South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-28
NJ ADOO URGED
INCREASE FOR
j. s. EMPLOYEES
Supplemental Estimates Are
in Hands of Appropriations
Committee, Showing Need
For Salary Raises.
BY J. BART CAMPBELL.

ne resigned was 10 transmit a writ
ten suggestion 10 the other men,
oers OF the presidents cabinet. and
70 the executive in their departments
IS well as In his own, that they ask
congress for substantial increases in
salaries and wages. AL along the
line" the house appropriations com
mittee was informed today by gov
eminent officials.
The McAdOo letter. a copy OF
which the committee possesses, IS
reported TO have been written by
the retiring secretary of the treas
ury after he had conferred with
Pres't Wilson on what ne is said to
necessity for providing government
heads and employees with financial
means sufficient TO meet the high
cost or living in washington and
elsewhere in the country II was at
this conference that he is believed
10 have discussed with the presi-
dent his inability 10 live on his own
salary-t12,00O year-which he
afterward gave as his reason for re
signing.
Proposes Supplemental Estimates.
McAdoo's suggestion 20 the other
cabinet members and their subOr-
dinates was that when they pre-
pared their respective estimates for
the fiscal year beginning July /. 1909,
they did not include requests for
salary or wage increases in them,
but Incorporate such requests in
supplemental estimates.
These supplemental estimates we're
prepared in accordance with his
sug Sestion and are now being con-
sidered BY the house appropriations
committee. which is engaged in hold
ing hearings behind closed doors on
he legislative. executive and judi
cial appropriations bill for the 1919
% fiscal year. Congress must act on
his bill at the short session which
begins on Monday next.
Two weeks win probably elapse,
however. before the house appro-
priations committee is able 70 report
the bill out. The regular estimates
submitted for incorporation in the
bill total approximately S121.00O,-
600 Although this amount far ex-
ceeds that allowed the legislative
executive and judicial branches OF
the government-abOut sSO.OOO.OOO
for the current fiscal year, it does
not include the supplemental esti-
mates. The total OF these. the COM
mittee has not vet computed
Survey was Made.
Sec'y OF Labor Wilson supervised
-.
Elemental estimates which affect
wage increases for employees in the
various government departments He
directed. at the request Of the presi-
dent. the house appropriations COM
mittee has been given TO understand,
that a careful survey be made o.
the wages at present paid to sucn
employees. from the humble scrub
woman and furnace man, 10 the
skilled mechanic and the dexterous
carpenter. Then ne had their wages
compared with those earned by men
and women engaged I'm similar oc-
cupations not identified with the
Government service. In addition 10
that he had the federal wage scale
compared with the increased cost
and elsewhere cost which has as
yet shown no disposition to decrease.
Sec'y Wilson's action is said 10
have been taken after a meeting OF
the president with his cabinet
What transpired at that meeting.
i'm which Sec'y McAdoo was an ac-
tive participant, is being reflected by
the testimony Of government Of
fcials and bureau chiefs who are
testifyinE daily before the house ap-
uropriations committee They are
unanimous IN declaring that neither
the government executive nor the
government subordinate can live de-
Gently on what congress allowed
them for the current fiscal year
May Bring Pressure.
Il is predicted that the pressure
OF the administration will be brough.
on congress at the approaching short
session. At which the democratic
majority wiz be I'm control before
giving way 20 their republican op-
ponents in the next congress. to
grant the boosts In salaries and
wages the administration desires.
Rep. SwaEer Sherley, democrat. OF
Kentucky. viii still head. although
defeated at the November election
for reelection democratic ma
jority I'm the house appropriations
committee as its chairman
To is not unlikely that the major
fly report OF the committee will rec
ommend the increases asked for by
the administration Republican mem
bers-or. az least Some Of them
have already manifested a DISPOSE
tion to fight many of the proposed
Increases tooth and nail Democra g
and republicans are alike committed
TO peace economies, but the demo-
Gratis viii probably argue that the
business efficiency OF the government
departments cannot be maintained
u government executives are permit
ted % follow Sec'y McAdoo into
private life because they cannot AZ
ford 60 live on the salaries congress
provides them with.
Differences on Amounts.
The government worker or sub
ordinate is also expected 10 be point
ca out MS another example OF imam