Evening star., 1941-09-08
A. F. 6. {. Convention
To Ask Congress for
Salary Increases
Federal Employees Union
Is Undecided Only on
Form PIeu Will Take
BY ]. A. FOX,
Star Stan Correspondent.

Star Stan Correspondent.
ST. PAUL, Sept. Another
group of Uncle Sans white collar"
workers is getting ready to ask for
more money to keep in step with
the advancing cost of living.
Meeting in their ninth convention
here today. members Of the A. F. l..
American Federation of Government
Employees were all set to shoot a
pay proposal at Congress, the only
uncertainty about the proposition
being the form it would take.
Some delegates were in favor of
deciding on a figure and campaign
ing for that, but leaders believed 1t
more likely that Congress simply
would be asked to weigh the condi-
tons that the Government employe
faces along with other salaried
workers, and give adequate" relief.
This was the tack taken by the
National Federation of Federal EN-
ployes in their Atlantic City con-
vention last week, employe leaders
agreeing it was the most feasible
line of action.
Already the nvest topic before the
convention, the pay issue got addi-
tional impetus late yesterday when
a message was received from Will
liam Green, president of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor, calling
on the Federation ito continue to
serve the civil service employees and
to fight continuously to lift their
economic welfare to a higher level
and to promote the general interests
of the Government employees"
Mitchell Speaks.
In this, the A. r. L. head pledged
support. Mr.. Green expressed re-
gret at his inability to attend the
convention.
More than 200 delegates were
present at the convention opening,
at which Harry B. Mitchell, presi-
dent of the Civil Service Commits
sion, discussed developments in the
personnel field in the two years since
the convention met. With many of
his hearers field service employees
who have become eligible for cover
age under the classification act pay
scales by reason of the Ramspeck
Act, Mr.. Mitchell explained the
process by which this extension
involving higher PAYS made op-
erative.
The commission, he said, will have
to classify each of the thousands
of the jobs that will be brought
under the act by executive order,
and to perform this task efficiently
1t will be necessary to set up field
Offices when the President gives the
word
Commission to Go Fast as Possible.
"The commission is already train
ing additional people for this work,
but it takes time, and we can only
proceed as the President gives us
authority, as we get the necessary
money and as we have persons
competent to do the work." he said.
Extension of the classification sys-
tenn generally will be to the ad-
vantage of employees in the field, and
the commission will go along as
fast as it can, but it does not want
you to expect the impossible"
Mr.. Mitchell also discussed the
operation of the Hatch Act, barring
political activity by Government en-
ployes, reiterating views he previous
ly has expressed about the advis-
ability of amending the law which
now makes dismissal mandatory for
any infraction, no matter how triv-
ial, and returning to the old system
under which the commission could
Ak the punishment for political &C
tivity according to the gravity of
the offense.
THE change in the penalty has
greatly increased the difficulty of
enforcing the law" Mr. Mitchell
said, and more than a years expe-
rience has demonstrated that it well
could be changed. Senator Hatch,
Democrat, of New Mexico, the au-
thor, agrees, Mr.. Mitchell added.
Vice Presidential Vacancies.
With several vacancies in the
ranks of vice presidents to be filled
later In the week, politically minded
delegates are discussing prospective
candidates. Miss Rena B. Smith
of st. Paul, the only woman on the
federation council, has announced
retirement, as has John B. Daniels
of Philadelphia. Joseph Connor,
who has been representing the 9th
district, st. Louis, has been trans
ferred to Washington and is no
longer eligible, and the convention
also must name successors to the
late Perry Myer of Seattle, and to
James B. Burns, now president, who
was vice president from the 18th
district at San Francisco. It also
is rumored that Fred Fraser, pres
ident of the District of Columbia
Federation, will be a candidate
against G. Carroll Dimond, one Of
the three incumbents from the Cap.
ital.
1t has been reported that Vice
President James Campbell of Gin
cinnati, who made an unsuccessful
race for the presidency two years
ago, would be a candidate agoinst
President Burns, but he said today
that he does not intend to run.
Supporters of Mr.. Burns claim that
he already has far more than
enough votes pledged to insure re-
election.
.
N al