Evening star., 1934-02-24
BabcoCk Tells U. S. Work
ers Conference Alone May
Delay Measure.
EXPLAINS VETO WOULD
RESTORE OLD SCALE
Federation Votes Faith in Efforts
of Officials and Transit Company
to Improve Car Service.

Final congressional action on the
pay bill by the end of next week, un-
less it is tied up in conference, was
predicted last night by E. Claude Bab-
cock, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Government Employees, be-
fore the District Federation, meeting
at the Hamilton Hotel
Delay Is Seen.
At the Capitol this morning, how
ever, indications were that the inde-
pendent Offices supply measure. which
involves both the Government pay
and war veterans allowances, prob
ably would be delayed until the week
after next.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat. of South
Carolina, in charge of the bill, went
to the White House yesterday with
Vice President Garner. but there was
no intimation that they had dis
cussed questions involved in the bill
Babcock told the Government en-
ployes' gathering it was not eX-
pected that administration forces
would seek reconsideration of the
McCarran amendment, which would
knock out the entire pay cut
July /, because they realize there is
no possibility" of reversing the Sen
ate vote which put over this addi-
tion to the independent Offices bill.
The meeting also heard a discussion
of the local transportation service,
members of the federation airing COM
plants and making suggestions for
betterments. Upon motion of Cecil NJ.
Mears, president of Panama Canal
Lodge, the federation voted confidence
that the Capital Transit Co. and Dis
trict officials would use their best
efforts to solve the problems now con-
fronting them.
Babcock outlined the steps taken in
connection with the independent Of
fees bill, and said that if, as had been
suggested, it came. through Congress
in its present form and was vetoed
because it went beyond administration
desires. the veto would have the effect
OF killing all restrictive employe legis-
lation on July /, in the absence of
new enactment. He did not believe
new economy legislation could be
passed, he said.
Classification Fight Fails.
The federation president said also
It had not been possible to arouse
any interest in Congress toward strik-
ing out the provision prohibiting re-
ALLEGATION of positions under the clas-
sitication act. This barrier has ex-
listed since the first economy act, and
the disinterest in Congress was at
tributed to the fact that it affects
only local workers, classification not
applying to the field.
The restoration of automatic pro-
motions, will, however, he said, serve
to prevent fragrant injustices arising
out of the reclassification ban.
The federation also voted opposi-
tion to the bill of Representative Ran
dolph, Democrat, of West Virginia, to
prohibit Government employees from
accepting outside work.
Participating in the transportation
discussion were Riley E. Elgen of the
Public Utilities Commission: William
A Roberts. assistant corporation
counsel. and John H. Hanna. presi-
dent of the Capital Transit Co., who
was accompanied by c. Melvin
Sharpe, assistant to the president Of
the Potomac Electric Power Co.
Hanna answered the complaints
and suggestions that came from the
Government workers, and said the
company proposed to render the best
service possible, realizing that only
by that means can 1t prosper.
Rerouting Studied.
A study of rerouting now is under
way, he explained, but it is desired
to have the whole plan ready. and
make all changes at once, rather than
piecemeal. He said some shifts, how
ever. may have to be made before
the major regrouping is effected. The
public will have a chance to pass on
this. he added.
Hanna said it was realized that in
some places equipment had not been
properly distributed, and repeated
previous assertions that the bad
weather had been big factor in dis
hoped to get an improved type of
street car before the end of this year.
Some new busses have been purchased,
he added.
Elgen explained that an extensive
study is being made of the transpor-
tation needs that will be occasioned
by the concentration of thousands of
workers in the Pennsylvania avenue
triangle, and that cards will be sent
into the departments to collect data
on the number of workers who must
be cared for.
Roberts urged the federation to
campaign for the "stagger hour" work
plan throughout the Government,
contending that by thus spreading the
arrival and departure of the employees
from the downtown area. conditions
would be greatly improved.