The Washington herald., 1916-12-07
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

Increases for government employees
receiving $500 or less.
8. The universal feeling among
members of Congress that the cost
of living has advanced to the point
where some relief must be given
to the lower paid government en-
pIoyes-
Increase Seems Certain.
That Congress will grant increased
wages to the employees receiving H,sOO
or less now seems certain. 1t was
learned definitely yesterday that the sub
committee Of the House Committee on
Appropriations favors an increase, and Is
debating Just what form the increase
shall take. One member favors graded
increase, employees receiving less than
1900 per year getting % per cent ad-
vance, employees receiving 1000 and not
more than 1850, a Is per cent increase,
and employees receiving $3.50 and not
more than 800 a 10 per cent increase.
Another proposition under discussion Is
an increase Of so a month for all en-
ployes receiving less than 5000 and S
q month for employees receiving from
$1,000 to 1850.
The encouraging news from the stand
point of the employe Is that the powerful
Committee on Appropriations will Of
ficalIy sanction an increase. There will
be a fight on the floor Of the House by
members who are opposed to an in
crease, but the support of the leaders
and the general sentiment In favor of
higher salaries created by existing
economic conditions Is expected to swing
the committee recommendations for
better wages to enactment in the House.
Gompers Lends Aid.
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, has taken a per
sonal interest in the movement and has
sent out q call for a general meeting OF
all unions interested in the proposed
legislation for better wages. This meet
ing will be held at the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor Building Sunday, morn
ing. December 10, and each union Will
be represented by three delegates.
Gompers will address the meeting and
outline plans for carrying on the work
with members of Congress.
Today H. NJ. McLarin and members OF
the legislative committee of the Fed
eral Employees Union will have con-
ference at the Capitol with Democratic
leaders who want some action taken al
the present session and believe that the
principal question is what measure for
Increased wages can secure the unanimous
support Of all who are interested.
yesterday made u successful effort to
have the wages of thirty-one skilled
Iaborers in the Postoffice Department
standardized.
Il see no reason" he told the commit
tee, why three men who are doing
certain work should be paid $1,000 and
thirty-one others doing exactly the same
kind Of work be only paid $500 year
The committee accepted his amendment
ha
increase the pay of the thiru-one
laboras~
Navy Board Hears Plea.
Assistant Secretary Of tho Navy
Roosevelt and the naval wage board
heard representatives OF the Anor
union and members of Congress yes
terday afternoon urge higher salaries
for mechanics and skilled laborers in
the government navy yards. The ma
jority of the speakers spoke for @
Standardization of wages and the pay
ment by the government Of the exist
ing scale of wages paid to members OF
organized labor.
Representative SABBATH. of Illinois, in
troduced a bill that would give grad
cd f-crease in salary to all government
employees receiving less than s1.S00.
Every employe receiving $1,000 or
les gvo-r7 be given an Increase OF 70
nsr cent .. loves receiving from
$1,000 to $500. 90 per cent, and en-
pIoyes recetv ng from 1880 t. S1,sCC'
20 per cent The le e-islaticn includes
those working OIL a per diem basis and
employees Of tire Senate and House of
Representative
Action Imperative.
In discussing the BILL Representative
SABBATH said that it was absolutely I'M
perative that the government should dc
sornething at once for its low salaried
employees. Il hear some members object
because they feel a general increase
would benefit many who are really not
entitled to it." he said. Il have made
some investigation of this subject and
know that % per cent Of those who Will
be helped by this legislation are faithful
and efficient employees. There may be
some who are drones and not worth IS
a day, but I would not retard beneficial
legislation for the great majority because
of these few. 1 did not include those
above 1850 because their problem In
meeting the advancing cost Of living IL
not so hard and in some cases they are
pets and secure advances through in
huence. What 1 want to help Ii the
masses. They feel these high prices most.
They need the higher salary most"
Representative SABBATH said that he was
certain some legislation for q general in
crease IN salaries would be passed at the
present session. and declared that he
proposed to push his bill to the limit and
hoped to be able to have It called for q
hearing within a short time.
The District Commissioners have be-
gun consideration of the wage increase
bill submitted by the District branch OF
the Federal Employee Union. This calls
for a graded increase for all employees OF
the District government The lowest
paid employees get an increase of 20 per
cent. and the percentage Of increase Is
reduced to s per cent for those employees
getting 5000 or over. The Commissioners
como In this latter class and get a s25O
raise by the terms of the bill. The bill