Administrative Reference Service ReDort Number 9 . ~ 

FIXING W AGES A D SALARIES 


OF NAVY -CIVILI,AN EMPLOYEES 


IN SHORE ESTABLISHMENTS 


1862 - 1945 


Prepart;!d May 1945 by GUY McPHERSON and MARY WATTS 


of the Instructions Coordination Section, Administrative Services Branch, 


Division of Shore Establishments and CIvilian Personnel. ; 

I 

. I 

Records Ad-ministration. Division, Administrative Office, Navy Department 

NA VEXOS P-289 
Administrative Reference Servic.e Reports 

1. 	 Incentives for Civilian Employees of the Navy Department: A Review of the Experience of 

the First World War, by Dr. Henry P. Beers, (Special Report, not for general distribution), 

May 1943. 

2. 	 U. S. Naval Detachment in Turkish Waters, 1919-1924, by Dr. Henry P. Beers, June 1943. 

3. 	 U. S. Naval Port Officers in the Bordeaux Region, 1917-1919, by Dr. Henry P. Beers, Sep­ tember 1943. 

3A. 	 U. ·S. Naval Port Regulations, Port of Bordeaux, France (Reproduction of 30 page pamphlet issued 19 March 1919)JJuly 1943. 

4. 	 The American Naval Mission in the Adriatic, 1918-1921, by Dr. A. C. Davidonis, September 

1943. 

5. 	 U. S. Naval Forces in Northern Russia (Archangel and Murmansk), 1918-1919, by Dr. Henry

P. Beers, November 1943. 

6. 	 American Naval Occupation and Government of Guam, 1898-1902, by Dr. Henry P. Beers, 

November 1943. 

7. 	 Principal Officials and Officers, Navy Department and United States Fleet, September 1, 

1939-May 24, 1944. 

7A. 	 Principal Officials and Officers, Navy Department and United States Fleet, September 

1, 1939-June 1, 1945. 

8. 	 Demobilization of Civilian Personnel by the U. S. Navy After the First World War, by Bess 

Glenn, February 1945. 

9. 	 Fixing Wages and Salaries of Navy Civil;an Employees in Shore Establishments, 1862-1945, 

by Guy McPherson and Mary Watts, May 1945. 

i/ 
VA 

5.:2 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 	 ,A l'f 

-'Le.'}

c- , I-f. 

Page 

I. 	 Fixing of Wages of Positions in Groups I, II; III, and IVa 


by Wage Board Procedure ............'.......... . 1 


II. 	 Fixing of Wages of Positions in Groups I, II, III, and IVa , 
 by Administrative Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4 


III. 	 Schedule of Wages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 


IV. 	 Fixing of Salaries of Positions in Group IVb . . . . . . . .. 6 


v. "Public Interest" Clause ..... . . ..... 7 


vr.. Annual and Sick Leave. . . . . . .. . ..... 8 


VII. 	 Hours of Work and Overtime Pay.. . ................ 8 


VIII. 	 Holiday and Sunday Pay ....... . 9 


IX. 	 Factors Excluded in Fixing Wages .. 10 


X. 	 Sphere of Application of "Thomas Amendment" ' 


(Act of March 28,1934) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . .. 10 


XI. Changes in Hours of Work and Overtime Pay under "Thomas Amendment" . .. 11 


XlI. Archival Sources ............' ......................... . .. , 12 

FIXING WAGES AND SALARIES 

OF NAVY · CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES 

IN SHORE ESTABLISHMENTS 

1862-1945 

* * * * 

I. 	 FIXING OF WAGES OF POSITIONS IN GROUPS I, II, Ill, AND IVa 

BY WAGE BOARD PROCEDURE 

The rate of wa!?;es of civil employees at navy yards, naval stations and other shore establish-. . ments in classlfication Group I (laborers and others engaged upon manual work which requires 

no mechanical skill or other trade knowledge;) Group II (helpers and others engaged upon work 

which requires some mechanical skill or trade knowledge;) Group III (artisans;) and Group [Va 

supervisors of Group I, II, and III employees, and native and alien employees performing similar service at shore establishments outside the continental limits of the United States, is fixed 

by the Secretary of the Navy, under authority of the act of Congress, approved July 16, 1862 

(12 Stat, 587-34 USC 505), which provides as fo1l9WS: 

"That section eight of an act to further promote the efficiency of the Navy, approved December twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, be amended so as to read as follows: 

That the hours of labor and the rate of wages of the employees in the navy yards shall conform, as nearly as is consistent with the public interest, with those of private establishments 

in the immediate vicinity of the respective yards, to be determined by the commandants of 

the navy yards, subject to the approval and revision of the Secretary of the Navy." 

The Secretary of the Navy is, by the above quoted statute, charged with the responsibility for 

fixing the rate of wages of civihan employees at navy yards, naval stations and other shore 

establishments. Prior to the enactment of this amendatory statute, the "commandant of the . navy-yard" was charged with the responsibility for fiXing the rate of wage of civilian employees, 

by the act of Congress of December 21,1861. 

The act of/uly 16, 1862, does not prescribe that the rate of wages of civil employees at navy yards shal be "set by wage boards", the manner in which wage boards shall function when convened, the times at which rates of wages shall be adjusted or the time duringwhicn wages once 

fixed shall be applicable. Wage boards of the Navy Department are not creations of statute or 

"NavY Regulations" but are appointed and convened, when directed by the Secretary of the Navy 

and at such times as he deems necessary, by the commandant or commanding officer of designated navy yards and naval stations to investigate existing wage conditions in private establishments in the vicinity of the yards and stations and recommend rates of wages for civilian employees of naval shore establishments within the purview of the board. The wage board of review which considers the reports ·and recommendations of the local wage boards and other 

evidence and recommends to the Secretary of the Navy rates of wages for all shore establishments is appointed and convened by the Secretary of the Navy. 

Wage board procedure has been used by the Navy Department since May <l0, 1864. The existing 

wage board precedure, which was established January 8, 1940, has generally been the same for 

many years. Usually, once a year, wage boards are appointed and convened at the principal 

navy yards and naval stations to investigate- existing wage conditions and recommend the rate 

of wages for the ensuing calendar year. The members are commissioned officers of the Navy 

and the recorder is a civilian employee. The employees in each trade name a trade committee 

1 

to collect wage data and present the case of their trade to the wage board. The wage board 

prepares a list of all private establishmen~s from which wage data will be obtained. The list 

is published and the trade committees permitted to recommend changes in th~ list. Finally, a 

mutually satisfactory list of private establishments is agreed upon. The wage board then proceeds to personally ·visit each private establishment to ascertain the rate of wage they are actually paying. The trade committees, if they so desire, accompany the board on these visits. 

