Evening star., 1934-11-02
MCCORMACK BACKS
JANUARY | PAY
RESTORATION PLAN
Employees Promised Hearty
Support by Prospective
Majority Leader.
LIVING COST STUDY
LAUNCHED BY U. S.
Labor Department Seeking Facts
on Medium and Low Salaried
Persons Over Nation.

Hearty support for Government en-
ployes in their effort to secure full
restoration of their pay reduction
promptly on the return of Congress
in January, was promised today by
Representative Mccormack, Democrat,
OF Massachusetts, who has been prom
inently mentioned as prospective ma
jority leader in the incoming Con-
gress.
Mccormack said he would Coop
crate to the fullest extent in ge.
ting legislation passed restoring the
remaining per cent for Federal work.
ers effective as of January /. Further
more, ne predicted there would be no
real fight against the legislation due
TO President Roosevelt's neutrality.
His announcement came as leaders Of
the employees organizations proceeded
with plans to push for restoration as
of January l rather than wait until
next July / when the President has
promised the cut will be lifted.
Living Cost Study.
Meanwhile, it was learned the Labor
Department is embarking on living
cost study that will take in medium
and low salaried persons. The study
is that customarily made by the de-
partment each half year, but unusual
interest is attached to it now. mas
much as the President coupled his
statement on pay return with the ex-
PLANTATION that living costs will not
show sufficient advance by January l
to warrant his ordering the pay res
toratiou for that time
In his announcement Representative
Mccormack reiterated the statement
he has repeatedly made in the House
that it is impossible to restore pros
perity by reducing purchasing power
and that the Government should set
an example by restoring full salaries
to all its employees.
Ready TO Lead Fight.
Declaring his intention of pressing
for the earliest possible consideration
by the House of legislation to make
effective salary restoration, McCor-
mack expressed willingness to lead
whatever fight may be necessary.
However. he said his belief that there
would be no real fight was based. not
only on President Roosevelt's intima-
tion that he would not oppose such
legislation, but also on conferences
held with other House members from
all sections of the country.
Mccormack said he finds a very
general sentiment among his COL
leagues for giving Government work.
ers full pay according to classified
civil service laws.
Other members Of the Civil Service
Committee, the Appropriations Com
mittee and those best informed re-
garding personnel problems of the
Government, as we'll as questions of
finance and budgeting. are also sup
porting the proposal for restoration of
salaries.
To Cover Principal Cities.
The living cost survey will be car
ried out by 20 agents Of the Labor De-
partment and will cover the principal
cities. 1t is proposed to establish the
findings as of November Is, which is
a month earlier than the cost index
was fixed a year ago 1t was held
desirable to have the information in
hand earlier this year.
The study is not to be confined to
the field Of Government employees
alone, but will cover a cross-section
Of all workers in the more modest
salary brackets, based on the pur-
chases which they ordinarily make.
Figures AnxiousIy Awaited.
Both the National Federation OF
Federal Employees and the American
Federation of Government Employees
have challenged the logic of govern
ing pay restoration by living cost prob
abilities, and are anxious to know the
exact figures involved
Both of these groups are prepar-
ing to carry their fight to Congress
for eliminating the cost-of- living fac
>tor in wage fixing, and for raising pay
and bettering working conditions gen.
orally
The first move in this direction
probably will come when the House
Appropriations Committee starts hear
ings on the money bills for 1896, but
the date for this has not yet been set,
1t was said today at the Office of the
clerk Of the committee.
In connection with the fight of Gov
ernment workers, E. Claude Babcock,
president Of the Federation Of Gov
eminent Employees, said today that
help had been pledged by veterans
organizations.