Evening star., 1934-01-10

The is per cent pay cut which Presi-
dent Roosevelt yesterday decided must
stand In the Government for the next
six months because it reflects corre-
spending decrease in the cost of living
is only part Of the story.
This was demonstrated today when a
record of the hearings on the inde-
pendent offices appropriation bill was
made public, showing instances whers
salaries had been slashed just about
twice this figure because insufficient ap-
preparations had caused application OF
administrative furlough even after dis
missals had been resorted to.
Again other groups reported their
staffs working overtime, without COM
pensation, because of the press occas-
stoned by new activities. and the added
fact that personnel needs had not been
allowed to keep in step.
This same story, it is predicted, will
be repeated, as succeeding appropria-
ton bills come up, that for the inde-
pendent Offices being the first OF the
major appropriation measures out OF
committee.
Five-day Week Added.
Ernest I. Lewis, director of the Bu-
r%au of Valuation of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, from which 529
employees were dropped on July l. after
rail-law changes had curtailed Its WORK,
told the appropriations subcommittee
the remaining force of 1863 had been put
on a five-day week as an added meas
ure of economy for the first four months
of the year, which meant an additlonai
salary cut of 141a per cent, and that
this principle must be followed 1urtner
because Of $35, 900 shortage.
This imposes a very great hardship:
particularly on the members of the stan
who are in their lower grades" SAID
Lewis who formerly was a commits
sioneI.
In the Bureau of Accounts. the five
day week also has prevailed, even after
dismissal of "a employees, George B.
McGinty, secretary to the commission
testified.
From Joseph B. Eastman, co-ordi-
nator of transportation, who also Is
member Of the Commission. the sub
committee heard that commission en-
ployes were working overtime to heip
Harry B. Mitchell, president OF the
Civil Service Commission, testified that
until the commission obtained de-
ficiency appropriation Of $220,000 every
employe from top to bottom faced q
two-month furlough.
Most of the chiefs of the divisions
intended to go on working, regardless
of the fact that they would get no pay
for an davS work he said
Extra Five-Hour Shift.
Mitchell also pointed out that for
months the commission has been on the
44-hour week and that many employees
have done more than this extra five
hour shift. He figured the extra hours
worked in July, August, September and
October at S45, ,545. and said that In the
past fiscal year, when extensive payless
leave prevailed, voluntary overtime
amounted to 1889 hours.
The Federal Trade Commission,
which has AIKEN over administration
of the securities act, had its force re-
duced from 404 to 389 between June 80
and December l last.
Commissioner March, then chairman,
testified, "it looks as though the Federal
Trade Commission will be asked to do
been asked to do before" He explained
the National Recovery Administration,
the Agricultural Adjustment and Public
Works Administration already had
called for a great deal Of work and a
great many men.
Testimony by Baldwin Bane. commits
sion attorney, who heads the securities
division, was that the work lis Just
beginning" Of investigating National
Recovery Administration complaints.
He said:
we have had a decided indication
it has not been anything definite
that the Federal Trade Commission is
quite likely to be called on to make
Investigations into the general effect
of some of these codes that have been
adopted"
Passage of the securities act under
the new administration was cited as