Evening star., 1952-08-26
RaInspeck Hits
Congress Curbs
On US. Workers
AFGE Convention Told
Riders on. Benefits
Are Vicious Practice
BY Joseph Young
StoE StaM respondent


Chairman Robert Ramspeck o1
the Civil Service Commission to-
day assailed Congress for the
whole vicious and undemocratic
practice of appropriation-act-
rider control Of Federal personnel
administration"
Addressing the 18th biennial
convention here of the AFL Amer
lean Federation of Government
Employees. Mr.. Ramspeck criticized
the recent trend in Congress of
saddling the civil service system
with restrictive riders curbing the
benefits Of Federal workers.
Mr.. RamSpeck is a former men,
ber of Congress.
He referred to recent riders
|curbing further accumulation of
annual leave, restricting promo
tionS, and limiting filling Of per-
sonnel vacancies in some bureaus.
<1SS0AAS AUI11dS EGIUEEs
The commission chief was par
ticularly critical of the Thomas
leave rider, which forbids further
accumulation Of annual leave.
Under the rider, Federal workers
must use all of their 1852 annual
leave by next June 80 or lose the
unused portion. The rider also
applies to succeeding years.
Mr.. Ramspeck said the rider "is
the worst one with which we are
saddled."
1T broke faith with some 2.5
million Americans - the Govern
ment employees who had been
clearly given to understand, when
the leave allowance of so many of
them was reduced last year by
the very same Congress, that the
'use-it-or-lose-it' feature was to
be dropped for good" Mr.. Rams
peck declared.
The commission chief pledged
he will "do everything I cam to
repeal the rider.
Mr.. Ramspeck also told the
AFGE delegates he is opposed to
the so-called Little Wagner Act
bill, which would compel all
Federal departments and agencies
to deal officially with Federal en-
ploye unions on all personnel
issues and grievances.
Thinks Law Unnecessary.
While acknowledging that the
AFGE strongly favors such a
measure, Mr.. Ramspeck told the
convention he thinks such a law
is unnecessary. Most departments
and agencies already deal with
unions on an unofficial basis, and
this has proved satisfactory, the
convention was told.
Any needed improvements can
be handled through executive
order, rather than through Iegis-
lation, Mr.. Ramspeck said.
The commission chief also de-
clared that the "preposterous dis
tance" between top executive
salaries in government and those
in private industry must be re-
duced. IF we are to succeed in
getting and keeping competent
leadership"
At the conventions banquet last
night, Assistant Secretary of La
Dor Ralph Wright denounced ma
licious attacks on Federal workers,
declaring they have caused a sub
stantial portion of the American
public to have a wrong idea
about Federal workers.
Meanwhile, the convention to-
day prepared to hold its election
of officers.
James A. Campbell, AFGE presi-
dent, is expected to be reelected
by substantial margin.
Mr.. Campbell, however, does
have opposition. John Dougherty
of Philadelphia has announced his
candidacy, declaring "the union
needs more aggressive leadership. !"
The convention later today was
to get down to the business of
voting on resolutions that will de-
termine the AFGE legislative pro-
gram on behalf of Government
employeS for 1Q53.5A