Evening star., 1948-09-30

apparently are far more INTERESTED
in the top-bracket pay legislation
than in general Redistribution Act
reyisions. Then, too, there is q ten
dency to wait for possible recon-
mendations by the Hoover Commls-
sion on salary structure before going
ahead with general Classif1catlon
Act changes.
All this is discouraging to rank
and-file Federal workers, who stand
to get average s100 pay raises under
the classification revision leglslatlon.
That isn't much, but every little bit
helps these days.
OF course, there Is good chance
that Chairman LANCER OF the Senate
Civil Service Committee, will refuse
to approve top-level pay raises, un-
less he is assured that the other
legislation will also be pushed at
the same time. And the House civil
Service Committee may also ask
that everything be considered as one
bill.
Unless this is done, however, the
outlook is not too bright for the
immediate and complete overhaul
ing of the Federal Classification
Act structure, which, incidentally,
hasn't been revised since 1928.
UPWA-The action of the Atomic
Energy Commission in barring the
left wing CIO United Public Work.
ers of America from any union ac-
tivity in atomic energy projects has
caused considerable uneaslness
among UPWA workers here in other
Government security agencies.
Apparently, however, the other
Federal security units have no i'm
mediate plans to blacklist UPWA.
Both the Central Intelligence
Agency and the Army Security
Agency say they are mot contem-
plating" such action at this time.
ANY question Of loyalty will be de-
cided on an individual basis, agency
spokesmen declared.
Meanwhile, UPWA President
Abram Flaxer, as well as other top
union officials, steadfastly have re-
fused to sign non-Communist am
dayits or even answer the questions
of congressional committees as to
whether or not they are Communists
COUNTER CHARGE-Undersec-
retary of the Treasury Edward H.
Foley, jr., has made a speech charg-
ing that Federal employees have be-
come the target OF a Smear cam
paign.
Addressing a group of top Govern
ment officials in New York City. Mr..
Foley, who is one of the most ca
pable officials in the Federal service,
asserted that ''indiscriminate brand
ing of Government employees as dis
loyal resulted from political mo-
CiveS.
Then, taking a sharp dig at Gov.
Thomas E. Dewey, Mr.. Foley added: !:
while on the subject, I would
like to ask about the State OF New
York's loyalty program. II they
have one. haven't heard about it,
Paying a final tribute to the loyal
ty of Federal workers as q group,
Mr.. Foley concluded:
Il have vast confidence In the
loyalty of the overwhelming num-
bers of our Federal employees. !
will stack up our Federal employees,
man for man, with any comparable
group in Government or private in
dustry without fear Of the result
II will match them with the en-
ployes of the State Of New York
any day of the week"
LAGGING-Government agencies
continue to take an apathetic atti-
tude toward the employe cash award
program authorized by Congress.
Instead of participating more
actively in the program, Govern
ment bureaus aren't as active now
as they were last year or even fve
years ago.
All of which is a great pity. 1t
not only deprives deserving Federal
employees Of the cash awards and
recognition that is due them when
they submit money-saving ideas and
suggestions for improving the ef-
ficiency in their off1ces, but 1t pre-
vents greater improvements in the
Federal service.
As a result, both Government en-
ployes and the American public are
the losers.
The Civil Service Commission has
Just issued its annual report on the
program, showing that Federal de-
partments made only 548 cash
awards to employees for superior ac-
complishments during the past year.
,omnared tn 247 awards in 1947 and