The Washington times., 1917-12-11
POSTAL RAISE
PLAN TOLEAD
WAY FOR ALL
DEPARTMENTS

The subcommittee Of the House
Postofice Committee is today blazing
the way for the increase Of pay for
all Government employees which Con-
gress will authorize during this ses-
sion, with consideration OF legislation
designed to provide adequate pay for
postal employees. Postponement un-
til this morning of the first meeting
called for yesterday afternoon was
occasioned by the absence from the
city Of Congressman Bell Of Georgia,
chairman Of the subcommittee.
Recognizing that several commit
tees having to deal with the service
Of other departments will recommend
measures having the same general
object, and that these must be con-
sistent in order to preserve uni
formity in all departments, the Post
office subcommittee is today en-
deavoring to present bill which will
conform to a general policy.
Has Several Bills.
The committee has before it sew
eral bills from which to construct the
measure to be recommended to the
House. Among these are the Kelly
bill, providing for % per cent in
crease for all city and rural carriers,
postofaee clerks. and railway mail
employees; the Steenerson bill for
equipment and maintenance allowance
for rural carriers; the Madden bill,
which provides graded automatic in
creases in pay for postoffice clerks
IN first and second class postoffices
and letter carriers in the city de-
livery service, and the Bell bill.
Each OF these bears more or less
particularly upon the branch OF the
postal service in which its author is
interested especially, and with the
needs OF which he is especially famil-
far.
As to the general principal OF an
adequate increase OF compensation, a
majority OF the subcommittee was
substantially in accord even before
their meeting today.
Adjustment of details was the chief
matter under consideration. To each
OF the measures as introduced there
was some objection raised. chiefly
aimed at the more perfect eQualiza-
tion OF the increases to be allowed.
Out Of all the bills before them and
knowledge OF the committee as to eX
listing conditions, a measure will be
agreed upon which may embody some
of the features OF all the other bills.
but which will not follow exactly any
one OF them
Wants No DISCRIMINATION.
The committee is particularly anxious
TO avoid fayoring any particular class Of
employees, it was declared today by Mr..
Blackmon. Of Alabama, one OF the ma
Jority members. To insure this It Is
will be distinctly q composite OF the
ideas Of each member Of the subcommit-
tee, and reconcile differences OF opinion
rather than 20 follow the plan OF one
who might especially regard the in
terests OF the letter carriers or another
whose interest might be more concerned
with the postal clerks and the office
force.
A thing that members feel must always
be borne in mind is that any measure
proposed for the department over which
this committee has jurisdiction must be
finally reconciled with measures from
other committees having Jurisdiction
over other departments.
The final action OF Congress, based
upon recommendations of committees
for their respective departments, will,
IT is felt have to be Substantially
uniform In its treatment Of the en-
pIoyes Of all branches OF the Govern
ment service.
Public Hearings Planned.
Following the meeting OF the sub-
committee, It was announced by
Chairman Bell OF Georgia that pub
lie hearings on the question Of the
salary increases for postal employees
would be held next Monday and Tues
day in the House Post Office Commit
tee room. On these days advocates Of
a substantial increase, including
members OF Congress, will have an
opportunity TO express their Views.
Today's meeting was behind closed
doors, as will be other meetings held
before Monday.
Ldttle progress was made today
other than to outline the policy to be
followed by the subcommittee.
The subcommittee is composed OF
Bell Of Georgia. chairman: Blackmon
OF Alabama, Cox Of Indiana, Madden
of Illinois and Steenerson Of Mime
sofa
Chairman Moon Of the House Com
mittee on Post Offices and Post Roads