Evening star., 1948-06-15
By Joseph YOUNG


Federal pay-raise sponsors to-
day expressed confidence that
the legislation will be. approved
this week by Congress, despite
the statement by Speaker Martin
and House Majority Leader Hal
leck that they have not yet given
their approval to the bill.
The pay raise situation was
thrown into sudden confusion this
morning when Speaker Martin and
Mr. Halleck denied that the House
Steering Committee had given the
green light to the Government pay
bill.
Late yesterday new pay raise
legislation had been introduced by
Chairman Rees of the House Civil
Service Committee, who said he
was doing it with the approval Of
the House leadership.
Rules Committee to Act.
Chairman Allen of the House
Rules Committee announced his
group would consider the legislation
this afternoon and give 1t the right
of way for House action.
When informed of the latest de-
velopment, Mr.. Rees said he was
confident that pay raises for all
Government employees would be ap-
proved by Congress by the end Of
the week, Notwithstanding the
statement of Mr.. Martin and Mr..
Halleck.
There's no need to worry" Mr..
Rees declared. This bill will be
approved"
Mr.. Rees is known as staunch
party man and always has worked
closely with the Republican leader
ship. For this reason. observers be-
lieve it extremely unlikely that he
would have proceeded with mis- pay.
raise legislation without the ap-
proyal of the leadership.
Understanding Indicated.
Although Mr.. Rees would not say
so specifically, he indicated that he
has reached an understanding with
the House Republican leadership re-
garding the bill.
Meanwhile. the Rules COMMITTEES
planned to meet as scheduled later
this afternoon and approve the $3.50
permanent pay raise for postal
workers and the $3.50 temporary
wage increase for the rest of the
Government employees. The $3.50
bill would be effective only until
June 80, 1949
In their statement today, Mr..
Martin and Mr.. Halleck said the
Steering Committee might meet to-
morrow to discuss the pay situation.
They said that postal pay raises
had been given clearance, but not
the general pay bill.
It's no secret that Mr.. Martin and
Mr.. Halleck we're dead set against
the pay boosts for nonpostal Fed
eral employees.
But the vast majority of House
members, Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike, favor the raises. They
were impressed by the arguments
of Federal employees and their union
representatives that the sharp rise
in living costs necessitates a pay
boost.
Called Discrimination.
And these members were angered
by reports that postal workers might
be given pay raises, with the rest
of the Federal workers being left
out in the cold. Many Of them
informed the leadership they
wouldn't stomach such goings-on."
They called 1t rank discrimina-
tion" and had even stronger terms
for 1t.
Meanwhile, the pressure con-
tinued to increase on the members
of the House Rules Committee, which
had bottled up the bill for more
than two months on the orders of
the House leadership. Individual
members of Congress protested the
stalling tactics. In addition, Gov
ernment employees and their friends
bombarded the committee with let
ters and kilograms demanding ac-
tion.
Chairman Allen, who always has
been friendly to Government en-
ployes' legislation, had been In favor
of pay raise legislation. But, being
good party man, he had agreed to
hold up action on the bills.
Finally, Mr.. Allen decided that,
in simple justice, action should be
taken. Members Of the Rules Com
mittee were irked that they had
become the goats of the situa-
ton, and they met with the leader
ship to seek immediate action.
Finally. the leadership in
structed Chairman Rees OF the
House Civil Service Committee to
introduce pay raises of $3.50 for
postal workers and $3.50 for the
others. Mr.. Rees introduced the
measures yesterday afternoon.
Incidentally, Government en-
oloyes and their unions can take
lot of credit for sending thousands
of letters and kilograms to key Re
publican leaders during the past
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