Evening star., 1950-07-31


porterS say. Joseph i'uht
The AFGE presidency has been
vacated since the death Of James
G. Yaden several weeks ago.
Opposed for Position.
Then fierce fight began among
the supporters of Mr.. Iler and the
hackers of other candidates for
the AFGE presidency. including
Cecil Custer, budget officer Of the
Civil Service Commission and
John Murray, Ages director OF
organization.
The Iler forces sought the in
terim appointment of their man
as president, while the others
sought to have Berniece Heffner,
the unions secretary treasurer,
named to the interim post.
The Importance in the interim
appointment lies in the fact that
the president has the final say in
selecting the important convention
committee that seats delegates and
passes on their credentials. The
president also is in charge OF the
entire convention proceedings.
Mr.. Tier is As years old and a
native of Kentucky. A Democrat,
he is a close friend of Vice Presi-
dent Barkley as well as other
members of the Kentucky con-
gressional delegation.
Government Career Man.
A career man in the Govern
ment, Mr.. her worked his way up
from a 1880 a year Federal job to
his present $4,000 post as chair
man of the board which is the
final court Of appeal for Federal
employees on all injury compensa-
ton cases.
Mr.. Hers last job was as a spe-
cial assistant to the then Federal
Security Administrator Watson
Miller. And before that he held
a top administrative post with the
National Youth Administration.
About IL years ago he inter-
rupted his Government career for
several years to serve as chief
organizer for the AFGE. When
he returned to Government serv-
ice Mr.. Her maintained his AFGE
membership.
Mr.. Hers supporters refer to
him as a progressive" politically
and declare that he will put new
life into the union"
ECONOMY DRIVE-This is the
week when the Senate is sched-
uled to act on the various econ
omy amendments affecting Fed
eral employees.
One of the economy riders
would cut the expenses of the
non-military and non-security
agencies by 10 per cent.
This amendment is sponsored
by 35 Senators. and the fight for
It's adoption will be led by Sen
ators Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia
and Bridges. Republican. Of New
Hampshire.
Another economy amendment is
sponsored by Senators Douglas,
Democrat, of Illinois; KEN. Re-
publican. of Missouri. and Will
liams, Republican. of Delaware.
This proviso would cut the ex-
penses of "non-essential" agencies
by S per cent and would bar them
from filling more than so per
cent of job vacancies resulting
from normal personnel turnover.
In addition, the 26 days annual
leave of Federal employees would
be reduced to 20 days. and the Is
days sick leave to IL days. Postal
workers, however, who now get
Is days annual leave would re-
ceive 20 days.
The Douglas Williams Ken
amendment also would deny an
nual and sick leave benefits to
Federal employees who haven't
completed a year of continuous
Government service.
Senate administration leaders
are opposed to the Douglas
amendment and will make a
strong fight against it.
X X
CAPITAL ROUNDUP - The
Naval Research Laboratory has
presented length-o service awards
to more than 100 of its civilian
employees. Three employees have
25 years or more of service. They
are Dale H. Cole, Robert Colson
and Richard c. Shreve. Fed
eral employment in Washington
increased by TOO during the past
month, for a new total of 213, 700.
The Civil Service Commis-
sion is holding exams for ste
nographer and typist jobs next