The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-01
MAY DRAET ANEW
BILL TO INCREASE
CLERKS SALARIES


Of the drafting OF a new and more
adequate bill for the permanent set
Element OF the question OF Govern
ment clerks salaries. On the eve OF
the resumption of hearings on the
Heating and the Nolan minimum
wage bill, it is evident to those in
Congress who hrve studied the bills
closely that neither OF them will go
very far toward a permanent settle
ment OF the acute situation.
The Heating bill provides temper
airy increases in salary for employees
receiving $500 or less on a grad
uated scale ranging from to 80 per
cent. The Nolan minimum wage bill
provides that no person who has been
in the employ of the Government for
three years and has reached the age
of twenty shall receive a wage OF less
than So a day, 500 a month, or S1.OSO
a year.
1t il not for temporary relief that
the Federal employees are clamoring.
leaders point out. They want as
surance of permanent relief. Some
members of Congress declare that
their body is just as anxious for this
as the clerks are.
There are several plans for the
drafting OF bill that will allow the
clerks to go ahead with their work
and stop thinking about bread and
butter. 1t has been suggested by
supporters of the claims of the clerks
that a special commission be appoint
ed to draft a bill for the complete
Reconsideration of the employees
Franklin X. Lane, Secretary Of the
Interior, has been named in several
quarters as a good man to head such
a commission. 1t has been suggested
that other men of wide experience in
departments be associated
with Mr.. Lane.
Exponents OF this plan suggest that
all the work OF investigation be done
by this commission OF Government
workers outside OF Congress. This,
they point out, would save Congress
time, and also secure the most expert
for the drafting Of the i'm
portant bill. When the commission
had finished its work. IL would report
its complete bill with evidence in
support OF it to Congress. 1t is de-
clared that this proposition will be
pushed Immediately upon the reas
sembling OF Congress Thursday.
Another plan that has been put for
ward by Congressman Byrns Of Ten
nessee is that a special joint commit
tee OF Senators and Congressman be
appointed to draft a Reconsideration
bill.
Meanwhile, champions Of the clerks
inside and outside OF Congress are
OF the passage OF both the
Nolan minimum wage bill and the
temporary percentage in
crease bill. 1t is clear that neither. of
inf ha
Of a complete reclassificatiOn bill.
81 am satisfied that my bill will
pass" said Congressman Nolan. at Is
4 bill that will aid the deserving en-
ployes, and 1 am going to keep at II
until IL does pass / do not believe |
The bill will undergo any changes in |
he hands of the committee. the mat |
eT having been pretty well thrashel
lut at the previous hearings. ] am |
IF the opinion that we will be able to |
get action on this bill before action |
IN the Heating bill takes place"
1t is declared by both Congressman l
Nolan and by II. VI. McLarin, presi- 1
lent of the National Federation of
Federal Employees. that the Nolan bill ,
$ being pushed primarily because it
will furnish a basis for The reclassi-
ication.
Low-salaried employees would be
much more benefited by the Nolan
,iIl than they would by the Heating
,ill. proponents of the Nolan bill /
lain.
Friends of the Nolan minimum
wage bill declare that the impor-
ance OF this bill has been unduly
in favor of bills OF more
'ecent introduction. 1t is said that
hose who would receive a 30 per
,ent' increase in wages under the
provisions OF the Heating bill would
n most cases receive a greater in
rease under the provisions of the
Nolan bill.
1t is also evident, however. that the
Solan bill would fall to reach all
hose Government employees that now
ret as much as SO a day. The Keat-
ng bill, on the other hand. would
each all employees up to those re-
ewing $1,000 a year.
II is possible, some of the leaders
ay. that a coordination Of the two
ills may be the result OF the hear
ngs this week. This might be odvis-
BILE, they say. because there are GER
ain provisions in each OF the bills
hat the other bill does not contain.
I is recognized that thousands of
Jerks who do not receive as much
= So a day are in need Of help. while
1 the same time it is clear that many
eceiving just a little more than So
day are in just as great need of
clip. Therefore. IL is a strong prob
bility. leaders say. that a bill may
eyult which will contain the best
Osnts of both the Heating and the
L Ian bills.