The Washington times., 1935-12-31
GAINS MARKED
FOR CLERKS
IN 1895
By J. EARLE MosER

of working for the Government
were many and varied during the
IL months of 1895, a survey Of the
dying years record reveals.
Probably the most important
single item to be accomplished, in
the eye of the average clerk, was
the complete restoration Of full
pay. when the final 5 per cent cut
provided by the Economy Act was
returned April / after a terrific
drive on the part of organizations
and the press, with Senator Pat
McCarran of Nevada acting as the
spearhead.
Equally important in the long
run was the entire repeal of other
Economy Act provisions with the
single exception of Section 213. the
marriage clause" which the Gel.
Ter bill that is now before the
House would also eliminate. And
early in 1885 another terrific war
between employees AMI officialdom
was eliminated in favor Of the for.
mer when Congress nullified ef
fects of the famed. or infamed.
McKellar rider, which had dispos
seSsed a number of Internal Reve
nue. Alcohol Tax Unit workers
from their civil service rating.
Gains on the retirement issue
were slim. If any, but almost
every worker is aware Of the
advanced position Of Robert
RamSpeck's leave bills, which
passed through the House after
q summer Of dilly-dally1ng in
committee that is considered to
have cost them decisive action
at the hands of the Senate dur
ing 1885.
In addition. thousands Of Post
Office workers were benefited by
passage of the Mead 40-hour bill,
reducing their hours Of labor,
and personnel adherents on every
side regret the fact that an at
tempt by an uninformed group
of Mail Equipment Shop work
ers to get advantages Of both
the Mead and RamSpeck bills
helped block the latter when
legislators Spurned the idea.
Some critics do not agree that
the new efficiency ratings, put
in effect after Representative
william I. Sirovich had directed
one section Of his il-fated ON
nibus document at the aged and
stupid Graphic Rating Scale. are
any improvement over the old
method. But the majority think
the new, simplified rating method
a distinct betterment and it is
apparently up to the critics to
devise a superior idea.
Not the least of the gains
1885 brought to the Federal clerk
of grades / to 4 was the inStalla-
ton of cash pay in a great
many departments and offices
instead of the highly criticized
checks. This, eliminating the
evil of "pay day rush" to some
bank or department store, is
thought to rival pay restoration
in the eyes Of the average Fed
eralite as a material gain.
Debts and Credits
Credit for achieving most, or
all, of the above advancements is
claimed for themselves alone by
a number of organizations. In
the opinion of unbiased observers,
however, it was concerted action
from all points that did the trick
and not the efforts Of any one
group or individual.
The National Federation Of Fed.
eral Employees, oldest of the Gov.
ernment unions, was particularly
evident in the pay restoration
scrap through the friendship be-
tween Senator McCarran and Lu-
ther C. Steward, N. F.. F. E. leader.
It also made news with it's mill
tant advocacy o. the merit Sys-
TEN, and the persuasive quality
Of Stewards deft Hill tactics was
evident throughout the year.
Another equally outstanding
group was the American Fedora
tion of Government Employees,
which kept the kettle boiling
throughout the year, initiated
National Civil Service Week,
backed the Fulmer bill for op
tional "QSL," was strongly evi-
dent in defeating the Gore $4,000
or more Salar% amendment,
flopped a por.derouS leave bill pc
tition on Chairman BuloW's Sen
ate desk and generally kept very
much in the swim also.
To the postal groups, A. F. L.
or independent, much credit also
belongs, observers say.