Evening star., 1937-01-01
GAINS FORECAST
!. FOR u. s. EMPL0YE
Prospects for improving
Working Conditions Are
Bright, Leaders Say.
BY ]. A. FOX,


Bright prospects for improved work
ing conditions In the Federal Govern
ment are envisioned for 1897 by the
heads Of the two organizations repre-
sentative OF thousands of men and
women in the executive agencies-Na-
tional Federation of Federal Employees
! and American Federation OF Govern.
ment Employees
The National Federation of Federal
Employees looks forward with q sub
stantial degree Of confidence-conf.
dence which we believe to be very
sOundly grOunded-that the year 1897
will bring real progress In the task
of improving administration better
ments in working conditions" Luther
G. Stewards the president, said.
On behalf OF the American Fedora
ton Of Government Employees. Presi.
dent Charles /. Stengle says it Faces
1887 confident that the progress of
Government workers toward better
working conditions will 60 steadily for.
ward. and that the efficiency of the
governmental establishment will con-
tinue to increase"
OutstA nding Needs Cited.
Both see the three outstanding needs,
In the order Of their importa nee, rs
extension Of the merit system, cIas-
sification Of the field service and
liberalized retirement, principles for
which their organizations are pledged
to work
Steward also emphasizes the neces.
sity for correcting abuses which have
sprung up In the administration OF the
new leave ls~s-the principal gain of
workers this past year-and Of adjust.
ing more satisfactorily the quarters,
subsistence and laundry regulations of
employees in field details.
Stengle believes there are good
chances Of obtaining a sound appeals
system in the civil service"
Forecssting legisla tion to strengthen
and extend civil service. President
Steward declares such action long
has been needed. and it is now clear
that the public is thoroughly con.
vinced that legislation must be en-.
acted to take the civil service out of
the realm OF partisan politics
The merit system is essential to
good government and to efficient, eff.
fective administration. 1t Is the oniy
method fair to the taxpayer. fair to
the Government and fair TO the man
DR. woman who desires to make q career
of public service This view now is
accepted by millions Of American citi.
zens who heretofore were apathetic:
and for that reason, we believe that
remedial action will come during 1897.
We will also strive for the initia-
ton of the thorough-soing system Of
classification which must 20 hand-i
hand with the merit principle"
1t seems clear that we may expect
substantial extension OF the merit
system in the United States civil serv-
ice for President Roosevelt has indi-
Gated that he Is strongly In favor of
such plan and there is a tremendous
national sentiment TO support it."
Stengle declares
Method Of Extension.
This extension" he continues. will
probably develop through placing
presidential postmssJers under the
civil service and bringing into civil
service deputy collectors of customs
and deputy collectors of internal reve-
nue.. as we'll as all the positions that
seem likely to be permanent among
those included in the emergency ssen-
cies. 1 have also strong hopes that
We may restore to civil service status
the employees of Veterans Aoministra.
ton hospitals who we're excepted from
1t flve years ago"
Stengle is optimistic over chances
for new retirement legislation. He
specifies particularly the program for
optional retirement and to allow an
nuitants. at their option. and without
added expense to the Government, TO
accept a somewhat lower retirement
scale in order that they may provide
an annuity for a surviving dependent"
Under this, he explains, a retired en-
ploye might take an annuity of $500
instead of 81 200. with the provision
that payments continue through the
lifetime OF q wife II she survived him. |