South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-26
Government Bureau Heads
Start Move for More Pay,
Treasury Assistants Lead
Six SubSecrearies Tell House Appropriations Committee
They Can't Afford to Remain at $4,000 Year.
Clerks Also Involved.
BY !. BART CAMPBELL.
InternationaI News Service:

E international News service.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 26.-The
identical reason Sec'y McAdoo gave
for resigning-a government salary
insufficient 10 meet the increased cost
Of living in Washington-is assigned
by all six of the assistant secretaries
Of the treasury for the demand they
made today on the house appropria-
tions committee for a substantial
boost in their respective salaries.
Each of the sextette Of assistant
secretaries is drawing a salary of
$4,000 a year under the legislative.
I executive and judicial appropriation
bill passed by congress for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1919. Each
wants the house appropriations COM
mittee TO recommend that this sal
airy be increased to $500 year.
They want such an increase written
into the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill for the
fiscal year ending June so. 1920,
which the committee is now en-
gagged upon and which congress will
be called upon to pass at the ap-
preaching short session.
Bureau Heads Want Raise.
Bureau heads and others holding
responsible or executive positions in
the treasury department are also
asking for increases i'm salary. Some
OF them have not hesitated to convey
/ TO the house appropriations COM
mittee the strongest kind Of an init
nation that unless they are given
salaries on which they can live that,
I like Sec'y McAdoO. they will have TO
sever their connections with the gov
/ ernment and seek in private life re-
muneration more commensurate
with their necessities. They did not
want TO do this. they explain. just as
Sec'y McAdoo explained. while the
war was going on. for they felt it was
their duty 10 make personal sacrifices
/ then-to do their bit" for their
I country.
They no longer feel under such
obligations. they add, and the treas
ury department is confronted by the
remarkable situation-and. on the
verge of a great reconstruction pc
riod of not only losing Sec'y AcAdoo.
but of losing a number of his sub
ordinates who are recognized experts
in their line Of endeavor.
All Departments Affected.
For instance. one bureau head
told the house appropriations COM
mittee that ne was drawing a salary
OF only $4,000 a year having re-
fused in war times. a job in private
life that would have paid him twice
as much or $4,000 The job is still
open TO him and unless congress is
willing that his $4,000 he increased
he no longer feels that he can af-
ford 10 remain with the treasury de-
partment.
Nor is the treasury department the
only government department that is
so affected by the hig cost Of Iiv-
ing Government heads. bureau
chiefs and board chairmen affiliated
with other federal departments are
bluntly telling the house appropria-
tions committee that the wartime
.doIlar-a-year" man can no longer
be expected 20 bear the brunt of the
most exacting duties for far less
money than he could earn in private
life.
Clerks Also May Quit.
The big salaried federal officer or
chief. or the federal officer. or chief.
capable OF earning a big salary in
private life. is not alone in feeling
the pressure of the high cost OF liv-
ing. The clerk and the stenOgrapher
is demanding more money. Unless
that money is forthcoming from
congress. the federal service is
threatened with an early and speedy
depletion OF some OF its most eff
cient and deserving executives and
employees whose places il viii be
difficult 10 MI in peace times. il is
stated
The administration is face to face
with a most serious and complicated
situation. the house appropriations
committee is being informed daily
by the department heads and bu-
reau chiefs who are appearing be-
fore il in executive session.
Want TO Cut Expenses.
The administration is desirouS Of
cutting current expenditures as well
LAS future estimates 10 the greatest
possible extent Pres't Wilson fav-
ors the most rigid peace economies.
Following a conference with the
president. Rep. Sherley. chairman OF