and apportionment in max
ing reductions in force. Some members
of the Senate would prefer to strike out
the section entirely, but there are no
definite indications that such move
will be made on the floor. Unless there
should be last-minute change in
plans. the section probably will pass
the Senate as reported from the Appro-
priations Committee. While the COM
mittee amendment does not entirely
remove the apportiOnment rule regard
ing dismissals, it requires efficiency to
be considered along with the apportion-
ment quota.
To Be Taken Up Tomorrow.
The independent Offices measure was
made the unfinished business before
the Senate late yesterday. following pas
sage Of the administration railroad bill,
but actual consideration Of tie bill was
put of until tomorrow. Senator Rob-
inSon, Democratic leader, asked for an
adjournment irstead of a recess, which
means the first hours Of tomorrow's
session will be devoted to routine busi-
ness before the appropriation measure
is taken up. The bill is in charge of
Senator Glass, Democrat, Of Virginia,
chairman Of the Appropriations Com
which drafted tie measure.
Another general provision in the in
dependent Offices bill of far-reaching
interest to Federal and DistriC: workers
Is the section providing that whenever
an employe who has worked 20 years,
but has no. reached the retirement age
limits, is separated from the service, he
or she would BE- entitled to go on the
retirement annuity roll. Such en-
ployes, however, would have to con-
tinue to make their 3Ea per cent of
salary payments into the retirement
fund until :h,y reach the compulsory
retirement age limit. This section
would be in effect for two years.
Language Is Broadened.
As passed by the House, this plan ap-
piled only to those 30-year employees
who are ''inyciuntarily separated from
the service" The Senate Committee
broadened this language to apply to
all who are voluntarily or involun-
:artly" separated, and, in so doing, rec
cgnized principle for which Govern
ment workers nave been contencing for
many years, I.amely, the right of op-
tional retirement after 80 years Of
service.
The bill gives Federal and District
officials authority to furlough the en-
ployes Of an office in rotation, without
pay, as a mtans of distributing work
as far as possible. where d.snissals
might otherwise occur.
The changes made in the bin by the
Senate committee, such as the rewriting
of the apportionment rule. will still be
subject to final settlement in conference
with the House, after the bill passes the
Senate.
Flight Pay at Issue.
The question Of flight pay for the air
forces in the military establishments is
another matter that will be at issue the
Senate committee having modified the
House language on this subject
Among other questions the Senate
will have to pass on tomorrow is the
action of the Appropriations Commit
tee in striking out the House provision
giving the President power to modify
or cancel mail-carrying contracts by
fixing compensation and allowing an
appeal to the courts for any additional
claims.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas. Demo-
cratic leader, has introduced an amend
ment, to be offered while the bill Is
being considered in the Senate, provid-
ing for the transfer of the Botanic Gar
den to the Department of Agriculture
as step toward coordination of the
greenhouse facilities of the Government.
The Botanic Garden at present is un-
der the Joint Committee on Library of
the House and Senate. The change was
recommended by the Budget Bureau.
The independent offices bill carries
approximately S543. 100000 for all of the
independent commissions and establish
ments Of the Government, including the
various requirements Of the Veterans
Administration.