Evening star., 1946-07-07
Hope Held Out
For Bills 10 Aid
U. 5. Employees
Hatch Act Changes,
Health Plan Given
Chance of Passage
By Joseph Young

provide Government health pro
grams, liberalize the civil service
retirement act, modify provisions O
the Hatch Act and grant unemploy
ment compensation rights to Fed
eral workers, mapped plans las
night to salvage at least a few o
the bills before the present session
of Congress expires.
With Congress expected to ad
iouln some time this month, botl
Chairmen DoWney and Randolph 0
the Senate and House Civil Servic'
Committees are anxious to see SOM
Of the bills approved by their com
mittees enacted into law All bill
not enacted will die with the ex
piration of this Congress.
Senator Downey plans to call ,
session of the Senate Committe,
either tomorrow or Tuesday to con
slider a number of bills and to ex
pedite their passage. Mr.. Randolph
is keeping in close with House lead
ers in an attempt to get quick &C
ton on his committee-reportee
measures.
Some Prospects Doubtful.
The outlook for some of the mos
important bills appears none to'
bright. In respect to unemployment
compensation benefits for Govern
ment workers, advocates of th'
measures concede that 1T will taxi
almost a miracle" for Congress t.
take action on the legislation a
this session. Senator DoWney, how
ever, has not given up the fight Il
gain for Federal workers the sara,
privileges that are accorded EN-
ployes in private industry.
Some chance is given the Ran
dolph Health Bill, although it ha
been about a year since the HouS'
passed the measure. The bill Ia
been favorably reported by t1'
Senate committee, but it Is still
awaiting Senate action.
Controversy over whether th
Civil Service Commission or til,
Public Health Service should ad
minister provisions of the DILL ma
held up its passage in the Senate
However, its sponsors hope that {
satisfactory solution can be worked
out in the next week or so in TIM
to get the bill through inc Senate
Officials Back Plan.
Government officials are in com
plete agreement that the legislation
is needed. Mr.. Randolphs bill pro
vides that dental and medical clinic
be set up in agencies to treat Gov
ernment employees for minor all
ments and dental defects and tt
provide emergency treatment fol
those injured at work. In addition
agencies would set up health pro-
grams to educate employees in hy-
genie matters and illnesS-preVen-
ton.
A group of essential retirement
bills still await House or Senate &C,
ton or both One of the most i'm.
portant from the standpoint of re-
tired Federal employees is bill tt
exempt the first 81 440 of annual re.
tirement benefits from Government
taxation.
With many retired employees liv
ing entirely on their annuities, thi
bill is deemed vital by its sponsors
Passed by the House, it has strucl
snag in the Senate Banking an,
Currency Committee A last-minut
attempt will be made to get the bill
favorably reported, with the out
come in doubt.
Another important retiremen
measure would grant full annuit
benefits to Federal employees wit
25 or more years of service who hav
lost their jobs due to drastic reduc
tion-in-force programs. This bill
too, faces an uphill fight. Approve
by the House Civil Service Com
mittee, the House refused to tax
immediate action on it last wee
when some members declared tn
measure needed more study.
Hatch Act Changes Sought.
A bill strongly favored by tn
Civil Service Commission in re
CARDS to modifying provisions G
the Hatch Act has passed the House
but has run into trouble in tn
Senate. However, proponents of tn
measure say there still is a prett
good chance for its passage.
The measure would give tn
commission discretionary power i
the future in assessing penaltie
against persons found guilty of VIC
lating provisions of the Hatch Ac
barring pernicious political activi
ties by Government employees. TIL
present act provides but one pen
atty for violation of the act-dis
miSsal from the Federal service
Several bills pending before Con
gress would grant job promotions t
certain Federal employees who hav
been in the armed forces. These in
clude persons who were on certifie
civil service job lists awaiting ap
pointment to the Federal servic
when they joined the armed force
The legislation would grant ther
the promotions they would have at
tanned had they remained in Gov
ernment from the first.
McCarran Bill Blocked.
There is no chance whatsoever a
this session for what might turn ou
to be the most important legislatio
affecting Government employees i
the past Is years. This is the Nc
Carran bill, setting up a 3O-hou
work week for Federal workers.
Although the Senate Civil Sery
ice Committee has not even hel
hearings on the bill this year, mem
bers of the committee believe tn
bill might have a good chance {
passage lin not too many years t
come" They feel that the measur
lis bit premature at the preser
time, but that its passage sometim
In the not too distant future is a dis
tinct possibility.
ArIinqton Youth Hurt