Evening star., 1945-01-26
Federal Aides
Welfare Subject
OF 100 Measures
Pay Boost, Overtime
Health Program
included in List
BY JOSEPH YOUNG.

BY JOSEPH YOUNG.
More than 100 bills affecting the
welfare Of Government employees
have been introduced in the 18th
Congress in the little more than
three weeks since 1t convened.
Among the bills introduced are
those providing for increased base
pay, true time-and-a-half overtime,
liberalized retirement benefits, gar
nishment of wages, health programs
and banning Of discrimination in
Federal service.
Some probably will never get out
of committee hearing. But congress
sional leaders are hopeful that a
good many measures will be enacted
into law.
Pay Increase Asked.
Bills calling for rs per cent base
pay increase for employees under the
Classification Act and actual time
and half for overtime instead of
the time and sixth now in effect
have been introduced by Represent
atives Clason. Republican, and Lane,
Democrat, both of Massachusetts,.
Still to be introduced is the ad-
ministration's wage-pay bill, which
Is expected to conform with Presi-
dent Roosevelt's recent request to
Congress for enactment of legisla-
tion providing regular time and a
half and study of the Federal wage
scale to correct any inequities.
Chairman Ramspeck of the House
Civil Service Committee said legis-
lation along these lines would be in
troduced following his committees
study of the situation and approval
OF proposed wage increases by the
Budget Bureau.
Health Bill at Top.
Among the bills slated for i'm
mediate attention is the health pro-
gram measure introduced by Chair
man Randolph of the House District
Committee and ranking member of
the House Civil Service Committee.
The measure, which provides for
treatment of Federal en-
ployes and program of health
education, came near enactment last
year, but died with the 18th Con-
gress. Mr.. Randolph reintroduced it
this year.
Mr.. Randolph also introduced a
bill to provide a differential for
night employees Of both the Federal
and District governments. The Civil
Service Commission has asked that
night workers who do the same kind
Of work as day workers receive 10
per cent increase.
Other Civil Service Commission
suggestions have been incorporat-
ed in bills to pay time and half
extra for holiday work after the
war, and cash-payment awards for
employe suggestions which improve
Government efficiency. Representa-
tive Murray, Republican, of Wiscon-
sin has introduced a measure au-I
thorizing payment of rewards to
postal employees for inventions.
Appeals Board Sought.
A bill to create United States
Civil Service Board of Appeals
where Government employees may
take their case as last resort has
been introduced by Representative
Rogers. Republican. of Massachu-
sets. Another bill, offered by Repre-
sentative Norton, Democrat, of New
Jersey would extend the existing
contributory system of retirement
benefits to elective officers and heads
of executive departments.
In the Senate, a series of amend
ments to the Retirement Act have
been offered by Senator Mead,
Democrat, of New York. They would
reduce the length of service neces-
sary to receive retirement benefits
from five years to one. Similar
died without action in
the last Congress.
A bill to give Government en-
ployes who have served 80 or more
years the option of retirement on
full annuity. regardless of age, was
introduced yesterday by Chairman
Downey of the Senate Civil Service
Committee.
A similar bill, approved by the
committee last year, died on the
Senate floor. Opposition to the bill
has been expressed by Representa-
tive Ramspeck.
Senator LANCER, Republican, of
North Dakota has introduced legis-
lation which would make the Senate
Civil Service Committee a court of
final jurisdiction for discharged
Federal employees. Senator LANCER
has asked for immediate action on
the bill empowering the committee
to reinstate any employe with five
years service who has been osten-
sibly discharged for cause, if the
committee found that the employee
had been fired without regard for
regulations.
Would End Discrimination.
Bills prohibiting discrimination in
employment because of race, creed,
color or national origin have been
introduced by Mrs. Norton and
Representatives Dirksen, Republi-
can, of Illinois and LaFollette, Re-
publican, of Indiana.
Another measure introduced by
Representative Kefauver, Democrat,
Of Tennessee provides for the gar
nishment, execution or trustee proc
ess Of salaries of Government en-
ployes. Hearings were held on a
similar bill at the last session of