After both sides have studied and tabulated the information thus obtained, the trade committees 

appear before the board and ask for the rate of wage they feel should be established. Local representatives of labor organizations are permitted to present their cases to the board. The local 

wage boards' reports and ~eco~endations ar~ sent to Washington, where they are review~ed by , the Wage Board of Review, consi§ting of one commissionedNaval officer, two civil employees of fhe~avy Department, and one or two national representatives of labor. This Board examines 

the local reports and recommendations of the local boards and reconciles any inconsistences, _ Hearings are granted by the board to employee trade committees and representatives of labor 

and other persons who desire a hearing. Finally, the Wage Board of Review :makes its report 

and recommendation to the Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary of the Navy, after such modification of the recommendation ot tee Wage Board of Review, as he deems necessary, fixes 

the rate of wages of employees in Groups I, II, III, IV(a) for the ensuing calendar year. 

A chronological history of the use of wage board procedure by the Navy Department in fixing
 the 'rate of wages of civil employees at navy yards, naval stations and other naval shore estab­


lishments since July 16,1862, follows: 


The Secretary of the Navy byciI:c\llar letter dated June 10, 1863, to the commandants of the 


navy yards, promulgated the Act of July 16, 1862 and directed them to ascertain from outside es­


tablishments in the vicinity of the yards "by the best means in their power, the rates of pay and 


hours of labor of classes similarly employed as those in the yards, with the number of men in 
 ea~h class". He also directed that "the number in each class in the yard should be in the same 


proportion to the whole number of workmen employed; that they do in private yards, and the 


compensation should be the same in each case", and particular care should be taken to see 


that the number of workmen in classes receiving the highest pay is not relatively greater than 


in private yardsl/. ' 


Because of "continuous applications to the Department for changes in the pay of workmen in the 

navy yards," the Secretary of the Navy, by circular letter dated May 20, 1864, ordered the commandants of each navy yard to.appoint "a Board to be composed of one line officer) one head of 

Division and one master workman to make diligent inquiry:at the prinCipal private mechanical 

establishments in the vicinity oFtheyard'and ascertain the established rule for working hours 

at each establishment, the number of men employed, the number of classes of workmen, the 

number in each class, and the rate of wages paid each class of workmen." He further directed 

that the Board report the result.ofit:?· inquiry to the Commandant who would cause to be posted 

the reported scale of wages "that the workmen may examine it and state their views on its merits 

to the commandant;" that "the scale then fixed upon will be submitted to the Department and if 

ap,proved, the rate established will remain in force for two months without change;" and "this 

order to take effect on the 1st of June next and on the 15th day of every second month thereafter J. similar investigation will be made and the result reported as before. " 

On March 29, 1869, Vice Admiral David D. Porter, acting for the Secretary of the Navy, by circular letter, directed commandants of navy yards to prepare a separat~ schedule of wages 

for each department of the navy yard and submit :itto the appropriate bureaus of the Navy Department, which would refer the schedule to the Secretary of the Navy for hi~ revision and approval. 

Under the ~ame date, the Secretary of the Navy, in circular letter to commandants of navy yards, 

cited the act of Congress, approved June 25, 1868, which fixed eight hours as a day's work for all 

-laborers, workmen, and mechanics who may be employed by or in behalf of the Government at · eight hours, and the act of Congress of July 16, 18~2,· and directed that in their contracts for 

labor they be governed by the rule that navy yard wa.ges p~r day should bear t)1e same proportion .to the wages per day of outside establishments that the navy yard working-day bears to a working day of outsideestq,l::llishments." 

The Secretary of the Navy on April 19, 1869, in circular letter to commandants ofnavyyarcis,
 advised that under the eight-hour law of June 25, 1868, "the Department has no authority to 


exte.nd the hours of labor by making more than eight hours a day's work, but it has the right to 


employ mechanics, workmen, and laborers extra hours and to pay them pro rata for such extra 


labor" and advised the commandants that "while, therefore, necessity exists for extra labor you 


are at liberty to exercise your discretion in the matter "sQ as to assist the working classes and 


at the same time do justic€ to the Government." ' 


2 
On May 24, 1869, the Secretary of the Navy, in circular letter to commandants of navy yards, directed that they he governed by the proclamation of the President of May 19, 1869, that "from 

and after that date no reduction should be made in the wages paid by the Government, by the day, 

to laborers, workmen, and mechanics on account of the r eduction of the hours of labor by the 

act of June 25, 1868, constituting eight hours a day's work" . 

On October 25, 1877, the Department, by circular letter to navy yards, established the working 

hours of the navy yards as follows: From March 21 to September 21, 7:00 "a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; 

from September 22 to March ?O, 7:40 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; with the usual intermission of one ~our 

for dinner, and that "this regulation is not designed to carry with it any present reduction of pay". 

On March 21, 1878, the Secretary of the Navy, by, circular letter, substituted the following for 

the circular of October 25, 1877: From March 21 to September 21, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; 

from September 22 to March 20, from 7:40 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the usual intermission of one 

hour for dinner, and stated that "the Department will contract for the labor of mechanics, foremen, leading-men, and laborers on the basis of ei~ht hours a day", and that, "all workmen electing to labor ten hours a day will receive a proportionate increase of their wages". 

On September 21, 1878, the Acting Secretary of the Navy, by circular letter, advised that "t~e 

change in the working hours which goes into effecton the 22nd instant will not involve any re­


duction in pay", and that "the employees will tle paid the same as if they could work the full 


length of time that the working hours in the spring and summer permit them to do." 


New regulations for wage boards were issued by the Secretary of the Navy in Article 1675, "Navy 

Regulations 1893". These regulations directed that "the commandant of each navy yard shall 

appoint a board of officers who shall make diligent inquiry at the principal private mechanical 

establishments in the vicinity of the yard as to the rate of daily wages paid to workmen of different ,classes in each trade included 'in the .trade schedule of the yard and shall report quarterly 

to the commandant the result of such inquiries, and recommend rates for the payment of workmen of corresponding classes of trades at the yard. The commandant shall then forward to each 

bureau a quarterly schedule of wages under that bur eau, induplicate, as approved by himself, 

and when approved by the bureau and the Navy Department the schedule shall remain in force 

during the ensuing quarter. " 

Article 1670 "Navy Regulations 1896" continued tl!.e 1893 regulations, except a provision that the 

schedule of wages approved by the commandant be forwarded direct to the Navy Department for 

its revision and approval, instead of via the bUreau concerned. Article 1720, "Navy Regulations 

1900" continued the 1896 regulations, except a provision that the r ate of wage be determined 

semi-annually and be a multiple of eight, and a provisi.on that inquiry at private establishments 

as to the rate of wages paid workingmen in trades and occupations carried in the yard schedule 

of wages be confined to those who do work of the same character in that trade as that done in 

the yard, or resembling it as nearly as possible. Art,tcle 1720, "Navy Regulations 1905," Continued the 1900 regulations except a provision that the rate of wage be determined annually. 

Article 1585, "Navy Regulations 1909" tontimle.d, the 1900 regulations. Article 371, Naval Instructions, 1913 continued the 1909 regulations, except a provision that, wheI1 practicaole, the 

membership of the board shall include the heads of divisions of the manufacturing department 

and the public works department, and that the maximum number of rates of pay for any yard 

rating shall be five. 

