Evening star., 1948-05-12

Federal workers. But even this pay
boost for top ofncials Is uncertain.
The Senate committees bill would
give agency heads salaries OF $l5,-
600 and $16,500, and other top
fight administrators would get $l3,-
900 to $4,000 a year.
These officials didn't benefit at
all from the Federal pay raises In
1945 and 1946, because Congress
wouldn't permit the lifting OF the
10000 ceiling. So, if the long-range
reclassification of their salaries Is
rejected by Congress. it would seem
fair to give these omcials at least
the $400 or $500 pay boost that the
rest of the Government employees
stand to receive.
TROUBLE-The bill to give un-
employment compensation dement's
to Government employees has run
into trouble in the full Senate Civh
Service Committee.
Approved by a subcommittee last
week, the measure was put over yes
terday for another week, at least.
Chairman LANCER asked that the
bill be approved Immediately, but
some of the other members, includ-
ing Senators Williams and Buck,
both Republicans, from Delaware,
wanted more time to consider the
bill
Unless the committee acts soon,
the bills chances will be just about
nil. That's why it's essential that
Government employees groups and
Federal workers themselves COM
municate with the committee and
ask for speedy action.
ADDENDA-In other actions, the
Senate Civil Service Committee:
l. Set hearings for a week from
Friday on the Baldwin bill to In
vestigate the Governments en-
cheney rating system.
2. Agreed to act next week on
some of the TOO postmaster nomln-
ations that have been held up for
many months. /
3. Sidetracked legislation that
would have given more liberal re-
tirement benefits to a number OF
legislative employees.
ECA-Acting under provisions OF
the law setting up the European
Recovery Program, the Civil Serv-
ice Commission has set up rs non-
civil service jobs in the Economic
Cooperation Administration. pay
ing salaries OF $4,000 annually.
ECA has the right to Ill these jobs
with its own choices. regardless OF
civil service regulations:
/ And the commission also has Is
sued a directive protecting the job
rights Of Federal employees who
transfer to ECA. When their duties
with ECA are terminated these
employees may return to their for
mer Jobs. providing they have perm
anent status.
THUMBS DOWN-The House APP
preparations Committee has denied
the request of the Library Of Con-
gress for additional money to hire
400 more employees. incidentally,
139 of these jobs were Topped oil by
the committee last year, and the
Library had planned to rehire these
employees and to add about $50 new
ones.
However, the committee did pro-
vide enough funds to retain the Ii
brary's present staff and to hire
about II additional employees In the
Librarys copyright ONCE.
In its report on the Library's 194S
appropriations, the committee was
critical of what it charged was the
excessive increase" during the past
few years in the ratio of higher
salaried employees. 1t asked the
Library to bring this ratio down
somewhat.
GPO-The Government Printing
Ofiice, like the Library of Congress,
won't have to make any personnel
cuts as a result of the committee's S
legislative appropriations measure.
In fact, GPO probably will be able
to add a few employees.
II X X
UPWA DILEMMA-With its bien-
nial convention in Atlantic City
LY3ty .#3$8s 3=::S;s|=