Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-13


The direct testimony of the execu-
tives, over their signatures. was sent
to Congress. as follows:
By Robert Lansing, Secretary oi
"These increases are requested fol-
the reason that 1t Is believed to be
only fair that these employees should
have more compensation, In view OF
the present cost of living and wages
being paid elsewhere. The Secretary
of Labor has Investigated the ques-
tion, and the salaries herein recon-
mended are understood to be in ac-
cordance with the conclusions reached
by him after an examination Of the
subject"
by Josephus Daniels, Secretary Of the
Navys o.. =
These estimates represent but a
portion Of the changes it will be ne
cessary to make on the statutory rolls
of the several bureaus and offices II
Congress should decide to make per-
manent such positions as 1t may be
found necessary to continue now filled
by persons paid from lump-sum ap-
propriations and carried as naval re-
serves. Many of these 1t will be ne
cessary to retain and it will not be
possible to hold them unless their
compensation be made sufficiently at
tractive."
BY Secretary Lane OF the Interior De-
partment:
Indian Bureau.-"The salaries now
paid employees of the Indian bureau
were established a great many years
ago. when prices and living conditions
were entirely different from what
they are today. Also. 1t Is getting
more difficult to obtain and retain sat
isfactory employees at the salaries now
paid. The bureaus of the government
established in recent years pay larger
salaries than the older bureaus of the
government Outside commercial
houses in recent years have as a gen
eral rule materially increased the sal
aries of their employees.
in view Of the greatly increased
cost of living. the difficulty in procur-
ing satisfactory employees at the SAL
aries now paid, the great responsible
tiles connected with the positions OF
the officials and employees Of the In
dian bureau. and in order to meet
changed conditions and do justice to
faithful employees. the increases sug-
gested should be granted, it being
understood that these proposed in
crease now paid"
General Land Omce-"These in
creases are considered necessary to keen
In the service experienced employees, the
loss of whose services would very
seriously interfere with the proper
conduct of the ONCE, and to secure
new employees to bring up to normal
. very much depleted force. While
employees may be, and have been, pro-
hibited from going into other branch
es of the service where they would
receive materially higher salaries for
similar services. they cannot be pre-
vented from quitting the service and
accepting positions with private con-
Germs which are offering and paying
higher salaries than can be paid un-
der present appropriations for this Office
Salaries for the general land Office
were established more than fifty
years ago. since which time salaries
with private concerns have more
than doubled, and the cost of living
has more than kept apace. 1t is i'm
possible to get satisfactory employees
at the present entrance salaries, ano
In order to get absolutely necessary
employees higher salaries have been
offered than are being paid to expert
enced employees already In the office
only to be rejected in many cases by
those to whom offered. To do this II
10 necessary to deny deserved promo
tions. which. Of course. is unjust"
The Patent Omce-'Touching cler-
Ical positions. 1t may be said, frankly
that they are made In view Of a grow
ing state OF dissatisfaction and unrest
in the patent office. The clerks in
believe that clerks In other depart
ments uniformly receive higher SAL
aries for similar work. and in many
instances for work less exacting and
requiring less training and skill
They are told every day that wholly
numbers are called 70 this city and
appointed at $1,000. Si.le0, 1l,1eo. and
Hometimss higher saiaFisa H3fh prom.
c0nftnn06x6n - 49, 2 SEG5 =.