New r~gulations for wage boards were issued by the Secr etary of the Navy, in circular letter 


of April 14, 1923. These regulations incorporat ed the 1913 regulations, and instructions to 
 , wage boards contained in directives of the Sec r etary of the Navy in cir cular letters of May 10, 

1921 and September 21,1922, to commandants of naval districts; to appoint and 'convene wage 

boards for the purposes of the act of July 16, 1862, and the 1913 wage regulation~. The primary 

changes were in the m~mbership of the boa rd to three commissioned officers atta.ched to the 

yard divisions employing the largest number of employees, and a civilian ,recor der;. the senior 

member to be of the rank ofCo~:gnander or ,above , if possible; designation of wagaboards and 

sphere of application of-rates of wagel? -established for specifi ed navy yards and naval stations' 

interpr€tation of clause "as nearly as is consistent with the public interest" in the act of July i6, 

J~92 I as "the interests of all the public of which the employees of the Naval Establishment 

constltute a part, and does not exclude the taxpayers of the country who must furnish the funds 

fLom which wages are to be paid;" specific instructions rega r ding selection and listing ofrepre... sentative p:r.ivate establishments and pa r ticipation of employees therein; sphere of wage inquiry; 

formula for determination of wag data obtained from private establishments having hours of 

work_different from those of navy ya r ds by local wage boards to conform with proclamation of . the president of the United States of May '24, 1869, that from and afte r that date no reduction 

should be made in. the wages paid by the Government , by the day, to laborers, workmen, and 
mechanics on account of the reduction of the hours of labor by the act of June 25, 1868~ constituting eight hours a dai s work; exclusion of overtime paid by pr ivate establishments aom 


"normal work periods of such establis hments in determination of wage data ; method of com­


puting weighted average pay per hour in the maximum,· inter mediate and minimum rates a,nd of 


all data obtained for each trade and occupation from private establishments; partiCipation of 


employees in wage determination; justification for recommending change in navy yard wage rate 
 -- that 'standard of wages in private establishments is different from the wages paid for the 


same character of work in the navy yard; exclusion from direct consideration wage paid spe­


cially skilled, special c.ompensation or single purpose men, and wages of men working under 


piecework, task or bonus systems. 


These regulations were modified September 18, 1923 by including rate of wages paid employees 

in the "Hospital Service (excepted group)" in wage survey and recommendation..New regulations 

for wage boards were issued by the Secr etary of the Navy, in circular letter of July 27, 1926. 

These regulations made no material change in the 1923 regulations. ' 

Ne-..y regulations for wage boar cis were issued ,by the Secretary of the Navy, in circular letter of 


June 15, 1929. These regulations were not used in the fixing of rates of wages. On November 


27, 1929, the Secretary of the Navy diss olved the Wage Board of Review, in Washington, then in 


session considering wage data and recommendations submitted by local wage boards and com­


mandants of navy yards under such regulations for the calendar year 1930, and directed that the 


schedule of wages for 1929 be continued thr ough the calendar year 1930 for reasons hereafter 


stated. , For other reasons,. hereafte r stated, wage boards were not appointed or convened until 


February 14, 1940. 


:New regulations for wage boards were issued by the Secretary of the Navy in circular letter of 


January 8, 1940. The primary change made in the .1926 r egulations was the following statement 


regarding the responsibilities for the fixing of wages: 


"The Secretary of the Navy, in accordance with the Act of July 16, 1862 (34 USC 505), is 

charged with the responsibility for fixing wages of civilian employees of Groups I, II, III, 

and IV(a) in the field services of the Navy Department and the Marine Corps within the 

continental limits of the United States a nd the Fourteenth Naval District. In':fixing such 

wages, the action of the Secretary of the Navy is based on information respecting wages 

paid in the :vicinity of the various field establishments determined for him by the command.­

ing officers, and on their recommendations which are subject to his approval and revision.» 

A~so a formula for determination of wage data obtained from private establishments on a fortyhour work week basis instead of a forty-eight hour work week basis, in view of section 23 of the 

act of March 28,'1934.(5 USC 673c), and a provision for the appointment of a wage board of review 

to consider'.the reports and recommendations of the local wage boards, together with such other 

evidence 'as it may obtain, and recommend rate of pay for each trade and .occupation in Groups 

I, II, III, and IV(a) in the field services of the Navy Department and the Marine Corps. (Wage 

boards of review had been appointed and convened by the Secretary of the Navy for this purpose 

since 1917.)1 ' 

II. 	 FIXING OF WAG~S OF P OSITIONS IN GROUPS I, II, III, 

AND IVa BY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE 

Wage board procedure was not used during the period of the first world war and up to May 10, 


1921. The rate of wages of employees at naval shore establishments during this period were 


based upon the award of the Shipbuilding Labor Adjustment Board, of the Emergency Fleet Cor­


poration. 
 • 

Durii).g the period of January 1 1930 to Februa~y 14, 1~10, wage board procedure was not used 


because of the downward trend of industrial wages; and statutory prohibitions against reduction 


in compei1sation and administrative promotions in the acts of-Congress of June 30, 1932 (Public 


No. 212 - 72d Congress - First Economy Act); March 3, 1933 (Public No. 428 - 72d Congress ­ Second Economy Act), and March 20, 1933 (Public No. 2 - 73d Congress) also necessitated the 


continuance of the 1929 schedule. Section 23 of the Act of Congress of March 28, 1934 (5 U.SoC. 
 . 673c) ,relating to r ate of wages and hours of labor had the effect of giving for 40 hours' work, 

the 48 hours' pay for merly given for 44 hours ' work and the fixing of the rate of wages on the 

level of the wage schedule ill effect on June 1, 1932, vizo,- the 1929 s chedule. Wage boards have 

not been appointed or convened since November 18, 1940, because of the following conditions: 

In August and October 1941, and January 1942 , the rates of wages of civil employees in Groups 

4 
I, II, III and IV(a) at naval shore establishments were fixed in consideration of the shipbuilding 


wage agreements, resulting from the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Zone and Great Lakes Area 


Stabilization Conferences. 


On December 2, 1942, the National War Labor Board by General Order No. 18 delegated to the 

Secretary of the Navy power to rule upon all applications for wage and salary adjustments (insofar as approval thereof has been made a function of the National War Labor Board), covering 

civilian employees within the continental limits of the United States, and Alaska, employed directly by the Navy Department, in accordance with the terms of the Executive Order 9250, -dated ' 

October 3, 1942, and all general orders and policies of the National War Labor Board announced 

thereunder. This order was amended on August 27, 1943, and August 26, 1944 by requiring compliance also with Executive Order 9328, dated April 8, 1943, and the supplementary directive of 

May 12, 1943 of the Economi~ Stabliization Director, and extending the authority of the Secretary 

of the Navy to include the Territory of Hawaii. 

