Evening star., 1934-03-29
.BACK-PAY CHECKS
DUE ON APRIL Is
S1,37O,OO0 to Be Distrib-
uted Among Federal Work.
erS Here at Once.
Continued From First Page)

Continued From First Page)
E. Claude Babcock, president. on
figure of 1927 of total Government
employment in the Capital
This not only includes those work
ers on the Federal pay roll, but those
in the District government also.
In the executive branch of the Gov
ernment the percentage of local en-
ployment is higher, but the fact that
the majority of the judicial and mill
tary are located outside of Washing
ton cuts it down.
Skilled Workers Benefit.
One feature Jf the legislation will
affect about II 900 employees in the
Navy Yard Government Printing
Office and Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, all of whom are skilled
craftsmen Under an amendment
sponsored by Senator Thomas, Demo-
crat of Oklahoma. their base pay IS
revised upward, on the basis of
! 40-hour week. eliminating a situation
which spokesmen have Contended re-
4 suited in discrimination, inasmuch
/ their pay cut actually amount to %
/ instead of Is per cent
In all, about $4,000 workers whose
wage is fixed by boards or other au-
thorities, come under this amendment,
according to N. p. Alifas, president Of
district AZ of the International AssO-
citation of Machinists. as it includes
not only the local groups. but their
! fellow ira desmen in arsenals. Panama
Canal Al9Sk n Railroad Coast Guard
and Light House services and rivers
and harbors work.
Criticized by President.
This section of the Independent
Offices bill was pointed out for criti-
/ ciSm by President Roosevelt in his
veto message, the Chief Executive
contendlng that it had the effect Of
! giving 48 hours pay for 40 hours
/ work.
Alias differed with the President,
| declaring it was only correcting an
! injustice.
Under the recovery program, he
amplitied, private employers are sup
posed 10 reduce hours without a re-
ductlon IN pay. The Government in
/ this instance has reduced pay in the
same proportion as it has hours, and
I the Thomas amendment cOrrects that
by putting the Government on record
/ 20 carry out the same policy as private
! employers are expected to carry out
! the labor leader insisted
! These mechanics in the Government
tl1n ,f hill,
of the membership of the American
Federation of Labor, which is COM
posed of skilled trades, said Alias,
adding these men are going to be in
| terested in what the Government is
doing to its own skilled trades, be-
cause OF the precedent it will estab-
llSh tor private industry.
Pay Freeze Is Ended.
Another important economy act
feature eliminated is that under
which a pay freeze" has prevailed
for officers of Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health
Service and Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey. These, however. will get no
retroactive pay for the time their
higher rates have been held up.
The progress of the pay controversy
has been marked by vigorous action
by the American Federation of Gov
ernment Employees, with its affiliated
groups in the American Federation
| of Labor, and the National Federation
of Federal Employees. headed by Lu-
ther c. Steward, which was joined by
those postal organizations which are
| not under the A F. of L. banner.
The League of American Civil
| Service under Mrs Margaret Hopkins
Worrell, and the Civil Service Rein
statement League also joined.
Employees Hail Outcome.
General satisfaction was expressed
| in employe circles today over the
outcome.
In making part of the pay reStora-
ton effective currently, Congress has
cOrrected-to some extent at least-a
condition which, it has been COM
planned, could not be treated equi-
tably under the law providing that liv-
ing costs govern pay. The last COM
pilation. it was pointed out, when an
nounced by the President on January
l. was based on false premise, mas
much as it was prepared too soon to
| reflect price trends boosted by N. R
A. codes The result, it was con-
tended vas that the gap between pay
and prices would continue to increase
during the first six months this year.