The Washington times., 1935-01-01
GOOD YEAR
FOR FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES

NONCIklUlSIlI C1AlPlOJC0 OOAdJ
looked back on 1884 as the "year
Of the great restoration"
OF all events affecting employees
Of the United States Government
during the year just ended, the
greatest event, in the opinion Of
all of them, was the restoration
Of 10 per cent Of the Is per cent
slash in their salaries.
When 1884 dawned, Federal en-
ployes looked forward to a black
year. The year previous had seen
Is per cent Of their salaries taken
away and they did not expect
much from a Congress bent on
economy.
Times Aided Drive
But the combined efforts Of the
National Federation of Federal
Employees, plus the impetus given
by a concerted drive by The
Washington Times, brought about
a restoration of two-thirds of the
cut.
The restoration, effected under
the McCarran amendment to the
independent offices appropriation
bill, restored S per cent Of the
salaries retroactive to February l
Of last year, and an additional S
per cent beginning July J..
Legislation enacted in the last
session of Congress gave other
benefits to Government employees,
chief among which was reStora-
ton of automatic and administra-
tive promotions and subsistence
and laundry.
Five-Day Week Won
Employees scored another gain
in the institution of a five-day
week among wage board employees
of the Government without reduc-
ton in weekly pay. This was fol-
lowed by fiVe-day week for many
other employees in the same
agencies.
Another piece of legislation to
aid Government employees was the
bill to permit them to designate
beneficiarieS under the Civil Serv-
ice retirement fund.
AS soon as the Seventy-third
Congress adjourned, both employe
organizations began campaigns
for complete restoration of sal
aries. and last week the American
Federation of Labor wage confer
ence completed a draft of a bill
which Senator Pat McCarran DO
of Nevada, author of the reStora-
ton amendment last session, has
promised to introduce in the
Seventy-fourth Congress.
The bill, as drafted, would re.
peal all provisions of the various
economy measures which have
the effect Of reducing or limit
ing wages or salaries.
Patronage Fight
One of the greatest setbackS
which Government employees suf-
fered during the past year was
the inroadS made on the merit
system by wholesale patronage
appointments in the various
agencies of the Government.
Efforts were made on several
occasions to forestall further ap-
pointments as a result Of political
pressure, but nothing came of
them.
However. as the result of cam
paigns by both the N. E. F. E. and
the A. F. G. E., President Roose-
velt has announced that he is in
favor of legislation placing under
the Civil Service employees in the
various emergency units of the
Government service.
Employees were greatly pleased
with the shift in public opinion
concerning Government workers.
Prior to the past year, the public
looked on employees of the Gov
ernment as o'clock watchers" and
timekillers.
But the employe organizations
conducted campaigns in an effort
to combat this propaganda, :"
with the result that some of this
sentiment has been overcome in
recent months.
Unemployment Rule
Early in the year, both fedora.
tions obtained from the Civil Serv-
ice Commission a ruling that
those who had been furloughed
and dismissed from the Govern.
ment service be carried for two
years on the commissions reem-
ployment lists, and that Jobs be
found for these persons from
time to time.
An important victory for Gov.
ernment employees during the
past year was that which over
came the original intention of
the Civil Service Commission to
impose a 40-year age limit on per.
sons who wished to take the
Stenographer-typist examinations.
Whenever you wish to know the
correct time of day or night teIe.