·Tne fixing of the rate of wages in accordance with the Inflation Cont-rol Act, approved October 2, 

1942 (56 Stat. 765) and.General Order No. 18 of the National War Labor Board does not conflict 

with the authority of the Secretary of the Navy to fix the rate of wages of employees under the 

act of July 16, 1862. The "public interest" clause in the 1862 statute requires conformity with 

the 1942 statute and the policies of the National War Labor Board. General Order No. 18, the 

Executive Orders, Supplementary Directive of the Economic Stabilization Director, th~ j)perating 

agreement of the Navy Department and the National War Labor Board, and procedural instructionn 

governing the fixing of wages of employees in Groups I, II, III, IV(a), are contained in the revised 

schedules of wages of November 30, 1943 and October 16, 1944. 

III. SCHEDULE OF WAGES 

Separate schedules of wages have been established by administrative action for each navyyard under order of the Secretary of the Navy of June 10, 1863, and through wage board procedure, on 

the 1st day of June 1864, and the 15th day of every second month thereafter, and quarterly from 

1893 to and including 1897. Separate schedules of wages were established through wage board 

procedure for each navy yard semi-annually from January 1, 1898, to December 31, 1908, and 

annually, from January 1, 1909, to December 31, lIH6. Also from January 1 to September 23, 

1917, September 24 to October 31, 1917, November 1, 1917 to April 30, 1918 and May 1, 1918 to 

October 31, 1918. Separate schedules of wages were established by administr.ative procedure for 

the East Coast and for the West Coast for the period November 1, 191B, to September 15, 1920, 

and September 16, 1920, to September 15, 1921. Separate schedules of wages were established 

throug£l wage board procedure for each navy yard for periods September 16, 1921 to April 30; . 1923; May 1, 1923 to June 30, 1923; July 1, 1923 to July 15, 1923, and July 16; 1923 to December 

31, 1923, annually from January 1; 1924 to December 31, 1929, al1.d for the period November 18, 

1940 to August 26, 1943. From August 27, 1943 to date the rate of wages was established under 

National Wage Board procedure. 

Wage boards appointed and convened by or at the direction of the Secr etary .of the Navy are dissolved after making their report to the convening authority. Therefore , ;;tll new rates of wages 

and changes in the rate of wages in the interim between wage boa r d actions are made by the 

Secretary of the Navy through administrative procedure. Revised s chedules of wages are issued 

when the administrative action is of such volume or nature as to r equir e the issue of r evision of 

the basic schedule. Revised sched\lles :.vere issued on May 12, 1927' /TUly 23,1931, March 1, 

1936, November 30,1943, and October 16, 1944. The 1931 revision 0 the 1929 schedule includes 

the rates of pay established by the· Classification Act of 1923, as amended, which were applied to 

all Group IV(b) employees, except native and alien employees at shore establishments outside . the continental limits of the United States, as, directed by section 2, of the act of Congress of 

July 3, 1930 (Public - No. 523-71st Congress - Brookhart Salary Act) and interpreted by the 

Comptroller General of the United States (Nove:r.nber 13, 193'0, A-33146 and January 23, 1931, 

A-34464 and A-34882). The 1936 revision of the 1929 schedule includes changes in rates of 

wages incident to the establishment of the 40-hour work week, with consequent increase of 2.0 

per cent in per diem and per hour rates of compensation under section 23 of the.• Independent . Office Appropnatlon Act, of March 28, 1934, (5 U.S.C. 673c). The 1943 and 1944 revision of the 

1940 schedule was issued because of the many administrative changes in the rates of wages, and. 

the delegation to the Secretary of the Navy by the National War Labor Board, of authority to fix 

wages in accordance with the terms of pertinent Executive Orders, the directive of the Economic 

Stabilization Director of May 12,1943, and general orders and policies of the board. 

. Ther original and revised schedules of wages from May 1, 1923 to and including October 16, 1944 

were issued in printed form as "Schedule of Wages for Civil Employees in the Field Service of 

the Navy Department and Marine Corps." "Coast Guard" schedules were included in the November 30, 1943 and October 16, 1944 schedule of wages. (Rates of wages for all employees:other 

5 
than Group IV(b) are nOt ,lJUUU::;'-l~~ U1 Ul~ l'WV~WU~l' .)v, .1."~,) <Ula uctober 16, 194~ schedules of 

wages but are kept on'file' in 'the Wage Administrati?n Branch of the Shore Est~blishments and 

Civilian Personnel Division because separate and distinct rates of wages are flXed for each and 

every individual field activity of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.) 

tv. FIXING OF SALARIES OF POSITIONS IN GROUP IVb 

Wage board procedure has been used by the Navy Department in fixing the rate of wages of civil 

employees at navy yards, naval stations and other naval shore establishments in classification 

Groups I, il, III and IV(a) since May 20, 1864, except during periods of national emergency 

when the "public interest" necessitated the fixing of a uniform rate of wages for larger geographic areas for the purpose of stabilizing industry; Wage board procedure has not been used in 

fixing the salary rates of civil employees in Group IV(b) at navy yards, naval stations and other 

naval shore establishments, except during the period of the first world war and shortly thereafter, and in 1920 when a decided upward trend of the .salaryrates for employees in private 

establishments performing work similar to that performed by employees in Group IV(b) due to 

the first world war, required a general investigation by the Labor Wage Adjustment Board of 

commercial rates. A uniform classification of the work of Group IV(b) employees and a uniform 

salary rate for each classification in all navy yards, naval stations and other naval shore establishments, without regard to geographical location was established by the Secretary of the Navy 

as a result of this)l1vestigation. Thereafter, salary rates' of Group IV(b) employees continued 

to be onai1ational basis. Another investigation of commercial salary rates was made by boards 

on wages under wage board regulations of 1921. 

The salary rate ot Group IV(b) empl~ees prior to 1884 was fixed by Congress in annual appropriations for "Civil Establishm~i1t. From 1884 to 1909, the "Civil Establishment" salary 

rates were in effect, and also, per<liem salary rates for special employments of a Group IV(b) 

character, established by the Secretary of the Navy, through administrative procedure, under 

the Act of July 16, 1862. 

In the Naval apprOpriatiOn. act for the fiscal yeal' 1910, ap.Qroved March 3, 1909 (35 Stat. 755), Congress provided a new. sy-stem of payment for Group IV~b) employees, as follows: 

"That hereafter the rates of pay of the clerical ~rafting, inspection, and messenger force 

at navy yards and naval stations and other 'stations and offices under the Navy Department 

shall be paid from lump appropriations and shall be fixed by the Secretary of the Navy on 

a per annum or per diem basis as he may elect; that the number may be increased or decreased at his option and shall be distributed at the various navy yards and naval stations 

by the Secretary of the Navy to meet the needs of thenaval ~ervice.."/ 

(The appropriation for '"Civil Establishment" at specific salary rates was discontinued. The 

fixing of per diem salary rates of "speciaLemployments" by the Secretary iQfthe Navy was also 

discontinued. ) 

Under authority of the above quoted statute and the act of August 29, 1916 (39 Stat. 558) hereafter quoted, the Secretary of-the Navy, through administrative procedur e (except as above 

stated) fixed the salary rate of Group IV(b) employees on a national per annum and per diem 

basis, including employees formerly.'in "Civil Establishment" and "special employments", from 

July 1, 1909 to December 31, 1930. 

