The Washington herald., 1916-11-20
See SALARY INCREASE
FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
G Campaisners Predict Higher Salaries at
Coming Session Of Congress.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

Canal. iiB; Smithsonian Institute, IlT;
Government Printing Ontics, S,s4s;
District Of Columbia, 7,2Is, and L.
brary Of Congress, b4s.
These figures do not include the special
employees engaged Professionally on pre-
paredness work or those added to the
payrolls by reason Of legislation passed
at the last Congress.
Figuring up the number Of dependents
who rely upon these government en-
ployes for sustenance shows that over
10000 men. women and -children-practi-
caily one-third Of the entire population
are affected by q pneurious or a generous
policy on the part Of the government In
lts payments for service.
The average wage Of this vast army Of
government workers 10 about Los
year. or less than 800 Per month, and
Federal workers are paid more pro-
portionately for their labors in WASH
ington than In other parts Of the country,
on the assumption that they have left
their home cities in accepting employ
ment and cannot live 90 economically.
The average wage Of the 44s.6s7 persons
In the legislative. executive. and judicial
service OF the Federal government
would be considerably less than that OF
the District employees.
No Past Enthusiasm.
Congress In the past has shown no en-
thusiasm for solving the problem Of the
government clerk and employees working
for salaries Of LOO or less. but the pros
perity of the country and the fact that
In almost every industry wages have un-
dergone an increase that keeps the pay
envelope and the advancing cost Of food
stuffs nearer on q level are expected to
prove Q strong argument for q law that
will grade and standardiEe wages Tor
Federal workers.
The movement to secure better pay for
government employees has taken definite
form and will be supported by the vari-
ous organizations from among the work
ers themselves and brought to the stten-
ton Of the civic associations and trade
bodies for indorsement and support.
What 10 particularly desired Is some
law that will by its terms make II pos
sible for employees automatically to ad-
vance in grade and compensation COM
mensurate with their experience and in
creased value to the government.
It Is pointed out that under existing
conditions . stenographsr or clerk certi-
fed from the classified lists and starting
at 500 q year can, after q number Of
years In the service. attain q salary OF
8, 200. There, In most cases. ne refnains
with prospects Of advancement most re-
mote. After fifteen or more years Of
service the average employe has become
highly specialized clerk, whose ability
in most business houses would be recog-
nized by increases in salary at stated
periods.
No such inducement is held out for
the average government worker. accord
ing to one OF the oldest appointment
clerks. who discussed the matter with
representative OF The Washington
Herald yesterday. The employe has as
sumed responsibilities with his increased
years Of service, knows no other trade,
and lacks the courage to relinquish a
Job, whore the tenure Of once 10 at least
certain. to seek q position in the outside
business world where the compensation
would be better.
Conditions described by Representative
Lobeck at the last session Of Congress
In discussing his bill for the standardiza-
ton Of salaries IN the Department OF Agri-
culture are typical OF other depa rtrnents
and in some cases they are more pro-
nounced. He said:
"I have information from clerks In the
bureau that am acquainted with. that II
makes no difference how efficient a man
is-hrst, l will explain, that he is on the
statutory roll-it makes no difference how
efficient he may be, how arduous his Ia
bors may be, or how many hours 1t takes
him to do the work of the day. especially
in the field service or at the packing
centers. There Is no hope for an increase
In salary or promotion unless those that
rank him in time of entrance into the
service either resign or die,
Advancement Blocked.
II nave in mind one man who. during
the foot and mouth troubles that we had.
commenced TO work early in the morning
and many a night was working until II
o'clock, and I inquired into this. This
man with that kind Of service was
very efficient man, the department told
me. ranked .. He was receiving a salary
of 600 a year. I asked If ne could get
q promotion to 81 200. / have taken it up
with the Department of Agriculture. The
Assistant Secretary knows of the eff
cheney OF the man. and 1t cannot be done:
some one must resign or die before he
b promoted. Now. believe men that rem
der this efficient service should have an
opportunity to be regarded for their skill
and industry"
Other departments have handiCaps and
barriers to promotion that are even more
diseouraging to an efieient worker than
those described by Representative Lobeck.
and It II these conditions that it is hoped
to remedy In the legislation that will
be offered at the next session. opening
two weeks from next Monday.
We are exceedingly hopeful that Con-
gIess will take some action soon TO make
II possible for the average government
worker to have his ability and experience
recognized by regular advancement" said
John J. Deviny. secretary OF the National
Association for Civil Service Employees.
The tendency of the country is toward
hiEhsr wages and reward consistent with
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