Evening star., 1945-07-19
U. 5. Employees
Unions Favor
.ki!aore Plan
Bill Provides Funds
For JobIess During
Peocetime Cutbuck
BY JOSEPH YOUNG.

Officials of Federal employees
unions here today expressed their
preference for the Kilgore bill
which provides unemployment COM
pensation benefits for Government
workers during the reconversion
period, over a similar type of legis-
lation introduced in the House by
Chairman Doughton of the House
Ways and Means Committee.
The union leaders feel that the
legislation introduced by Senator
Kilgore, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia provides vastly better benefits
for Federal workers than does the
Doughton bill.
For one thing, the Kilgore bill
places all Federal employees under
standard system, similar to the
Districts unemployment compensa-
ton plan. This would pay a Gov
ernment worker who lost his job in
the reconversion period up to 66 per
cent of his earnings in a 13-week
base period taken from the year
Immediately preceding dismissal.
Maximum payment would be $25
and would continue for 26 weeks Of
any calendar year.
States Can Reject Plan.
In contrast, the Doughton bill
provides for unemployment COM
pensation benefits based on the
standards of the particular State
where a Federal worker is employed.
Since most States unemployment
compensation benefits are consider
ably less than 66 per cent of an
employees highest weekly earning,
this would mean less jobless COM
pensation benefits for many Gov
ernment workers working outside
Washington.
Both bills would supplement State
unemployment funds with Federal
money to bring jobless payments to
two-thirdS of a workers previous
with a $25 maximum, but
the various States have the right to
reject the plan.
The union officials also pointed
out that the Kilgore measure, in
contrast to the Doughton bill, pro-
vides transportation funds for un-
workers who get jobs in
other cities Both bills, however,
fail to meet the unions demands for
transportation funds to return Gov
eminent workers to their homes
after the war.
Another objection the union Of
ficials have to the Doughton bill is
the provision that the measure
would not go into effect until 600,-
900 persons throughout the country
are receiving unemployment COM
pensation benefits.
Backs Kilgore Bill.
The United Federal Workers Of
America (CIO) estimated that un-
der this provision actual unemploy-
ment of more than 100000 people
would have to exist before Govern
ment employees would gain any bene-
fits. This was explained by the fact
that the 100000 would not nearly
represent all those unemployed,
since large groups Of workers, in
Guiding Federal employees, have
never been covered by unemploy-
ment compensation benefits and
therefore would not be reported as
unemployed.
The American Federation of Gov
eminent Employees (AFL) also has
announced its support of the Kill
gore bill william Green, president
Of the AFL, has indorsed the prin-
ciples of the measure.
The National Federation of Fed
eral Employees also has expressed
approval of the Kilgore bill, al
though the union said passage of
the Doughton bill also would be ac-
ceptable.
Both bills were introduced after
President Truman requested legisla-
ton to cushion the shock of unem-
ployment during the reconversion
period.