The Washington times., 1917-12-20
PER CENT
Of D. c. EMPLOYEES
IN lone OFFICE QUIT

basic salaries in the District service
service is pointed out in a statement
issued today by ]. H. Hurley. presi-
dent of the District branch OF the Fed
eral Employees Union. In his statement
r Hurley declares the low wage
paid District employees has resulted in
the loss, in one office, OF 20 per cent
OF the employees, who were forced to
seek positions elsewhere in order
to make enough to live on. II is sta
ted that the average loss throughout
the service from this cause is about
so per cent.
Mr.. Hurley's statement is as fol-
lows:
The championship by Commits.
sioner Brownlow of the plan to place
basic salaries in the District service
on level with those in the Federal
service occasioned no surprise to Of
icials OF the union OF city employees.
1t is consistent with his every action
when the cause OF the employees was
justified by public policy. ofncers
of the union have never hesitated to
call upon him and tell their troubles,
knowing they would receive courte-
Gus, sympathetic hearing and an Rd-
iustment of their difficulties. They
have urged the basic increase since
the inception of their organization,
but the Commissioner felt that the
time was not opportune, and as i'm
plicit confidence is placed in his Judg-
ment we were willing to walt until
he saw ht to advocate II before the
committees OF Congress, which he Is
doing now with a right good Will
Average Pay S7so.
THE plan is eminently fair and
just. The average wage in the Dis
trict OF Columbia service is $3.50 per
annum. that in the Federal service,
Se4s. Two-thirds OF the city employees
must work every day to maintain this
average, as they are compensated
only for time actually worked. Low
salaries have wrought havoc in the
ranks of the city employees. In one
offce 30 per cent OF the employees
have left the service to enter either
that OF the General Government, or
OF local corporations and business
houses. Another department lost 40
per cent, others more, and none has
is close to so per cent throughout the
service. and the end is not yet in
sight.
"Not one employe has resigned who
has not very materially bettered his
condition. 1t is a sad commentary on
the position OF the city, when IL can
not compete for skilled help in the
labor market with private concerns
within its borders. yet 1t is a fact.
some Paid S2.7S Day.
"One department has about forty
fye men engaged in abstruse compu-
tatfons who are paid from S2.76 per
diem to $500 per annum- Other de-
partments where it is necessary that
the employees have a degree from a
technical or scientific school. the pay |
ranges from $1,000 at entrance to
$1,000 after eight or ten years eff
cient service. despite the fact that
there is no incentive.
Employees do attain a high degree
OF proficiency in their lines, and we
have in the employ OF the city, spe-
cialists in urban development whose
services are almost indispensable, who
toll on at a rate of pay that amounts
to a mere pittance. / can safely say |
that Of the so per cent Of those re-
naming who were on the rolls one
year ago. nearly all are looking for |
employment elsewhere; this does not
augur well for the efficient conduct
OF a growing city's business. Business
houses realize she insdequacy OF
wages paid by the city, and are Of
fering work to its W rkers after Of
flee hours, between eighty and nine
ty of these tiding over the rough
shedding, OF these times.
"In many instances the wife has
gone to work, this leaves the little |
children OF the couple TO shift for
themselves, whilst their parents rus
tie enough for them to eat and wear.
This, in the days when child welfare /
occupies such a prominent place |
amongst the questions OF the times.
"Our hopes are pinned TO Mr..
Brownlow and the gentlemen Of the
subcommittee of the District. We
believe that the deplorable condition
which now exist, will be no more after
this session and a Te Deum will go