The Washington herald., 1916-11-24
municipal service will look after the II
terests Of their members
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

municipal service will look after the In
terests Of their members.
Before the bill was presented to the
Commissioners for approval. It was sub
mitted to Alonzo Tweedale, the District
auditor, to inspect for looseness in ver-
biage or any legislative flaws. He pro-
nounced It water tight" and It was then
submitted.
By its terms ass employees on the
lump sum payroll and those on the statu-
tory or per diem roll would enjoy the
benefits. The greatest number affected
are those getting $3.50 per year or less
annually. Only twelve employees are af-
fected by the increases suggested for
those over 5000. among them the three
District Commissioners.
The bill. II passed as drawn, would
add total of s444.5s6 to the annual pay
roll Of the District of which amount
s2S0.70 would go to per diem men.
Among those who benefit substantially
are the white wings or street cleaning
force, many Of whom work for s1.50 a
day and others at S.75 a day. For this
compensation each employe Is expected
to keep clean an area Of twenty-one
city blocks, and in the course of a days
work travels from four to seven miles.
They are not paid for holidays, are given
no vacation, and absence for sick leave
must be confirmed by a physician,s GER
tificate.
No Mention of Vacations.
No mention is made Of vacations for
those on the statutory roll IN tbe in-
creased salary bill, but 1t Is understood
that the District Commissioners have
provided for this in the department esti-
mates OF the annual budget. now being
considered BY the committee on appropri-
a AZ thA
the annual payroll are given an annual
vacation. but those on q DER diem basIs.
which include practically ali Of the low
saiaried employees, take q respite at their
own expense.
Accompanying the bill was an extend-
ed statement from the COMMITTEES show
ing the Increased cost Of all staple food
stuns ana ordinary necessities Of life with
authentic statistics on the prevailine .
prices In the District. This shows that
since 1903 the cost Of the edibles offered
on the average family table has made an
average advance Of "a per cent. Conn
pared with this are statistics showing
that the limited number of Increases
granted are at small per cent OF this
great increase. and that In the majority
Of eases wages have remained station
ary.
The separate bill for District .r,n,ov..
- e---~NS --~~~-@-s&S W hAlc laCI I1al IneY
are not considered under the head ~
Federal employees" BY a decision Of
the Comptroller Of the Treasury. they are
rated as workers for separate munici-
pality and not considered as employees Of
Uncle Sam. even though the Federal row
ernment pays 80 per cent of their SAL
aries.
May BE Part of Program.
II the bill meets with the approval of
the Commissioners, It will be presented ~
part of the legislative program Of the
Federal Employees Union. which is ami
ated with the American Federation Of
Labor. such action insures a nucleus Of
ZIG votes for Its passage, since there are
that many members OF Congress afiiliated
with local unions allied with the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor. :
Acting Secretary Of Labor Densmore
yesterday attributed growfnK ,urosperffv