Evening star., 1936-06-09
PAYLESS PAYDAY
FRONTS 4,281
IN FEDERAL Jobs
Failure of Congress to Pass
Deficiency Bill Hits Parks
Service Unit.
MANY OF NUMBER
IN L0W-WAGE BRACKET
COP. Convention Keeping Many
Conferees Away-President's
Trip Might Delay Measure.

A payless pay day will confront
4,28l Government employees next Mon
day, due to failure of Congress TO pass
the first deficiency bill.
All but 81 of this group are in
the custodial service of the National
Park Service, Interior Department.
The remainder are supplemental en-
ployes of the Taxes and Penalties
Unit, in the Justice Department
There is a possibility the latter may
be paid Tuesday, however.
Meanwhile the Republican National
Convention at Cleveland has lured so
many of the conferees away from
Washington that action in conference
on the bill has been postponed until
next week. it was disclosed today By
Senator Adams, Democrat, Of Colorado,
chairman of the Senate conferees.
A further complication is the South
western trip of President Roosevelt.
which will keep him away from Wash
ington for at least week. Even if the
conferees should agree and the bill
should pass both Houses. the Presi-
dents signature would be required to
make it Law.
Provision of Bill.
The bill provides supplemental and
deficiency" appropriations of more
than $4,000 100000, but only about
per cent of the funds are actual
deficiencies incurred during the last
year. The other funds are for pro-
ceeding with various relief. military
and other projects during the next
fiscal year.
This hating of the machinery Of
Government is cold comfort to the
buildings guards. engineers, drafts
men, clerks. janitors and charwomen
who make up the buildings branch of
the National Park Service. Many Of
these workers. who get small salaries
anyway, are hard pressed TO make
ends meet these days. Principally,
they are engaged in seeking this
friend from whom we can borrow"
as one of them put it.
Last pay day. the end of May, the
buildings branch employees got only
five days pay instead Of Is, and now
their treasures are running low and
the outlook is none too bright.
Cause of Deficiency.
The deficiency was incurred by the
renting of additional buildings to
house new units of the Government,
because of an added fuel bill during
the recent severe Winter, because Of
the FIRE in the new Post ONCE De-
partment, the hiring of high-priced
experts and for other reasons. en-
ployes asserted today.
Altogether, there are 4,500 employees
under the buildings branch. but the
800 in the field are all right as far as
pay conditions are concerned, employees
here explained. as their appropriation
was not diminished. The burden falls
not alone on the 4,200 Washington
workers, but also on real estate men
here, who have leased their properties
to the United States, but are unable
to collect at this time, because, tenn
porarily, the buildings branch is in
solvent.
Effort TO Shift FUNDS.
The 81 employees of the taxes and
penalties unit, it was explained today
by Joseph Lawrence, administrator Of
the unit, were deprived of eight days
pay on the first of the month pay day
and will receive no pay next Monday
but efforts were being made today to
shift funds within the department so
as to make up the back pay and give
full pay by Tuesday.
Lawrence said the work of the unit
increased during the year more than
was anticipated, necessitating reten-
ton Of more employees than had been
contemplated originally. This gave
rise to the deficiency. he explained.
5000 in d. C. Items.
Included in the deficiency bill are
numerous items credited to the Dis
trict of Columbia, involving appro-
priations Of nearly 100000. Among
these are unemployment compensa-
ton, street improvements and def
cheney funds for the schools, Health
Department, courts and other insti-
tutions here.
The bill also includes the contro-
versial provision inserted by the Sem
ate by which the District Alley Dwell
ing Authority would be authorized to
use its unexpended balance from last
years $500.0o0 appropriation, plus
any receipts to June 80, 1887, in
carrying out its work during the com.
ing fiscal year. The House refused to
follow the budget recommendation of
$500 900. 1t is estimated the Senate
provision would make nearly $3.50, 900