Evening star., 1948-02-17


up their hands in horror.
You can't do that" they told
him. Why it's illegal-it's i'm
moral"
Senator LANCER is man OF
strong conviction, but he finally be-
came convinced that If the bill Is to
stand a chance of passage, its bene-
fits must be limited to married
employees. So out went the bene-
fits to unwed girls.
incidentally, Civil Service Com
missioner Frances Perkins also is
said to have objected to granting
unwed mothers these benefits. Sem
ator Langer's committee begins
hearings on the legislation this
afternoon.
MONTH DELAY-It now appears
there will be one months delay be-
fore the civil service retirement
legislation will 60 into effect.
The bills effective date Is two
months after final enactment, and
it had been assumed that it would
be passed this month, thereby max
ing its provisions effective April l.
But now final House considera-
ton has been set back to a week
from today. And after the House
acts, the Senate must take up the
bill. This means the bill in all prob
ability, won't be passed finally until
March and that the new law won't
take effect until May 1.
Reason for the delay Is the abb
sence from Washington of many
House Democrats who have left
town to attend various Jackson
Jefferson dinners this week. They
have left word they would like to
have their votes on record in favor
of the legislation, and consequently
consideration of the measure has
been set back to next week.
It's certain the bill will be passed,
even If it Is next month. Incident
ally, If you would like copy of the
civil service booklet explaining the
new retirement provisions, drop me
a postcard at The Star. The book
let Will be sent to you as soon as
the Legislation is signed by Presi-
dent Truman.
All Government employees, what
ever their ages, should have q copy
af this booklet for their own pro-
lection. It explains in plain, nom
technical language the retirement
and insurance rights to which every
Government employe is entitled
under the new legislation.
X Il X
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE A big
membership drive has been started
by the AFL Government Employees
Council. The objective is to union
ize the majority of the Govern
ment's 100000 employees.
The council is composed of unions
with about 100000 of the estimated
100000 Government employees who
belong to some kind of a Govern
ment workers organization.
One of the unions that expects
to benefit from this drive is the
AFL American Federation of Gov
ernment Employees, which is men,
Der of the council. Also, it's no
secret that top AFL officials feel an
intensive organizing drive could
bring at least half of the Govern
ment's 100000 workers into the
AFL field.
It's expected that President Will
liam Green and the AFL will supply
some of the money needed for the
membership drive.
y X
MONEY BILLS-The Treasury
Post Office Departments 1949
appropriations measure will be re-
ported by the House Appropriations
Committee in about two weeks.
And about the same time, give or
take few days, the committee will
report out the State Commerce =
Justice 1949 appropriations bill.
Indications are that the State,
Justice and Post ONCE Departments
have very little to worry about so
far as personnel cuts are concerned.
And committee insiders say that
even in the cases of Treasury and