"Hereafter, such amount may be expended annually for pay of drafting, teChnical, and inspection force from the several lump appropriations in which specific authority for such 

expenditure is given, as the Secretary of the Navy may deem necessary within the limitation of appropriation provided for such service in said lump sum appropriations at such 

rates of compensation as the Secretary of the Navy may prescribe; and the Secretary of 

the Navy shall each year~ in the annual estimates, report to Eongress the number of persons so employed, their duties, and the amount paid to eacl1!'"(Act of August 29, 1916 ­ 39 Stat. 558). 

Prior to the enactment of the act of~arch 3" 1'909, all rates of wages land' salaries of employees in Groups I, II, III, IV(a) and IV(b) we.Jefixea by the Secretary of the Navy on a per diem basis, 

in view of the act.of Congress of July 14, 1862, (Sec. 1545 Rev. Stat.) that "salaries shall not be 

paid to any employee in any of the navy-yards, except those who are not deSignated in the estimates", and "all other persons shall receive a per diem compensation for the time during which 

they may be actually employed." This section was expressly repealed by the act of March 3, 1909. 

6 
Since January 1, 1931, the salary rates of employees in Group IV(b) within the continental limits of 


the United States and American citizen employees (including native American citizen employees) 


outside the continental limits of the United States have been fixed in accordance with the "Classifi­


cation Act of 1923 11 , approved March 4,1923 (5 USC 673) as amended under authority of section 2 


of the Brookhart Salary Act, approved luly 3, 1930 (46 Stat. 1005, 5 USC 678a), which authorizes 


and directs the Secretaty of the Navy to adjust the compensation" of "employees carried under 


Group 4-B, including the draftiI;tg groups, in the Schedule of Wages for Civil Employees under the 


Naval Establishments", "to correspond, so far as may be practicable, to the rates established by 


the Welch Salary Act of May 28, 1928 (5 USC, Supp. 3, 673)." 


The Comptroller General of the United States, in decision to the Secretary of the Navy/ dated 

November 13, 1930 (10 Compo Gen. 216, A-33146) held that "the Brookhart Salary Act is now the 

only statutory authority for fixing the salary rates of employees under the Naval Establishment 

therein mentioned, and, with respect to these employees supersede the act of July 16, 1862, 

(12 Stat. 587), and so much of the act of March 3, 1909, (35 Stat. 754), as grants an election to the Sec:r;~tary of the Navy to fix rates lof pay on a per diem basis for those em,ployees in the clerical, 

drafting, inspection, and messenger force as are included in Group IV(b). The salary. rates of 

native employees (not citizens of the United States) and alien employees at shore establishments 

outside the continental limits of the United States, performil).g service similar to that performed 

by employees in Group IV(b), are still fixed by the Secretary of the Navy on a per diem or per 

annum basis, under the act of March 3, 1909, in accordance with the decision of the Comptroller G~_neral of the United States to the Secretary of the Navy of January 23, 1931, (10 Compo Gen. 322, 

A-34464, A-34882) in which it is held, quoting from the syllabus, 

"The provision of section 2 of the Brookhart Salary Act of July 3, 1930,46 Stat. 1005, 

extending the principles of classification through administrative action to employees 

coming under Group 4-B, includingdrafting groups in the Schedule of Wages for Civil 

Employees under the Naval Establishment, is not applicable to employees under the 

Naval Establishment in the Philippine Islands, Guam, Samoa, Virgin Islands, Panama 

Canal Zone, and other naval activities beyond the continental limits of the United States 

who are paid on native or alien schedules." 

The general types of pOSitions in classification Groups I, II, III, IV(a) and IV(b) are stated in the 

first paragraph above. The speCific title of each position in each of the classification groups is 

contained in the enclosed .schedules of wages. 

The Navy Department has not found it necessary, except as stated above, to use wage board procedure in fixing salary rates for the various types of positions in Group IV(b). 

These salary rates have heen fixed by the Secretary of the Navy on a national basis, under the 

authority vested in him by statute, and are now fixed on that basis by statute, under "Classification 

Act of 1923", as amended. There has not appeared to be any justification for establishing a different level of pay for similar positions in this .group in different localities. 

It is noted that the pertinent statutes do not require that the s a lary rate of Group IV(b) employees 

must conform with those in private establishments in the vicinity of the respective navy yard, as 

is required by the act of July 16, 1862 in fixing the rate of wages of employees in Groups I, II, III, 

and IV(a). 

The requirementsr:if,the act of July· 16, 1.862) have necessitated the decentralization of investigation 

of wage conditions in private establishments in the "immediate vicinity of the respective navy yards" 

and the determination of the rate of wages of Groups I, II, III and IV(a) employees by the commandants of specified navy yards and naval stations,sl1bject' to the revision and approval of the Secretary of the Navy. In contradistinction to Group IV(b) positions, the establishment, in normal times, 

of different levels of pay for similar positions in G.oups I, II, III and in IV(a) in different localities, 

is justified. 

V. "PUBLIC INTEREST" CLAUSE 

The act of July 16, 1862 was enacted to prevent the Navy Department from fixing a rate of.wag.es 

which would have a tendency tounstabiliz~wage conditions in the labor market areas in which navy 

yards are located. There were the interests of private employers and the public as well as the 

interests of the Government to be .considered. The "public interest" clause in the Act was no doubt 

inserted to give discretionary power to the Secretary of the Navy in fixing the rate of wages in navy 

yards in order to Ilrotect such interests. 

7 

......J.L-----oo.-----'-___ _ 
Vi. ANNUA L AND SICK LEAVE 

At the present time, there is no line of demarcation between employees in Group IV(b) and those 

jn Groups I, II, III and IV(a) with respect to aru1Ual and sick leave privileges. The annual and sick 

leave acts of March 14, 1936 (49 Stat. 1161 and 49 Stat. 1162), as amended by the acts of March 2, 

1940 (54 Stat. 38) and December 17, 1942 (56 Stat. 1052) apply alike to all employees at navy yards, 

naval stations and other naval shore establishments. These statutes grant twenty-six days annual 

leave with pay each calendar year and cumulative sick leave at the rate of one and one-quarter day 

per month. Prior to 1936, the leave privileges of such employees were governed by different statutes which granted different leave privileges. The act of February 1, 1901, (31 Stat. 746) granted 

all per diem employees, including those in Group IV(b), as well as those in Groups I, II, III and 

IV(a), fifteen days leave of absence with pay each calendar year. Prior to the enactment of this 

statute per diem employees at navy yards were not granted leave of absence with pay, in view of 

the provision in section 1545 of the R~vised Statutes that all persons except those who are aesignated in the estimates "shall receive a per diem compensation for the time during which they may 

be actually employed." 

