Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-11
j. ). Workers
Told Of Threats
ToPay Checks
Federation Warned
Cuts Are Material
For Campaigns
BY J. A. FOX,
Star Stan Correspondent,

SeoA
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., Sept. IL.
Warning that campaign year may
bring efforts to cut the Federal pay
roll as a gesture at economy"
Charles I. Stengle, president of the
American Federation of Govern
ment Employees, today told delegates
to the eighth annual convention that
any move in this direction would be
opposed vigorously.
I'VE shall continue to strive for
better wages and working condi-
tions in all branches of service, and
we shall resist ill-advised attempts
to slash Government pay or reduce
the number of essential positions
on grounds of alleged economy,
Mr.. Stengle declared in his opening
address He recalled retrenchment
proposals advanced in the last Con-
gress by Senator King, Democrat,
of Utah, and Representative Mar
tin, Republican, of Massachusetts,
House minority leader, and expressed
the belief that President Roosevelt's
reorganization program would work
uttle hardSnlp on personnel.
To Work for Protection.
1--WE believe that reorganization
plans will be carried out as hu-
namely as possible, but we intend
to do all in our power to protect
worthy Government employees from
hardships that may ensue from
them" he said.
AN election year is just ahead,
and we shall need the protection
our union and the labor movement
can give us if Congress, for the sake
of gesture at economy, decides to
make savings at the expense of per-
sonnet"
Mr.. Stengle told the convention
that great step forward" had been
accomplished by President Roose-
velt's order which brought about
IS 900 positions under civil service
in February, and that hopes were
held for passage in the next Con-
gress of the Ramspeck bill, which
would make it possible to bring into
the competitive system about $780, 900
positions now exempt.
Promotion Plan Not Dead"
He said also that the training and
promotion plan contemplated by
President Roosevelt was not dead
in its entirety. although the last
Congress refused funds for it. Mr..
Stengle added that lin some aspects"
the plan had carried threat of de-
veloping a caste system" in the
Government service, but "it is my
belief that this threat no longer
exists"
Bespeaking the upbuilding Of ca
Frank T. Hines, veterans admins
traitor. declared his organization is
following policy of filling vacancies
in higher grades of promotion and
is preparing to ask the Budget Bu-
reau for definite appropriation in
the next supply bill to grant pay
raises where efficiency ratings
| justify.
When an employee knows that an
excellent rating will call for a SAL
airy advance, you get greater effici-
ency," he said.
DEPRESSING to the subject of war,
Gen. Hines said he hoped and be-
lieved that the fighting would be
confined to Europe and that, in the
| light of President RooSevelt's efforts
to maintain neutrality, sit behooves
us to be very careful when we make
speeches and when we talk
Gen. Hines also addressed the
United Spanish War Veterans here
today.
More than 200 resolutions-many
covering the same subjects-went
before committees today for study
before they finally are presented to
the convention for action. They
embody principally the legislative
items which the federation has
pushed in the past: Elimination of
the average" clause in appropri-
alton bills which restricts pay raises;
lowered optional retirement ages;
flve-day week; automatic promo
tons; extension of civil service
classification for field employees and
establishment of appeals machinery.
Changes in Office Loom.
Additional changes doomed in the
official ranks of the federation today
when it was made known that one
vice president, John F. Daniels, of
Philadelphia, definitely had decided
to relinquish Office, and that another,
Edgar M. Carpenter of Detroit,
probably would step out Both said
that private affairs made this step
desirable
Other changes are in sight as the
result of the retirement of President
Stengle, with two national officers,
Cecil E. Custer of Washington. treas
urer, and James A. Campbell, Gin
cinnati, vice president. candidates
to succeed him. Most District dele
gates supporting Mr.. Custer also are
backing Charles T. Hoffman of
Washington, vice president, for the
treasurer post, and James G. Yaden,
former head of the District depart
ment for this vice presidency. The
election will be held Thursday.