Evening star., 1917-01-03
CLERKS MAKEPLEA'
FOR BIGGER RAISE
URGE Senate Subcommittee to
Add to Increases Allowed
by House.
Mr.. McLARlN GIVES PLAN

A strong plea for a greater increase
the government than was granted b.,
the House was made to a subcommittee
of the Senate appropriations COMMITTEE.
in charge Of the Legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill today
by President H. N. McLar;n Of the
Federal Employees Union.
Mr.. McLarin asked the committee TO
grant an increase Of Is per cent In the
pay Of employees from $500 down: 10 per
cent in the pay of employees between
$500 and $1,000. and per cent in the
pay Of employees from $500 and "a
cluding S1.s0o.
The increases allowed by the House
were 10 per cent in the pay of employees
receiving $1,000 and less ara per cent
IN IN th; n .ps pay of those receiving from $1,000
Mr. McLarin explained that he did
not ask for still larger increases be-
cause the employees felt that the House
would not be willing to agree to a
higher scale.
Labor Representatives There.
With Mr.. McLarin before the sub
committee today were Representatives
VI
conference. including N. p. Alias of the
machinists' union; Thomas p. Flaherty
Of the National Federation Of Post
Office Clerks. Joseph H. Hurley, repre-
senting the District Branch OF the Fed
oral Employees Union. and william
lie school employees Of the District.
While the subcommittee took no ac-
ton today on the proposal of Mr.. NC
Larin, 1t Is understood that the plan
met with considerable approval by the
committee, and it is considered likely
that the committee will agree to such
increases as were asked. or increases
approximately the same. Mr.. McI4arin
was given full opportunity to present
the case Of the employees to the COM
mittee today.
Mr.. McLarin told the COMMITTEES that
while a reclassification Of employees
was necessary in the interests OF all
ts med on
view of the increased cost Of living.
He contended that the increase should
not await the adoption OF q reclassi-
ncation plan, which might be delayed
some time.
Would Cost $50, ,o0o, 900.
Larin would amount to $ss.oeo.oo0. he
told the committee. The House In
creases would amount to s25.0oo.o0
The increases proposed by Senator PEN
rose and others. doubling the percent
age Of increases allowed by the House,
would amount to s52.00o.00o.
Mr. McLarin made q special plea for
the employees receiving less than $1,000
year.
right now" said Mr. McLarin. 'tOn this
salary an employe has to devote his
whole income merely to the necessities
Of life. Since the cost of living has ad-
vanced SO greatly he is IN many ny cases
unable to purchase sum0'ent f00o ana
Statistics presented to tho subeom-
mittee by Mr.. McLarin showed that tho
cost Of living had increased greatly IN
BY Secretary Redfeld Of the Depart
ment of Commerce to show that the
cost Of living had gone up "a per osnt
He pointed out what many corpora
tions were doing now to aid their em-
ployes by granting increases In pay.
He laid before the committee figures
showing that there had been an in
crease Of 90 per cent in the cost Of pro-
yidine for war vessels in the last year.
These figures were from the Navy De-
partment.
smoot Suggests Bonus.
Senator smoot Of Utah asked Mr.. Nc
Larin IL it would not be. desirable to
give each of the government employees
receiving low salaries a bonus. and
then proceed to work out a gradual re-
organization of the entire civil service.
thereby wedding out unnecessary en-
ployes.
Such a reorganization, Mr.. McLarin
said, was desirable. but that II would
take time. and an increase in pay was
the main issue at present.
Senator Bryan Of Florida suggested
that the government was paying more
money to its employees than outside
concerns To this Mr.. McL.arin replied
that any seeming higher pay to the
government employees was more than
Offset by lack OF opportunity for ad-
vanoemant in the government service.
Mr. McLann and the other members
Of the American Federation Of Labor
conference committee will appear to
urge similar increases in salary for
the employees Of the District when the
District bill is taken up before q sub
committee Of the Senate appropriations