Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
YIELDED TO ARGUMENT
REPRESENTATIVE GRANTED
WISH OF COMMISSIONERS.

The District Commissioners today express
ed their qualification over the fact that the
House subcommittee had finally agreed to
their recommendations that the per diem
employees, continuously employed, be placed
on the regular roll at annual salaries. For
the past three years the Commissioners,
and particularly Commissioner Mcfarland,
have urged this proposition before Congress,
and during the recent conference the MEM
bers of the subcommittee of the House gave
the matter more serious consideration than
ever before, and from the first the Commits
sioners have been hopefuf OF Obtaining au-
thority for the change at this session.
1t is understood that the Commissioners
and the members of the subcommittee are
now endeavoring to work out some satisfac-
tory plan for consummating the transfer.
In some instances the transfer from the
per. diem to the regular roll Will involve
reductions in the compensation OF the en-
ployes. At present some of the per diem
men work 313 days in year, while If they
are placed on the permanent roll they Will
be paid on the basis of 300 days service
Those employees who now work on the basis
of 1856 days will be paid on the basis OF $50
days service in year. If placed on the
regular roll however, the employees Will
have the advantage of receiving thirty days
annual leave and sick leave. At present the
per diem men receive from nine to three
days annual leave and no sick leave at all.
District Bill Conferences.
The Commissioners at noon Saturday fin
ished their conference with the House sub
committee on appropriations, with reference
to the District of Columbia appropriation
bill.
The recent conference, it is understood,
is considered by the Commissioners as one
of the most satisfactory ever held with any
subcommittee on appropriations. This Is
to1r 70
committee indicated that they Will give the
District everything the Commissioners re-
uueSted, or that the next District Dill Will
be the largest in recent years, but the gem
eral results of the conference, the attitude
of the members of the committee and their
intelligent discussion OF District affairs.
etc, were a source of ssatisfaction to the
Commissioners.
The present subcommittee on appropria-
tions it is stated, has been together for the
past three years, there having been no
change In it's membership in that time, and
from year to year the members have heard
the needs of the District detailed to them
by the Commissioners and by private cfti-
Zens. In addition they have made personal
investigation of District affairs, and have
satisfied themselves personally of needed
improvements and in this way have be-
come thoroughly acquainted with the at
fairs of the municipality.
Interested in the District.
Every member of the House subcommit-
tee, so it is stated evinced the deepest in
terest in the Districts concerns during the
conference and the Commissioners feel GER
tain from the attitude of the members that
they all desire to do what is best for the
District and that they devotlng a
great deal of time and attention to deter
mining what can be done to the best ad-
vantage The Commissioners were graft
fed at the consideration shown them in
presenting the various matters Of concern
to the city, and state that the committee
showed great sympathy with every matter
presented.
The Commissioners have yet to appear
before the Senate subcommittee on appro-
priations to discuss the District appropria-
ton bill. This bill of course will not be
taken up by the Senate until after the holi-
day recess. After the recess the Commits
sioners will also urge before the House and
Senate committees on public buildings and
grounds the necessity of extending the
limit of cost Of the new municipal build
ing.