Evening star., 1954-08-24
Clerks ParIey
Hits Pay Veto,
Sees New Drive
Convention Brands
Presidents S Action
As Outrageous

AS Outrageous
The National Federation of
Post Office Clerks at its con-
vention in Cincinnati yesterday
adopted a resolution condemn
ing President Eisenhower's veto
of the Federal pay bill.
Leo George, president of the
115,000 member union, said the
veto was unreasonable and out
rageous."
"The veto was outrageous be-
cause the tentative increase was
only about one-third of what we
initially asked for. The reasons
given for the veto are entirely
unfair. The postage rates and
our raises are completely differ
ent subjects and should be deter
mined on their separate merits.
Postal workers are entitled to a
decent living"
The union pledged its efforts
to get passage "of a more equit-
able salary measure in the 84th
Congress" Delegates to the con-
vention were bitter over the
veto. They received the news
at the conventions opening ses-
sion. A few scattered boos shat
tered the silence. =
Oklahoma Meeting Also Acts.
The United National Associa-
tion of Postal Clerks, meeting at
Saltwater, Okla. also adopted a
resolution condemning the veto.
Samuel Klein, president of the
organization, said: President
Eisenhower has treated badly
loyal Government employees. All
Federal employees and postal
workers are deeply shocked at
the failure Of the administration
to fulfill a campaign promise"
The national commander of
the Federal Employees Veterans
Association sent letters las
night asking every member of
the House and Senate to urge
President Eisenhower to call a
special session of Congress to
consider his veto Of the pay raise
bill.
Kenneth T. Lyons, the ma
tional commander, said the Pres
ident's action was extremely
unfair in that the congressional
vote for the raise was over
whelming and if Congress was
reconvened it is obvious that the
increase would be voted despite
President Eisenhower's Veto"
Action Called ''Incredible."
Earlier, william c. Doherty.
president of the AFL National
Association Of Letter Carriers,
called Gen. Eisenhower's action
as incredible.
"The veto comes as a great
shock to the nearly 2 million
loyal postal and Federal en-
ployes who have not had a pay
raise since July, 1851" Mr..
Doherty said. "This action indi-
Gates that the postal and Federal
employees are expected to subsi-
die the Government by working
for low wages, while the Govern
ment continues to spend billions
of dollars in foreign aid"
Mr.. Doherty said his group and
other Government employe or
ganizationS will work for a Gov
ernment pay raise next year that
will be greater than the 5 per
cent vetoed bill. The postal
union leader said the S per cent
measure "was meager at best,
and we think Congress will be in
the mood to give us a bigger
raise"
Mr.. Doherty said the Presi-
dents action also meant the end
of all hope for Postmaster Gen
erals salary reclassification au-
thority next year.
AFGE Lodges Get Message.
James A. Campbell, president
of the AF'L American Federation
of Government Employees, wired
all AFGE lodges that the veto
was ill-advised and that I'VE
must secure pledges of support
from every member of Congress
and from every candidate" to
win a pay raise from the next
Congress.
Luther Steward, president of
the National Federation of Fed
eral Employees, declared: 1--WE
feel the President yielded to un-
sound advice; that his vision was
obscured by failure to accom-
plish certain things in the postal
system. and that Federal en-
ployes are being made the whip
ping boy for something that
could and should have been
handled separately on its merits
alone"
CIO President ReutherG termed
the veto "a travesty on economic
justice :. economically unsound,
morally wrong and contrary to
the Presidents declared policy
on being liberal with people"
AFL President Meany charged
the veto shows a shocking dis
regard for the welfare" of Gov
ernment workers.