Evening star., 1954-08-24
U. 5. Pay Raise Due
In '55Even Vetoed,
Legislators Declare

Legislators Declare
CONTINUED From First Page.)
the Federal pay raise on two
different occasions this year
The measure was finally enacted
by Congress last Friday during
its final few hours.
President Gives Reasons.
President Eisenhower an
nounced his veto yesterday from
the Summer White House in
Denver for these two reasons:
/. The measure did not include
the $240 million additional pos
tai revenue he requested.
2. 1t did not contain the pos
tai salary Redistribution author
ity sought by Postmaster Gen
eral Summerfield.
"It (the BILLY ignores the ne
cessity Of revenue to pay for
salary increases" the President
said. "It ignores and, therefore,
tends to perpetuate inequities
we must correct in Federal pay
scales"
Chairman Rees of the House
Civil Service Committee said he
expects his group to hold early
hearings next year on the pay
legislation. Mr. Rees, inciden-
tally. was one Of the members
In Congress who supported the
Presidents postal rate increase
proposal.
Early Action Seen.
The Kansas Republican, said
he expects Congress to act on
salary legislation early in next
years session..
A source close to Chairman
Carlson of the Senate Civil
Service Committee said he is
certain hearings will be held as
soon as possible next January.
Senator Johnston, Democrat,
OF South Carolina, the ranking
minority member of the Senate
Civil Service Committee, said he
was shocked at President Eisen-
hower's action. Then he said:
"It's as certain as the sun will
rise tomorrow that Congress will
approve a pay raise for Govern
ment workers early next year.
We will not only approve a pay
raise, but we will overwhelmingly
override any Presidential veto"
The South Carolinian attacked
President Eisenhower's veto as
heartless.
What possible Justification
can he give for depriving classi-
fled employees of a pay raise?"
Senator Johnston asked. "They
have nothing to do with the
dispute over postal rates or
postal salary Redistribution
authority. And they comprise
about rs per cent of the en-
ployes covered in the BILL"
Political Wisdom Questioned.
Several Republican members
of the House and Senate Civil
Service Committees privately
called the Presidents action
politically unwise."
''It will hurt the party in
November" one Of them said.
Another Republican remarked:
"The President was unwise to
listen to Postmaster General
Summerfleld. It might cost us
the election in November. Fur
thermore, Congress will approve
another Government pay raise
bill next year and override the
President, if he tries to veto
that one, too. The only ones
who. will benefit from the veto
are the Democrats"
The House last month ap-
proved a 7 per cent pay raise
for postal workers by q vote of
351 to 20. Several weeks later,
the Senate unanimously ap-
proved 5 per cent pay raise for
classified and postal workers.
This vote was later rescinded on
the motion of Senate Majority
Leader Knowland. Then last
Friday, the Senate. for the sec
ond time, and by vote of So
to 4. approved the 5 per cent
measure. The House followed
suit by unanimously approving
q Federal pay raise bill for the
second time and thus sent it to
the White House.
With this double" passage In
mind. employe leaders were par
ticularly bitter over the Presi-
dents veto.
They had been counting on
personal appeals to him. as well
as pressure from politically SEN
sitive Republican members Of
Congress. to persuade him
against vetoing the measure.
Ironically. however, they never
received the chance to present
their case. because President
Eisenhower announced his deci-
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