Evening star., 1951-08-17
Bill 70 Reduce Leave
OF Federal Employees
Waits Truman Action

President Truman's signature
was all that was needed today
to make official the reduction OF
Government employees 26 days
annual leave to 20 days.
The Senate completed Congress
sional action yesterday on the
1852 independent offices bill con-
tanning the leave cut rider and
sent the legislation to the White
House.
The bill also contains 10 per
cent cut in personnel budget
funds for the independent
agencies. When such a move was
pending more than a month ago
several top Administration Of
f1cials said President Truman
strongly disapproved of across
the-board meat ak" cuts. They
predicted he would veto any ap-
preparation bill carrying such a
provision.
Lev W OSuuy MCdSus
White House officials today,
however, declined to comment on
whether a veto will be applied.
They said the President hasn't
yet had time to study the meas
ure.
Members of Congress interested
In the bill say they doubt whether
Mr.. Truman will veto the measure
since it carries more than Sc bill
lion in funds for more than a
score Of Federal agencies and
already has been delayed nearly
two months in the start of the
new fiscal year.
Besides reducing leave to 90
days effective last July /, the
measure also would require en-
ployes to use their 1851 calendar
leave by June 80, 1852, under
penalty Of losing the unused por-
ton.
However, agencies are directed
to give employees full opportunity
to use all their leave. A similar
rider for the past year resulted in
complaints by employees that their
bosses didn't give them a chance
to use all Of their leave.
Sick Benefits Unchanged.
Under the bills provisions, the
present IS days sick leave bene-
fits would remain the same.
The leave provisions apply to all
Government classified and wage
board workers. Postal workers,
who now get Is days annual
leave, are not included in the bills
provisions.
Postal employees, however, along
with classified workers, are in
cluded in the 13-to-26 days grad
uated leave bill, which has passed
the Senate and now awaits action
by the House Civil Service Com
mittee.
Should the graduated leave
bill be enacted subsequently by
Congress, it would Supercede the
2o-day system. However, Chair
man Murray of the House Civil
Service Committee said today his
committee wants to hold full
hearings on the leave question
and that the hearings won't be-
gin until after the House has It's
Semi-oflcial recess, which will be-
gin later this month.
Chances Slim This Year.
This would make the graduated
leave bills chances rather slim
this year. unless Mr.. Murray
agreed to go to conference on the
bill already approved by the Sen
ate. This could be done because
the Senate by-passed the House
on the leave measure by tacking
it on as an amendment to a
rather minor House-approved bill,
thereby throwing the bill into
House-Senate conference.
This strategy. however, angered
Mr.. Murray. and he has announced
he will not go to conference on
the bill. Some of his committee
colleagues are hoping they will
be able to persuade him to change
his mind.
The 10 per cent personnel budg-
ct cut in the independent offices
bill is expected to be applied to
most other on-defense bureaus
in other money bills approved by
Congress this year. The total en-
ployment cut probably would be
around 10000.
The agencies are given the
choice Of trimming employment
by filling only one in four va
cancies, or by dismissals, or
combination of both,