Evening star., 1953-02-05

O1uC1d1S IC0pO11o4UI6 1OI d1kOW11lS
SO employees in that Office to
take $50, 1888 in 1850 in vacation
leave earned but never taken.
His action came after Senator
Williams, Republican, Of Della
Senator Lists Employees Who Got Leove
P0y. Poee AS
ware, told the Senate yesterday
that "a questionable" vacation
pay practice by many Govern
ment agencies is a raid on the
Treasury which may have cost
the Government millions of
dollars.
The Attorney General, a Sen
ate investigating committee and
the General Accounting Office
may delve into the policy of
giving Government workers pay
in lieu of their accumulated
leave.
The rent stabilization officials
due to be suspended Monday
are John j. Madigan, deputy
director for administration, and
Mrs. Linda Matteo. director of
personnel. Monday is the day
Mr.. Barr officially becomes acting
director of rent Stabilization, a
job he now holds in practice.
Had Defended Payments.
Earlier, Mr.. Barr had defended
the 1850 payments in a letter
read to the Senate by Senator
Williams. In that letter, Mr..
Barr explained that the pay
ments resulted from uncertainty
about the agency'S future.
In announcing the impending
suspensions, Mr.. Barr said he is
not sure where this leaves the
other 81 who accepted cash for
accumulated annual leave.
A list inserted in the Con-
gresSional Record shows that
Mr.. Madigan, as Deputy Housing
Expeditor administrative, had
q grade of GS-15, a salary Of
$1O,750 and he accepted lump
sum payment for annual leave
of S3.624.58, and shat Mrs. Mat
teo, director, PERSONAL branch,
had grade of GS-14, salary
$500. and she got a lump-sum
payment for annual leave of ST.
644.37.
James Mel. Henderson, the di-
rector Of the Office of Rent Sta
bilization, now out of town on an
inspection trip, has resigned, ef-
fective Sunday.
Had No Authority.
I'm June, 1885," Mr.. Barr said,
"ny position in the agency was
not one of authority which would
have permitted me to stop the
actions. Furthermore, I did not
know about it until it was almost
completed.
when I did learn that Ger
tain employees were receiving
cash annual leave settlements
and being returned to agency
employment on a temporary
basis, ] specifically notified the
employees under my supervision
that If they applied for such cash
settlements I would demand their
designations, and the record will
show that my immediate en-
ployes (six) complied with my
request.
while I was advised that the
action was legal, I took the posi-
ton that it violated the spirit
Of the Thomas Amendment, and
I violently opposed it. Monday,
February 9, when my appoint
ment as acting director becomes
effective. will be the first time
my position in the agency has
permitted me to take any action
on this matter, and the suspen-
sion of these employees will be
the first official act I shall take"
Has Written Mccarthy.
Mr.. Barr also declared that
he has written to Senator Nc
Carthy, Republican. of Wiscon-
sin, chairman Of the Committee
on Government Operations, and
to Representative Phillips, Re-
publican, Of California, chair
man Of the House subcommittee
on Independent Offices Appro-
priations, requesting an oppor-
tunity to be heard on the matter.
Referring to Mr.. Madigan and
Mrs. Matteo, Mr.. Barr said: Il
consider these two people to be
charged with personnel respon-
sibility and they advised the
head of the agency in June,
1850, Tighe e. Woods, now out
(See LEAVE, Page A-69