Evening star., 1917-12-05

!
/ sentatives In Congress. as upon
! all other persons subject to tax.
$------------------------------
The thousands Of government clerks
the great army nlobilized and mobiliz-
ing in the National Capital, who, at
their desks and typewriters, are helping
to win the war, without the heroics and
glamour Of being "over there"-need not
worry that Uncle Sam is going to cut
down their salaries.
They are going to get-all Of those
whose salaries are under 81 ,S00-a con-
tinuance Of the and 10 per cent graded
increases in salaries granted them after
July l, 1917. They will get at least that,
and possibly up to Is per cent.
This assurance comes from members of
the appropriations committee and from
members Of Congress, generally The at
titude Of leaders in Congress il that II the
s and 10 per cent graded increase was
granted last year ON account Of the grow
reason why 1t should be continued now, il
not increased still further.
Realize High Cost Of Living.
Helping tbs rembers Of Congress to
reach this conclusion is the fact that on
~ rstur ne capate3 The nnetn-
Ooarding shouse, u srtiieist snd hoins &c ~
Recommendations, have come to realize from
personal experience the irscreasinE cost Of
living. They have; therefore. 4 new sym
must live here, not too far from the fed
aral department buildings
While Representative John J. Fitz-
gerald. chairman Of the appropriations
committee Of the House. felt that as he
was surrendering the chairmanshfp Of
that committee to Representative
Shirley and as he had not talked over
with his associates the question of
general policy in this matter. he indi-
need have no fear that their just claims
for increases will receive the most
sympathetic attention. and that this
will be done as soon as possible to re-
lieve the anxiety Of those who are now
IN doubt about their salaries.
Several OF the government depart
ments have submitted to Congress
statements regarding the number of
cluded in the and 10 per cent Increase
schedule. SO that the appropriations
committee may have something definite
TO ng1re on when this matter is taken
the assistant secretary Of labor sub
| mitted such statements YESTERDAY.
These are merely statements of facts
and do not carry any Recommendation
departments have not yet prepared
such statements. because there has been
a feeling that with the growing costs
to grant a larger blanket" increase to 10
the government workers.
Should Not Be Too Hopeful.
In this connection the government
clerks should not be too hopefui ~
very much more Than the and 10 per
along the line is to be the watchwortJ
Of the appropriations committee. in
| order that the finances Of the country
may t,sa De conserved as far as possible for
The probability Is that before the an
propriations committee settles down to
work on the estimates the various
subcommittee will agree on a general
| policy regarding the clerks salary in
crease. This will he in the interest
OF efficiency. SO that one subcommittee
| may not be working along one line
while some other subcommittee is go-
| ing off on a different tangent.
The and 10 per cent increase was not
carried in the estimates last year, as was
was put in by the appropriations commit
tee and approved by Congress. There is
| no authority in law for the various a.
partments to submit recommendations for
| mittee proposes, however, according to the
opinions expressed by the Individual mem
bers. to see that the government clerks
get at least as much this year as last.
Reluctant to Talk Now.
| Because the subcommittees Of the .n-
preparations committee have not VET haar,
announced: there Is extreme reluctance on
publication their convictions regarding III
clerks salaries as emphatically as thew
promise to do when their assignments
have been officially announced
| Representative Joseph W. Byrns .,
Tennessee, who led the fight for tba
horizontal increase last year, ana who
will doubtless again lead 1t as chair
man of the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriations committee. is
in favor Of giving ths
government workers at least as much
as last year.
! Conditions of living justify eont,n,
ance Of this graded salary increa ~
more than ever" said Representative
Byrns. THE cost of living is mncb
| higher today than 1t was when the <
and 10 per cent allowance was made hv
Congress. I see no reason for Conrres.
to change it's position. feel very sure
that Congress will continue the Graded
increase, in spite of the fact that econ
omy must be practiced wherever pos
BLDG. IL Will co ihistahe, however,
to reduce the salaries of the clerks. and
I am sure Congress has no such inten-
tion."
Economy Necessary, of Course.
"Of course. there il crying need
for retrenchment all along the line
Economy. strict economy. in all appro-
) ipriations must be practiced. otherw,se
the people will have to be taxed so
that 1t will hurt. I am sure, however
that no one in the appropriations com.
mittee or In Congress feels that 1t would
be true economy to cut the clerks sal
aries. or do the least injustice or hard.
] Continued on Seventh PaSe.)