Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-08

committee assignments has giver
strength on the committee and
perhaps an edge.
Senator Nicely, Democrat OF
West Virginia, the committees
second-ranking majority men,
Der, has left to take an assign
ment on the Judiciary Commit
tee. This gives the Republicans
an equal 6-to-6 membership.
And there are strong reports
that Senator Pastore. Democrat
of Rhode Island, will resign to
accept a place on the Appropria-
tons Committee. This would. fol-
the time being. give the Republi-
cans a 6-to-5 edge.
OF course. eventually the Sen
ate leadership will assign other
Democrats to the committee and
the Democratic edge will be re-
stored.
Meanwhile, however, legisla-
Ition remains at a standstill
Chairman Johnston knows he
doesn't have the votes at present
to win committee approval.
The legislation tieup include:
the Johnston omnibus civil serv'
ice retire m e n t liberalization
measure. The administration i!
opposed to this, favoring supple
mental social security coveragt
instead. The Republicans on thu
committee naturally are sticking
with the administration. The re-
suit is that Senator Johnston i!
unable to muster a majority vott
to win approval Of the bill.
Another measure is the House.
approved bill to protect Fedora
classified employees against salar!
cuts when their jobs are down
graded through no fault of theil
own. Chairman Johnston of thu
Senate group moved to have hi
committee approve the bill THU
week without any hearings. Blu
Senator Carlson, Republican O.
Kansas, the groups ranking
minority member, asked tina
hearings be held and a subcom
mittee appointed to handle thu
bill. Not having the necessar!
votes, Senator Johnston had II
Iagree to the request. AS a re
suit, hearings will have to b.
scheduled on the measure.
NEW PAY RAISE STRATEGY
The action of the AFL-CIC
Government Employees Council
Yesterday in asking Congress TO
a new classified and postal EN-
Iploye standard of living" pa.
raise involves new type o
strategy
In the past drives, the pa,
raises were always sought on
Icost-of- living basis. But tn
council, which represents NOR
than 100000 Federal workers
feels it is no longer realistic t
measure Government salarie
against the cost of living factor
The council declares tn
American standard of living ha
risen considerably above tn
minimum cost-of living factors
lit declares the average Fedora
lemploye is about $3.50 behin'
private industry workers in tn
matter of salary increases re
ceiyed during the last six years
TO catch up with the American
wage Garner generally, Fedora
employees need a $500 raise, tn
council declares.
There's little chance OF Con
Igress approving a Federal pa
increase this year. But, by max
ing its formal pay raise demand
known now, the various AFL
ICIO Government employe group
have taken the first step in wha
promises to be an about pa
raise drive in Congress next veal
~
1 MORE STRATEGY, RETIRE
MENT STYLE - Strategy ais
played an important part in tn
defeat yesterday of the Hous
Appropriations Committee ride
that would have eliminated tn
mandatory 70-year retiremer
requirement for Federal employe
with Is or more years of servic'
This means that the Requirement
still stands and that employe
reaching the age of 10, with l
or more years of service. wi
have to retire.
Federal employe groups. nc
tally the National Association {