In' the absence of restrictive legislation in regard to per annum employees in Group IV(b), such 

employees were granted leave with pay under the same c9nditions as employees in the Navy Department at Washington, under section 7 of the act of Marcn 15, 1898, which granted thirty days annual 

leave and an extension of thirty days in case of illness of an employee. The act of March 3, 1909 

(35 Stat. 755) granted to per diem employees in Group IV(b~ fifteen days leave of absence each 

calendar year and an extension thereof in each calendar year of fifteen days in case of illness of 

an employee. The act of August 29,1916 (39 Stat. 617) granted to all employees at navy yards and 

naval stations and other naval shore establishments thirty days' leave of absence each year. Unde'r 

a proviso in this act continuing sickJeave privileges under existing law, Group IV~b) per diem 

employees continued to receive sick leave privileges under-the act of March 3,1909, and per annum 

Group IV(b) employees sick leave under the same conditions as employees in the Navy Department 

granted by the 1898 statute. 

It will be noted that per diem employees in Groups I,Ii, III, and IV(a) were not entitled to sick 

leave privileges until the enactment of the act of March 14, 1936, and per annum employees in 

Group IV(b) were not entitled to sick leave by specific act of Congress until the enactment of such 

act. 

VII. HOURS OF WORK AND OVERTIME PAY 

Prior to the enactment of the act of June 28, 1940, (54 Stat. 678), Group IV(b) employees paid on a 

per annum basis were not paid at overtime rates of compensation, in the absence of statutory 

authority therefor, in view of decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury and the Comptroller 

General that, in the absence of statutory authority, such employees are not entitled to additional 

compensation for overtime. 

T e act of June 28, 1940, in section 5(a), fixed regular working hours of the Navy Department, the 

Coast Guard and their field services at eight hours per day or forty hours per week during the 

national emergency, and provided that these hours might be exceeded at the discretion of the 

Secretary ()f the Navy. This same section also provided for payment of overtime compensation for 

employment in excess of forty hours per week to certain classes of per annum employees enumerated there-in, on the basis of one and one-half times one three-hundred-and-sixtieth oLtheir per 

annum rate. Under a directive issued by the Secretary of the Navy, Group IV(b) employees were 

entitled to ,overtime pay for such employment in excess of forty hours per week as was ordered 

and approved by proper authority. 

The act of, June 3, 1941 (55 Stat. 241) extended authority to pay' o~¢rtimerates of compensation to 

ce:i:'tain other per annum employees. This authority to pay overtime expired by limitation on June 

30, 1942, but was continued in effect to September 30, 1942, and then to November 30, 1942, by 

a,. J. of Congress. The above ~aws were superseded by the act of December 22, 1942, (56 Stat.1068), 

effective December 1,194:2. This act, Executive Order 9289, and the departmental regulations, 

placed practically all per annum employees on a forty-eight hour workweek, except those whose , services could n9t be effectively utilized a full forty-eight hours, with overtime pay for employ- ; 

ment in excess of forty hours. This statute expired on April 30, 1943, and was superseded by the 

a ct of May 7,1943, (57 Stat. 75) which is primarily the same as the act of December 22, 1942. 

Native employees (not citizens of the United States) and alien employees at shore estab~shments . 

outside the continental limits of the United Sates performing service similar to tbat performed py 

employees in Group IV(b) are paid at the rate of time and one-half for work performed in excess 

of forty hours per week. Prior to January 1! 1931, when the pay of all Group IV(b) employees 

8' 

;-- - -­
within and without the continental limits of the United States, except those specifically appropriated 

for on an annual basis, were paid on a per diem basis, and were paid at straight rate or, at the rate 

time and one half for work performed in excess of their regular work day. The statutes fixing the 

hours of labor for "laborers, workmen, and mechanics" do not apply to Group IV(b) employees. 

Prior to the enactment of the act of March 28, 1934, per diem employees in Groups I, II, III, and 

IV(a) were paid for work in excess of eight hours a day, at straight rate or at the rate of time and 

one half. The Secretary of the Navy, in circular letter of April 19, 1869, to commandants of navy 

yar Is, stated that until the act of Congress of June 25, 1868, (ei~ht,:,~our law) and the act of Congress of July 16, 1862 (wage law) are repealed the DepartmentD:lustabide by them" and that "the 

Department has no authority to extend the hours of labor by making more than eight hours a day's 

work, but it has the rildlt to employ mechanics, workmen, and laborers extra hours and to pay 

them pro rata for ~\l$!fi e~r.a:Jabor"~and directed that "while, therefore, necessity exists for extra 

labor you ar~'at liberty to exercise your discretion in the matter, so as to assist the \vorking classes 

and at the same time do justice to the Government." On May 24, 1869, the Secretary of the Navy 

directed that the commandants govern themselves according to the proclamation of the President 

of May 19, 1869, that from and after that ,date no reduction should be made in the wages paid by 

the Government, by the day, to laborers, workmen, and mechanics on account of the reduction of 

the hours of labor by the act of June 25, 1868. On October 25,1877, the Secretary of the Navy in 

establishing working hours in excess of eight directed "this regulation is not designed to carry 

with it any present reduction of pay." In ,General Order No. 227 of June 30, 1877, the Secretary of 

the Navy stated that under the construction of the eight hour laV40f lune 25, 1868 (15 Stat. 77) by 

the Supreme Court of the United States (No. 401 -- October Term, 876) "the Department has 

fixed the rate of labor for mechanics, foremen, leading-men, and la.borers on the basis of ten hours 

a day~ and that "all workmen electing to labor only eight~hours; per day will receive a proportionate 

reduction of their wages." On March 21, 1878, the Secretary of the Navy in establishing working 

hours in excess of eight directed that contracts for labdr of mechanics, foremen, leading-men, 

and laborers will be on a basis of eight hours a day and that "all workmen electing to labor ten 

hours a day will receive a proportionate increase in their wages." 

The "Navy Regulations 1896 11 , Article 1574 provide that laborers, workmen and mechanics, whose 

! cO!Ilpensa,.tion has been fixed upon a basis of eight hours per day shall receive for work performed 

by reason of emergency. between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. in excess of eight hours, the 

same rate of pay as for eight hours work; and that men who have rendered service during the day! 

and who by reason of emergency are required to work in excess of eight hours shall be paid for a 1 

such extra work periormeli after 8:00 p.m. and before 6:00 a.m. af the same rate per hour as for 

day work, with fifty per cent additional. l'he "Navy Regulations 1900", Article 1600, and "Navy 

Regulatiol!s 1905"; Article 1600,provide that laborers, workmen and mechanics, for wark per­ formed in excess of eight hours per day, "by reason of extraordinary emergency"..! shall be allowed 

the ordinary rate of pay, with fifty per cent additional. The "Naval Instructions hl13", Article . 382, similarly provides. This basis for overtime was continued until the enactment by Congress . ,oJ the act of March 28, 1934, which provides compensation for overtime in excess of forty hours 

per week "at the rate of not less than time and one half." 

