Evening star., 1948-11-11

Ola yCd1S, 1lC IldS DccI u WemDcr OF
Congress.
Lake many Of his Southern Dem
ocratic colleagues, Mr.. Murray leans
to the conservative side in his polit-
ical thinking. But he has a liberal
voting record In regard to Govern
ment employees legislation.
AS former postal employe, Mr..
Murray at times has seemed to
favor postal workers over the rest
OF the Government employees. Dur
ing the pay raise drive, Mr.. Murray
at one time appeared to favor giving
postal employees the best of the paw
increases.
Backed Other Raise,
But, later, Mr.. Murray changed
his views considerably. He was one
OF the handful of Representatives
who took the House floor, after the
postal pay bill was passed, and de-
clared it would be an "unspeakable
crime" to deny the rest of the Gov
ernment employees a pay raise, too.
Together with Chairman Rees of
the committee, MIR. Murray, as rank
ing minority member, finally was
successful in getting through a
general Federal pay raise bill, al
though 1t was $120 less than the
postal workers received.
Although they are of the opposite
political parties, Mr.. Rees and MIR.
Murray are very much alike in many
ways. So, in effect, the committees
pattern of conduct for the next two
years will be much the same as 1t
has been in the past.
Both men are anxious to keep
Government personnel costs down
as much as possible; yet they also
recognize the need and justice of
improving the welfare of Govern
ment workers as much as possible.
Wary Of Overstaffing.
Like Mr.. Rees, Mr.. Murray actively
supported, not only the pay raise
legislation, but the liberalized civil
service retirement benefits as well.
Mr.. Murray can be expected to
continue to support beneficial Fed
eral workers legislation that he
thinks Is feasible. but at the same
time he and the committee will keep
close check on Federal personnel
practices to guard against over
staining and other abuses.
Also, the Tennessean Is a bitter
foe OF communism, and probably
will devote considerable time to
looking into the Governments
loyalty program.
His relations with Federal en-
ployes' groups always have been
friendly, but he has not hesitated
on occasion to tell them they were
wrong when they advocated certain !
benefits he felt were not practicable
or desirable.
CAPITAL ROUNDUP-Four more
Labor Department employees have
been given cash awards for sugges-
tions resulting in greater economy
and efficiency in the Departments
operation. They are Mrs. Annie P. !
Belcher, Henry A. Huettner, Francis |
H. Hinton and Mrs. Rose Todress.
Here's record to be proud of:
Mrs. Dinah Belford, a Public Build
lngs Administration employe, who is
retiring from the Government after
81 years of service, took sick leave |
only twice during that entire span.
And her efficiency ratings consistent
ly have been excellent" The
Library of Congress has decided to
permit employees past the age of 10,
who have less than Is years of serv- |
ice, to remain on the job. Ar
lington Chapter No. of the Ma
tional Association of Retired Civil
threatens to break away
from the parent organization in a !
dispute ever legislative policies in
volving retirement benefits. The
chapter Charges that the parent or
shows no consciousness
of the need of six fundamental"
pieces of legislation which the Ar
lington unit says are essential to aid
retired Government employees. =
Trail Price, an employe of the Fed
eral Security Agency, has been elect
ed a vice president of the AFL
Federation of Government !
(Be sure to listen in every Sum-
day at 11:15 am. oUer WMAL,
The Star station, for Joseph
Young's broadcast persion OF the
Federal Spotlight, featuring ad-
ditional neUs and pie,Ds OF the
Government scene.)
...---.....--pLAZA SELL.