The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-28
FEDERAL AND STATE SALARIES

The recent discussion of the sal
aries and working hours of Gov
eminent employees in the District Of
Columbia has compelled a revival
Of. interest in this whole subject.
The Borland amendment has been
defeated; but the question whether
Government people are fairly paid,
overpaid, or underpaid; whether they
work as many hours as they ought;
whether they give value received
for their pay-these are getting
some special consideration as re-
suit of the debate on the Borland
proposal.
Up at Albany a committee Of the
New York senate has been for a
year studying wages, working con-
ditions, ETC., of the civil service en-
ployes Of the Empire State. 1t
makes now a report that cannot fail
to be of keen interest to civil serv-
ice workers in Washington.
The average salary of New York
government empolyes is declared to
have been, in 1915, $1,85S.
The average salary of civil serv-
ice workers in the District of Co.
lumbia, according to the most recent
census bulletin on the subject, was
$1,072.
The average salary of the New
York State civil service has been
rising very fast in recent years. In
1911 it was $1,473.
Average civil service salaries in
Washington don't advance. There
has been no revision of the salary
schedule since 1853.
A comparison between the New
York civil service salaries and those
of the Federal Government must
be made with some regard to the
conditions Of the two classes of
workers. New York's civil service
employees are scattered all over the
State. Some live in cities, some in
the country. On the average, New
York States employees doubtless live
under conditions which make the ex-
pense of living considerably lower
than in Washington. For example,
a large proportion of them live in
Albany, town whose living costs
undoubtedly are distinctly lower
than those of Washington.
The most remarkable thing about
this comparison is the very rapid
rise, in a period of four years, OF
the wage rates of the New York
State employees. An advance from
$1,47S to $l,s5s represents over 26
per cent increase. 1t may be doubt
ed if this increase is out Of proper
ton to the advance in living costs.
But there has been no increase at
all for the Federal Government
workers of comparable rank!
! How would it do to have Congress
make a general investigation of civil
service salaries of Federal and State
governments? And another, deal
ing with civil service employees of
cities comparable to Washington?
Why has there never been a seri-
Gus effort by Congress to make such
a study of the conditions of its
civil service, as this which New
York State has made so painstak-
ingly?
For two generations the civil serv-
ice of the National Government has
gone on under conditions, as to sal
airy, which have been without
change. Is there a State in the
Union of which that could be said ?
We venture there is not; surely il
would be illuminating to know the
| facts.
The body of civil service workers
under the New York government
is large enough to provide a very
fair basis of comparison with the
body of civil service workers in
Washington. The showing is one
that does small credit to either the
liberality, the progressiveness, OF
the intelligence of the National Gov.
eminent.
ADVICE TO PLY SICIANS