Vlli. HOLIDAY AND SUNDAY PAY 

Prior to the enactment by Congress of Public Resolution No. 127 on June 29, 1938, gratuity pay for legal holidays was, under the act of Congress of January 6, 1885 (23 Stat. 516), a vested right 

of per diem employees. Therefore, a per diem employee was paid gratuity pay for holidays 

whether or not he workbd on the holidays, and if he worked on the holidays he was paid for the work 

performed in addition to gratuity pay. Under Public Resolution No. 127, gratuity pay is granted 

for a holiday only to those employees who are relieved or prevented from working solely because 

of the occurrence of the hO,liday. If a per diem employee works ona holiday he receives pay only 

for the work performed. 'Vl!dex: the administrative regulations, for work performed on a holiday 

outside of the employees regular tour of duty he is paid at the rate of time and one half during the 

first eight hours and for work in excess of eight hours, by reason of an extraordinary emergency, 

fifty per cent additional to the holiday rate of pay, or one hundred and twenty-five per cent additional to the basic rate of pay is allowed. Per diem employees are not entitled to pay forS1,lndays, 

.except for work performed on that day - - at straight pay, if ',W1t~tn the ePlployees :r:egular ,tour of 'duty,' and at the rate of time and one- half during the first eight hours, and for work in (excess' of 

eight hours, by reason of an extraordinary emergency, fifty per cent additional to the Sunday rate 

of pay, or one hundred and twenty-five per cent additional to the basic rate of pay. Per annum 

employees receive pay for every day in the year, consequently they are regarded as being available for work every day in the year, and .are entitled to their regular pay for a holiday or a Sunday 

whether or not work is performed. Detailed regulations regarding overtim:e, a Sunday and holiday 

pay is contained in thescnedules of wages, and ~avy Civilial! Pers'oMel Instructions No. 

85, "Hours of Work and Overtime", and No. 250, "Wage Administration". 

1, 
---- - --- -----------

IX. FACTORS EXCLUDED IN FIXING WAGES 


Under the act of July 16, 1862, the Department cannot take such factors as annual ·,and sick leave 

privileges, pay for overtime ~either at a straight rate or time and one-half), and working on 

Sundays and holidays or payment of premiums or bonus into direct consideration in fixing the 

".rate of wages" of employees in Naval ishOre establishments. The ffayment of premiums or bonus 

to employees has been speCifically prol1ibited by statute in the Naval Appropriation Acts, since 

the act of March 3, 1915, (38 Stat. 953) -- current provision in the 'Naval Appropriation Act, 

1945" (56 Stat. 322). 

X. SPHERE OF APPLICATION OF "THOMAS AMENDMENT" (<Act of !March 28, 1934) 

The! provisions of section 23 of the act of March 28, 1934 were applied to all employees in Groups

I, II, III, IV(a) and IV(b) at Naval shore establishments (including native (not American citizens) 

and alien employees outside the continental limits of the United States performing similar serV'­

ice), except those paid on a per annum or per month basis. This included all employees paid on 

a per hour or per diem basis, in Groups I, II, III; and IV(a) whose rate of wages was fixed through 

wage lboard procedure under authority of the act of July 16, 1862, and employees in Group IV(b) 

(native and alien employees (not American citizens) outside the continental limits of the United 

States) paid on a per diem basis whose salary rate was fixed under authority of the act of March 

3, 1909. 

The' employees paid on a per annum or per month basis.whose salary rates were fixed through 

wage board and administrative procedure and to whom the act was considered to be inapplicable 

are listed in the following table: 

Within the continental limits of' the United States 

(Wage board procedure) 

Maritime Service All Group II, III and IV(a) 


Clothing Workers Service Group IV(a) (Per annum ,only) 


Hospital Service All Excepted Groups (now 'in "Commissary 


Service" and "Laundry Service, " Groups II .and 

III) , 

Naval Academy Service Groups I, II, and III, IV(a), and Excepted 

(per annum only) ' . Naval Home Service Groups I, II, III, and IV(a) and ExceI?ted 

Supervisory Mechanical Service Group IV(a) (per annum and all IV(a) employees 

at Naval Hospitals) 

Employees in Groups I, II, and III serving at Naval hospitals whose wages were fixed on a monthly 

basis by conversion of the hourly rates in the schedule oLwages to the monthly rates. 

;Ou.tside. the continental limits of the United States 

[fiative (not American citizens) alien employeesandAmerica:n~ 

(Wage board procedure) 

Laborer, Helper and Mechanical Service 

Supervisory Mechanical Service (Employees paid on a per 

Hospital Service (month or per annum basis. 

Hospital and Leper, Colony Service 

Maritime' Service 

(Administrative procedure) 

Miscellaneous Stations 

Naval Attaches' Offices (Employees paid on a per 

Marine Corps Posts (month or per annum basis. 

A list of titles of all employees in the above groups are contained in the "Schedule of Wages for 

Civil Employees in the Field Service of the Navy Department and the Marine Corps" ,revised to 

July 23, 1931 (on pages 24 to 32, inclusive, and 42 to 57, inclusive). Classification groups and 

titles of positions of employees in similar categories are contained in later schedules of wages. 

'l.P,' 
XI. CHANGES IN HOUrtS OF WORK AND OVERTIME PAY UNDER 

"THOMAS AMENDMENT" 

At the time of the enactment of the act of Congress of March 28 1934, the regular tours of duty of civil employees at Naval shore establishments were Monday to Saturday (half holi.day), (sixday-forty-four-hour work week, forty-eight hours' pay;) and Tuesday to Saturday (half-holiday), 

(five-day-thirty-six-hour work week forty hours' pay). Every alternate Monday was a non-work 

day. To carry out the provisions of the statute, all naval shore establishm nts were closed on 

Saturday, and a five-day-forty-hour work week, Monday to Friday, was established. In order that 

the normal amount of work theretofore performed by Group IV(b) employees be accomplished, a 

work week of eight hours per day, Mondays to Thursdays and seven hours or eight hours a day 

on Friday was established (these hours were later changed to those established for employees 

in other groups). It was specifically directed in the order establishing these hours that "no exemption shall be made from this order (ALNAVSTA 0612-1700 April 1934) without approval of 

the Department obtained in advance, unless to meet an extraordinary emergency, except in the 

case of employees in various inspection offices, offices of superintending constructors and public 

works inspectors when it is necessary for them to work on Saturdays because c....ontractors work 

on that day". 

The employees included in the specific exceptions were Group IV(b) employees whose compensation was fixed by the Classification Act of 1923, as amended, and who therefore, did not come 

within the purview of section 23 of the act of Ma.!'ch 28, 1934. 

The extent to whiCh the per annum and per month employees, listed above , performed work in 

excess of forty hours per week "to meet an extraordinary emergency", for which they did not 

receive additional compensation, is not on record in the Na vy Depa rtment. 

