Evening star., 1918-01-07
DEP[ORES Low PAY !
Of j. S. WORKERS
Representative Drane of Flor
ida to Support Bill for
Increases.
URGES BETTER CONDITIONS

Hopre1entQeiVo HERBERT j. Orah0 OF
Florida. . member Of the House Dis
trict committee, today added his voice
to the chorus in Congress denouncing n
wage schedule in the government serv-
Toe which does not give the federal
clerks enough salary to meet the ab-
normal increase in cost Of living.
Az q member Of the District commit
tee Representative Drane has promised
that he will give his best efforts to
improving the conditions Of the thou
sands Of government employees Of the
National Capital. Az they lack . voice
in governmental affairs through resi-
dencs In the District OF Columbia. he
feels that Congress should mako 1t .
conscientious duty to look after their
interests and see that they have It
least as good opportunities for life.
liberty and tho pursuit OF happiness" as
icftizens in the states. He really feels
that the residents Of Washington
should be able to live IN such . way q
American life for the rest Of the coun.
try.
Ambition to have Washington main
tain a rank as the most beautiful city
In the world. a city in which every
home generates oontentment. ia eA-
preesed by Representative prane.
Feeling this way" he said. how can
do anything else but vote the nrst
measure that comes into Congress from
committee providing for substantial
increase in salaries for the government
employees? ! believe that they should
and must have living wages. Their Ia
war work co-ordinated and co-opera-s
tive. II the clerical forces Of this gov
ernment fail there will be disar-
rangement Of the entire machinery Of
war work: II there is Office delay there
will be delay in important military
movements or the execution Of urgent
orders for necessary supplies. The cleri-
cal force must be made efiicient and
kept efficient
Must Pay for Emciency.
'Ths United States government must
pay its employees A. much a. outside
business to keep an enicient clerical
force. Private business enterprises are
paying advances in salaries to meet the
abnormal conditions. The government
must do the same. We need here in
Washington the best clerks from all
oyer @ the ss country: We cannot get them
here. II we do not deal Justly with those
who have been many years In the gov
ernment service we cannot expect the
young men and young women who are
taking positions with the government
1t Is not merely q question Of the prss-
ent, 1t must also be question Of build
ing up our civil service As = goal for
How can workers for the govern
ment live here. support . home ana
bring up children on salaries Of $500
and even half that? All members Of
had in finding quarters here, IN meeting
all the increased costs Of living. The
people who live here all the time and
who haven't the power OF the vote to
to be pitied. They should not be OBJ
tects Of pity. They earn . living wage
and should have 1t.
Inducement insufficient, He Says.
Perhaps I notice these things more
coming from . state favored especially
as is Florida II IL impossible to In
duce young people from my state to
take $1,000 or $1,000 positions with the
government when they have to meet
SIS or more per month for room and
$2S per month or moro for food. and
then be deprived Of home life. which
can enjoy. In my stats these people
do not have to buy coal. They do not
have to buy heavy woolen clothing for
the winter months. They do not have
They have luscious fruits and the
choicest, of vegetables growing In their
own gardens all the year round. III
the government wants them to leave
these advantages and come to the cap
ital to work the government should
pay them enough to live on decently
eyes, I am in favor OF the Keating
bill, giving the government workers
here and everywhere throughout the
as,a+,y ypcyudin1 NJ course tho postal
service. horizontal increases Of from
to 80 per cent. Even that VIII not
eoualize the increased cost Of living.
am especially IN favor Of subsfan-
tial increases for the low-saiarted gov
ernment workers. Any bill that comes
before Congress to get decent wages
for the government workers VIII nave
INV influence and my vote"