Evening star., 1947-03-06
Drealy Outlook
0fU. 5. Workers
Aired at Session
Friends in Congress
See Dismissal of
Many Thousands
By Joseph Young


An overflow crowd of several hun.
dred Government workers last night
packed the ornate Postmaster Gen.
erals reception room in the Post
of1ce Department to find out what
the Federal Employe May Expect"
What they heard didn't set the
audience to cheering. Even though
the speakers were their recognized
friends, the outlook facing Govern
ment workers during the coming
months was painted in none too
bright picture.
The meeting was sponsored bv
Lodge ~ Of the American Federa-
ton OF Government Employees. and
the speakers were among the best
friends Federal workers have on
Capitol Hill. They were Chairman
Aiken Of the Senate Expenditures
Committee, Representative Miller.
democrat, OF California, a member
OF the House Civil Service Commits
tee, and George D. Riley, staff di.
rector OF the Senate Civil Service
Committee. Another speaker was
William Doherty, president of the
National Association of Letter Car
riers (AFL).
Heavy Cuts Forecast.
The speakers agreed that the com.
ing months would see the dismissal
OF many thousands of Federal em.
ployes, although hope was expressed
that the cuts wouldn't be too severe
I say frankly that am rather
disturbed at the remarks OF some
members of Congress demanding
mass f1rings of Government work.
ers, Senator Aiken declared.
The Senator said most war-sery-
ice employees will have to 20, all
though he held out the hope that
some Of them will find employment
IN old-time agencies. Regarding
peacetime departments, Senator
Aiken said mass employment cuts
could not be made without Grip
pling Government efficiency.
Cites Democratic Swing"
In this connection, Senator Aiken
took a crack at his more conserya-
tive Republican colleagues, declar-
ing that Tuesdays Gallup Poll re-
vealng that 81 per cent of the Ma
lions voters now favor the Demo-
cratic Party shows that "less and
less of our citizens are supporting
the Republican Party"
There will be more people swing
ing over to the Democrats until
the Republican leaders give up their
irresponsible policies Senator
Aiken declared.
Representative Miller said it was
hard to tell what Congress was 90
ing to do in regard to legislation af.
tectlng Government workers. He
reminded his audience that Con-
gress was in an economy aniinded
mood" although he voiced the be-
lief that his colleagues wouldn't do
anything too drastic"
Union officials at the meeting
stressed the need for higher wages
Tor Government workers to offset
rising living costs and the necessity
for unemployment compensation to
tide over those Federal EMPLOYEES
who will be dismissed in the months
ahead.
Chances Seen as Dim.
But Mr.. Doherty and Mr.. Riley
conceded 1t is almost certain the
Eightieth Congress won't take kind
ly to that sort of legislation. Both
men said the best hope Govern.
ment workers had of getting benefi-
cial legislation passed during this
session OF Congress lay in tho
LANCER Chavez retirement bill.
The bill woulu p.ovide 49, exten-
slVe liberalization of retirement
benefits for Federal employees,
shortening of the retirement age.
increased annuities and survivorship
insurance.
During the question -and-answer
period, one member Of the audience
declared: What's worrying me and
thousands of other Government
workers and what hasn't been an
swered tonight is what assurance
have we that arbitrary and dis
criminatory tactics won't be used
IN the reduction-in-f force program,
That is the thing that is worrying
even the people in the so-called
peacetime agencies. 1t is destroying
morale and impairing efficiency in
the Government"
Mr.. Doherty suggested the en-
ployes join the various Government
unions and unite to fight against ir-
regularities. Mr.. Riley assured the
audience the Senate Civil Service
Committee would look into various
complaints and protect the COM
plainants' from any retaliatory