Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-12
Increase Percentages Indorsed.


The bill for increased compensation
for government workers presented by
Representative Keating was drafted by
the National Federation of Federal
Employees.
The percentages of increase provided
are in accordance with resolution
adopted by the last convention Of the
n F. of +. E. and of the A. F. of l..
The schedule has the undivided support
of all organized employees, and is sub
mitted as the very lowest percentages
that Will in anysdegree reasonably en-
the increased cost of living Sal
aries were fixed fifty years -ago,@tha
cost of living has advanced more thar
hundred per cent since that time,
over 80 per cent since last January
(f9I7), and win In all probability adj
vance another 80 per cent by the
time the Increased pay for the fiscal
year 1918 hegins-Juiy. 1918.
The leaders of the federal employees
say the suggestions from some sources
that they should be satisfied with
either the and 10 per Ecent increases
or increases of 10 and Is per cent
do not meet with very favorable con-
sfderation among the people who have
to live on government salaries.
Every commercial concern of any
magnitude has advanced wages much
more than has the government, and the
employees do not believe that the United
States wishes to be placed in a position
OF practically forcing commercial con-
Germs to raise wages and then itself
not recognize the conditions making
such action absolutely necessary BY in.
creasing the wages which il paws ac-
cordingly.
Text of the Keating Bill.
The following is the bill which is
presented by Representative Keating
A bill providing for increased paw for
all CIVILIAN employees of the United
States and of the District of Columbia.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
House of REPRESENTATIVES, of the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled
That to provide. during the fiscal
year 1919. for all persons employed by
the United States or the District of
Columbia as civilian employees, in
creased compensation at the rate of 80
per centum per annum to such en-
ployes who receive salaries or wages
from the United States or the District
of Columbia at a rate per annunl Of
$500 or less, increased compensation at
the rate of 25 per centufn per annum
to such employees who receive salaries
or wages from the United States or the,
District of Columbia at a rate per an
mum of $1,000 or less and more than
$500, increased compensation at the
rate of IS per centum per annum to
such employees who receive salaries or
wages from the United States or the
d n
mum of S1,500 or less and more than
S1,20e. increased compensation at the
rate of 10 per centum per annum to
such employees who receive salaries or
wages from the United States or the
District of Columbia at a rate per an
mum of $4,000 or less and more. than
$500. and increased compensation at
the rate of per centum per annun to
such employees who receive salaries or
wages from the United States or the
a tn =
mum of $500 or less and more than
$4,000, so much as may be necessary is
hereby appropriated out of any moneys
in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated:
Provided, That the increased com.
pensaNon provided by this section
shall not apply to persons whose duties
require only portion of their time,
except charwomen, or whose services
are needed for brief periods at inter-
walls. or to any persons who receive a
part of their salaries or wages from
any outside sources under cooperative
Provided. That in determining the
right of employees to increased compen-
sation under this section. such en-
ployes as are employed on piecework.
by the hour or per diem rates, shall
be entitled to receive, from July L.
1915. to June so, 1919, inclusive the
increased compensation at the rate
specified when the fixed rate of COM
hours and on the basis of 81 days in |
said year would amount to less than |
the highest amount of salary or wages |
specified for each group above: Pro- |
vided. That this method of computa-
ton shall not apply to any per diem |
employees regularly paid. a per diem |
for every day in the year: Provided |
further That detailed reports shall be |
submitted to Congress on the first day
Of the next session showing the num-
ber of persons. the grades or character
of positions. the original rates of COM :
tjop nr0vidad for barafr /