In view of the following construction of the term "extraordinary emergency" by the Attorney General, which was applied by the Navy Department to all civil employees in Naval shore establishments, employment in excess of forty houI's per week was not extensive under these unusual 

conditions: 

The emergency provision in the law is considered to cover any extraordinary emergencies 

which cannot be foreseen, such as might be necessary for saving life or property of the 

United Stai:es, and not cases which depend for their emergency solely upon economical 

methods of work or importance of rapid construction. An "extraordinary emerge,cy" under 

the act is one not to be foreseen in time to avoid the necessity of exceeding the limit of the 

fixed daily hours of labor by the employment of more men or more shifts of men. More 

economical considerations do not affect the question at all. It is to be assumed that in making the requirement Congress knew that under many conditions th" law would impose great 

expense upon the Government. 

Comparatively little work i.n excess of forty hours per week was performed by the month and 

per annum employees listed above, from March 28, 1934 ,to December 10, 1941 when, because 

of the national emergency, all civi! employees were directed to work "not less than one full 

eight-hour day in excess of the basic five-day -forty -. hour week." The la'rgest group of employees of those listed above, who were required to work in excess of forty hours per week because 

of the unusual conditions of their employment, is the "Hospital Service" . Employees in Groups 

I, II, III and IV(a) serving at Naval Hospitals, whose rates of wages on a per month basis were 

established by conversion of per hour rates:in the schedule of wages were required to work extra hours to meet emergencies. Employees at Naval Hospitals in the "Hospital Service" and in 

Groups I, II, III, IV(a) have been paid overtime compensation from June 28, 1940, under the provisions of section 5(a) of the act of Congress of June 28, 1940, and the acts of June 3, 1941, December 22, 1942, and May 7, 1943. 

The next largest group were employees in the "Maritime Service". Because of the nature of 

their employment it was necessary 10 work employees in this service over forty hours per week. 

These employees generally were paid overtime compensation under the acts of June 3, 1941, 

December 22, 19,42, and May 7, 1943. Other per month and per annum employees listed above 

were likewise paid overtime compensation under these statutes. 

Prior to March 28, 1934, the average hours worked in a two-week cycle was forty, for which 

employees were paid an avera ge of forty-four hours pay. Therefore, the effect of the statute 

was to increase the aver age we~kly compensation of such employees in a two-week period by 

four hours' pay for an average of forty hours' work, or, on w~ekly baSiS, four hours' additional 

compensation for four hours' less work in one we'ek and eight hOurs' additional compensation for 

four hours' additional work in the alternate week. The aggregate basic hours worked before 

and after March 28, 1934 are the same. 

11 
XII. ARCHIVAL SOURCES 

LIST OF REFERENCES RELATING TO WAGES AND CIVIL 

EMPLOYEES AT NAVY YARDS, NAVAL STATIONS AND 

OTHER SHORE ESTABLISHMENTS, 1863-1945. 

SUBJECT 


Circular letter regarding hours of work and 


rates of wages of employees in Navy Yards. 


Circular letter relative to appointment of 


Wage Boards at Navy Yards. 


Letter from Commandant, Navy Yard, Boston, 


transmitting proposed Schedule of Wages: 


for October and November, 1864, for 


approval of the Department. 


Circular letter instructing Yards to submit 


proposed schedules to cognizant Bureaus. 


Circular letter establishing hours of work 


in accordance with E-~ght-Hour Law of 1868. 


Circular letter relative to work in excess 


of eight hours per day at Navy Yards. 


Circular letter stating,tqat no reduction 


in wages should be made because of reduc­


tion of hours of work. 


Navy Department General Order No. 227. 


Circular letter informing of change in 


hours of work without reduction in pay. 


Circular No.8 superseding letter of 


Oct. 25, 1877. 


Circular letter stating that change in 


working hours would result in no reduc­


tion in pay. 


U.S. Navy Regulations, Article 1675, on 

Wage Board procedure. 

U.S. Navy Regulations, Article 1574 (2), 

on overtime and holiday pay. . 

U.S. Navy Regulations, Article 1670, on Wag~ Board procedure. 

U.S.,Navy Regulations, Article 1600, on 

overtime and holiday pay. 

U.S. Navy Regulations,>Article 1720, on Wa~ Board'procedure. 

U.S. Navy Regulations, Article 1600, on 

overtime and holiday pay. 

U.S . Navy Regulations, Article 1720 on 

Wage Board procedure. 

U.S. Navy Regulations, Article 1585, on 

Wage Board procedure. 

DATE FILE NUMBER 

Jun 10 

1863 

May 20 


1864 


Sep 29 


1864 


Mar 29 

1869 

Mar 29 

1869 

Apr 19 


1869 


May 24 

1869 

Jun 30 

1877 

Oct 25 

1877 

Mar 21 

1878 

Sep 21 

1878 

1893 

1896 

, 1896 

1900 

1900 

" 

1905 

" 1905 

1909 

12 

SUBJECT 	 DATE FILE NUMBER 

U.S. Navy Regulations and Naval Instructions, Section 17, Article 371, Board on 


Wages and Rates' of Pay. 1913 


U.S. Navy Regulations and Naval Instructions, Section 18, Articles 381 and 382, 


Overtime and Holiday Work and Pay. 1913 


Boards on Wages. May 10 Bg-Vr <. 1921 

Boards on Wages. 	 Sep 21 SONYD-7-VR 

1922 

Regulations for Boards on Wages. 	 Apr 14 SONYD-7-VR 

1923 

oard~ on Wages. Sep 18 ' SONYD-7 ..I)o 

1923 

Regulations for Boards on Wages. 	 Jul27 SONYD-7-Jn 

1926 

Regulations for Boards on Wages. 	 Jun 15. SONYD-7-Gn 

1929 

ALNAVSTA in regard to hours of work. 	 Apr 12 SONYD-4-Md 

1934 

Regulations governing the determination Jan 8 SOSED-4-Ch 

of wages of civilian employees in Groups 1940 

I, II, III and IV(a). 

Navy Civilian Personnel Instruction 85, Mar 17 SECP:400:Si 

Hours ()f Work and Overtime. 1945 SECP:510:Si 

Navy Civilian Personnel Instruction 250, Apr 13 SECP:400:Si 

Wage Administration. 1945 

Schedule of wages for civil employees under the 


Naval Establishment. ' 1929 


Schedule of wages for civil elI'ployees in the field 


service of the Navy Department and the Marine Corps. 1931 


Schedule of wages for civil employees in the field 


service of the Navy Department and the Marine Corps. 1936 


Schedule of wages for civil employees in the field 


service of the Navy Department and the Marine Corps. 1940 


Schedule of wages for civil ·employees in th.e field 


service of the Navy Department, the Marine Corps 


and the Coast Guard within the continental limits 


of the United States. 1943 


Schedule of wages for civil employees in the field , - service of the Navy Department, Marine Corps, 

Coast Guard within the continental limits of the 

United States. 1944 

(P) 

13