Evening star., 1934-01-09
ROOSEVELT. BANS
PAY RESTORATION
r.
Finds Living Cost Survey
i Does Not Warrant His
Granting Relief.
< Continued From First Page)

In other words, he had no authority
to restore any part of the pay slash
unless the cost of living figures showed
sufficient increase.
The living cost index for six months
ending December 81, according to the
Presidents order, is only 2.S per cent
higher than that for the six months
ending June 80 last, upon when ne
based his order continuing the 10 per
cent pay slash for the six months end
ing December 81. While the White
House explanatory statement and the
executive order make no mention OF the
fact It is known that the President sent
the Labor Departments cost OF living
figures back to Secretary Perkins several
times for review and restudy before
finally accepting them for definite
action.
Sought Another Way Out.
This is taken to mean the President
went far out of his way. to see If it
was possible to show an increase in the
cost of living sufficiently large to grant
at least some little restoration OF the
cut. After a long study Of the cost OF
living had been made by the statisti-
study of the results was made Dy
Labor Department officials in conjunc-
tion with officials of the Bureau OF the
Budget. There were times in the past
two weeks when representatives OF
these two governmental agencies con-
sferred with the President at the Whlte
House.
Now that the hopes OF the Federal
and District employees have been Dlasted
for the present, speculation turned 10
the Capitol. Strong forces nave De-
veloped in both the Senate and House
which have signitied their lntention 10
fight for a return to the regular pay
level. rather than the alternative OF the
per cent restoration in July as
proposed in the Presidents budget esu-
mates. The President has been advised
by administration leaders that there Is
an especially strong sentiment AT the
Capitol for repeating the pay cut. How
ever. some Of these leaders feel very
confident that when the time comes,
The administration will muster SUFFICIENT
strength to defeat the attempt.
Several Bills introduced.
! A number OF bills have been intro
duced by members of both parties. and
others are expected to follow. Among
the latter is one prepared by the Legis-
lative Committee Of the American Fed.
eration of Labor. The advocates OF
pay restoration contend 1t Is lnc0nSH-
tent for the Government to cut the pay
of its workers and at the same time
urge business and industry throughout
the country to increase its pay rolls.
The champions of the employees contend
1t is also Inconsistent and contrary to
the policy of the N. r. A.. inasmuch
as it tends to reduce buying power.
The only explanation made at the
White House of the Presidents long
delay in issuing the pay cut order was
that he had been 50 pressed with other
yita,ly important business that he had
not had time to give 1t the proper
study.
i The railroad unions are lining up
with Government employees. it was an
nounced today at American Federation
of Labor headquarters. A special COM
naittee from labor groups with Govern
rnent-employe membership. formed to
push pay-cut repeal legislation. was
augmented by representatives from the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmeh
Order of Railway Conductors and
Brotherhood of Maintenance OF way
Employees.
These four. the national legislative
representatives of their unions, are, re-
spectively John P. Corbett, w. b.
Jackson, w. D. johnson and A. r. stout.
1t was announced that Arthur j. Lowell,
the legislative representative OF tne
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen, who could not be present
today. also would be added to the COM
mittee.
Concurrently with the railroad union
support, it was announced the pay cut
repeal bill which the committee Is push
ing will be introduced by Representa-
tive Griswold CDemocrat OF Indiana,
a member of the House Committee on
Expenditures in the Executive Depart
ments.
Backed by FL Unions.
Members who participated In tOday's
conference said the addition Of the
brotherhoodS to the ranks of supporters
would throw behind the Government
workers q rail unions, II Of which are
A. F. of L. aftiliates.
At the same time. attention was
called to the following statement OF A.
F. Whitney head of the Trainmen and
chairman of the Railway Labor Eexecu-
tives' Association, which has just ap-
peared in the official organ OF the
Trainmen regarding economy leslsia-
ton:
Our organizations did not and does
not approve of such wage-cutting and
backward step with respect to working
conditions The Government set bad
example by cutting wages and length-
ening yearly working hours at time
when it was striving to persuade private
employers to increase wages and reduce
working hours. These wages and work
ing conditions should be Immediately
restored The general level OF wages
of Government employees has never been
as high as it should be. Living costs
are now rising daily. Our Government
cannot. in good grace. refuse to restore
the wage cut imposed by the act OF
March 20. 1888"
Along with this, Whitney called for
organized workers to seek support OF
the Senators and Representatives 1or
relief.
BIZ Ready for House.
The independent Offices bill, carrying
the legislation for a 10 per cent cut in
the next fiscal year. or per cent un-
der the present figure, is to go to the
House tomorrow after approval by the
APPROPRIATIONS CommlItee,, WHICH VIII
receive it from the subcommittee at
that time. The rest of the economy
legislation also will be embodied in this
measure, thereby setting a guide Tor
the other appropriation bills.
Chairman Buchanan of the Appro-
priationS Committee yesterday advised
representatives of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor that it would not bt
possible to grant their request for q
hearing, and Representative Byrns Of
Tennessee, House leader. said the bud.
get recommendation of President Roose.
veit FOR carrying over q 10 per cent
cut, which could be lighteLed shoule
living costs justify, would prevail.
The effect Of the pay, cut on personne
at the Government Printing Office wa:
shown in q statement today by Clyde
M Mills. president of Columbia Typo.