Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
g. 0. P. Resists
1917 Raise for
u. ). Workers
Carlson to Submit
Measure Calling for
Increase of rs Pct.
By Joseph Young

Senate Republicans concern
trated their forces today in an
effort to limit Federal pay raises
to rs per cent for postal workers
and 6 per cent for classified en-
ployes.
At the same time that Senate
Republicans met in a special
policy meeting, President Eisen-
hover at the White House re-
iterated his opposition to any 10
per cent increase and said he
would view with the greatest
concern any move to give pay
boosts in excess of 7.6 per cent.
The President declared that
the postal employees, in partic-
ular, have not been neglected
from the standpoint of pay.
Since 1945, he noted, salaries
of postal clerks have gone up
about 90 per cent and those OF
some other postal employees have
increased still more.
ClteS Long Stuuy
He explained that the admin
istration's pay bills for postal
workers as well as for other Fed
eral classified employees were the
result of long, expert study in an
effort to determine the fairest
and most efficient pay provisions
possible at this time. In any
pay legislation. he said, the
background and history of the
particular compensation rates
and the employe groups involved
have to be taken into considera-
ton.
Following the Senate Repub-
lican Policy Committee meeting.
Senator Carlson of Kansas, the
ranking minority member of the
Senate Civil Service Committee,
said most of his colleagues were
in accord.
Senator Carlosn will sponsor
a 7.6 per cent postal pay
amendment when the pay legis-
lation comes up later today or
tomorrow. He also will sponsor
a 6 per cent provision for clas-
sifled workers.
Not Unanimous
The Kansan acknowledged
that not all AZ Republicans
would support the amendments.
1t was learned that Senators
LANCER Of North Dakota end
Butler and Beall of Maryland
would support 10 per cent in
creaseS.
Senator Carlson said he was
convinced that any increases in
excess of his amendments would
be vetoed by the President.
And I am certain that there
would not be enough votes in
Congress to override a Veto"
Senator Carlson added.
II am afraid that if employee
groups insist on 10 per cent
things will be delayed for
months" Senator Carlson said.
1--WE could enact the legislation
almost Immediately if my
amendments are adopted"
Fears Long Delay
The Kansan said that if the
Senate approves the 10 per cent
bill for classified and postal
workers. it might be months be-
fore the House would consider
taking up the legislation.
Senator Carlson explained
that the administration pay
proposal for postal workers is
higher than that for classified
employees because 1.6 of the 7.6
per cent proposal results from a
general Redistribution of postal
salaries.
acknowledgements were con-
f1dent they can muster enough
votes for the 10 per cent boost.
the Republicans were hopeful
Of holding the line.
The Senate first will act on
postal salary legislation affecting
100000 postal workers and then
will vote on pay raises for nearly
/ million classified employees.
The 10 per cent raises for
classified and postal workers
were approved last month by
(Cao DAu nora otN