Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-28
Letters to The Star.

the agencies were told to absorb the
costs Of the recently enacted Federal
employee insurance legislation, which
incidentally further adds to the en-
ploye's expense with no offSetting in
crease in pay. It is indeed q rough
deal to come from President in whom
the people had learned to place their
unbounded faith and trust
This latest act. and the administra-
tons unquestioned "coddling of
McCarthyism" are not calculated to win
votes and favorably influence people in
the upcoming elections.
Bryan Coe.
was surprised to hear such men as
the presidents of the Go and AFL
unions make uncomplimentary remarks
about President Eisenhower's action in
vetoing the Federal employees pay bill.
Congress failed to appropriate funds
for the pay increase and I have heard
that some Of the Federal agencies had
compiled lists of names of employees
to be separated from the service if and
when the President signed the bill. In
fact, in one instance, so I've been
unoficially told, an agency had list
of two hundred employees to be sepa-
rated. Most Of these employees were in
the lower salary brackets and their jobs
were to be sacrificed so that the remain
ing employees could be given an increase
in pay.
James Baugh, Jr.
Good old Ike has come through at
last! Our faith in him as man of
principle dwindled slowly but surely as
month after month went by and no
outspoken condemnation Of the de-
spicable Mccarthy issued from the
White House, but now our faith is
reafirmed. Ike has risen to the occasion
and as matter of principle has struck
down the dastardly attempt to give
Federal employees a coSt-of-living pay
raise. We are sure that there must be
q matter of principle involved because
the Government workers are so clearly
entitled to an increase and because the
Congress SO overwhelmingly voted for
it. Therefore we rejoice!
Only two things disturb us. First,
we are not sure what shining principle
was involved. Second, we are chagrined
that Postmaster General Summerfield's
opposition to the pay raise bill in
fluenced the President to veto it.
The Presidents veto of the per cent
Federal pay increase has again shown
him to be a man of courage who is
willing to fight for concrete measures
which will keep our economy strong
regardless of their popularity. AS was
the case in the farm parity fight, it was
again necessary to make the choice
between following the wishes Of
powerful pressure group or protecting
the Treasury from further deficit. A
responsible administration is mindful
that talking against imitation does no
good unless such talk is backed by
realistic action which will put our Fed
eral spending on sound basis.
E. C. Thompson.
I heartily commend The Star for its
fortnight editorial supporting Eisen-
hower's veto of the recent legislative
pay increase for Government employees.
If, after the recent cut in taxes. any
funds remain in the till, let's step up
our foreign aid, buy back our tidelands
oil so we can give it away again, award
new nom competitive power contracts
and otherwise do our duty. After all,
just who do these Government employees
think they Acknowledgements? True, they
may be underpaid and much in need Of
a raise, but we simply cannot ignore the
fact that they are just plain old hard
working, loyal American citizens. It's
only right that they should subsidize
our give-away programs. Sound person.
mel administration demands it.
G. w. T. w.