Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-14

looking to obtaining higher pay for
the District employees" said Senator
Gallinger. but so far as I am inform
ed. 1t has never been definitely set
tied to whom the surplus fund belongs
bi have been e in. inclined to believe that It
commended that 1t belonged to the fed
eral government. being in the federal
Treasury. Before anything could be
done with this fund II would have to
be determined to whom 1t does belong.
Some action Of Congress in the matter
would be necessary, Of course.
II have thought in the past that this
FUND could very well be used to reduce
the debt Of the District. but no move has
Unlikely to Approve Plan.
III Mr.. Huriey's plan were adopted
then We would have the anomaly Of pay
ing part Of tho employees salaries under
tho half-and-haIf plan. one-half from tho
District revenues and one-half from the
federal Treasury. and the other part Of
the same salaries from the surplus fund
Of the District. I doubt very much II
Congress- would take kindly to such an
Tn any event, some action Of Con-
Ersss increasing the pay Of these en-
bloyes would have to be taken when
the District appropriation bill was up
hope that we win be able to do some
thing to increase the salaries Of the
District employees in the lower grades
and also Of the federal employees in
similar grades. Much will depend upon
the action OF the Senate appropriations
committee tomorrow on the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation
BILL. II that committee allows some in
creases for the federal employees COW
cred in that measure, we will probably
employees. II no increases are allowed
for the federal employees, Il 10 hardly
likely that the District employees will
obtain more pay.
Other Possible Uses.
IF the surplus fund were to be used
to increase the lower paid employees of
the District there is no reason why IL
should not be used to increase the
pay Of the District Commissioners and
other officials"
Mr.. Hurley yesterday announced his
plan Of campaign to aid the employees
Of the District to higher salaries. He
pointed out that 1t would not be neces-
sary for Congress to appropriate any
additional money from the incoming
ASNVhaSO Va tuS DIbbTlCI OF the lun0G OF
the federal Treasury to give the Dis
trict employees increases in pay, since
It could use part of the 100000 Dis
trict surplus which has rolled I'D in
the Treasury. This surplus, he ex-
planned. is brought about by the fact
exceeded in recent years one-half of
the total sum Of appropriations for the
District, and, as the federal govern
ment pays the other half, the excess of
-
surplus fund.
OF this surplus" said Mr.. Hurley.
~ will be necessary to use only 33o.'
S32e7 to give tho District employees the
increases in salary which we are ask
Shows Average Pay.
The employees are seeking 10 and 20
per cent horizontal increases in sal.
aries. Mr.. Hurley pointed out that
while the average pay of the federal
employe is $s4S. that Of the District
employe is ssob. According to figures
given by Mr.. Hurley. there are sss en-
ployes of the District who receive more
than $1,000 a year. For those receiv-
Ing more than $1,000 and less than
$500 an increase of 10 per cent ia
asked.
There are. he said. 265 employees of the
District receiving exactly 1920; 212 en-
ployes receiving between $1,000 and
$1,000. and 2,715 whose pay is less than
$1,000. For those receiving $1,000 or
less an increase of 20 per cent is asked.
There are on the pay rolls Of the Dis.
trict 2.2ls persons who are allowed no
leave with pay. even the Saturday hall
holidays or the legal holidays. In case of
iilness. wages are deducted. even though
the illness be contracted In line of duty
1t was pointed out yesterday that the
plea which the District employees are now
making for increases in pay is the first
in forty-one years. The case Of the Dis
| trict employees will be carried before the
Senate subcommittee charged with hand
ling the District appronriafion hill