The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-14
.D.C.WORKERS
PROTEST NEW
WAGE SCALE
Rate Announced by Commits
Sioner Kutz Fails to Increase
Pay of Employees.

Adoption Of a new wage scale. ef-
fective July 1 for per diem employees
Of the District government was an
nounced today by Lieut.. Col. Charles
P. Kutz. Engineer Commissioner for
the District The new wage scale is
entirely unsatisfactory 10 District
employees.
This new wage scale announced in
cIudes the $40 bonus, but does not
net the men affected any additional
compensation over their present wage
scale.
=, The Commissioners added the S24o,
but reduced the basic pay Of the men
affected by this change in scale. This
means that the present pay of the
men will remain the same for the
fiscal year ending 1920.
Joseph Hurley, president Of the City
Employees Association, with Frank J.
Hogan, acting as counsel, conferred
with Commissioner Kutz today. Mr..
Hogan contended the basic pay should
remain the same and the S24O bonus
be added. Colonel Kutz contended the
basic pay should be reduced and the
$40 bonus added.
IS Cents n Day More.
Win MT. hogan COuNCnNlOA liz
District employees affected by this new
wage scale would receive IS cents
more each day for their work. Colonel
Kutz's contention means no increase
For does it mean decrease in pay.
Mr. Hogan entered into the con-
troversy merely in ad advisory
capacity and asserted today that he
construed the law in reference to the
bonus to mean that the $40 is given
by Congress in addition to the basic
pay with the present wage scale
the men received only S12o additional
pay, instead Of the $24o.
This Is Mr.. Hogan's view on the
situation:
ssThe commissioners should not re-
tduce the basic pay. The commission
ers should give the S240 bonus, in
addition to the basic pay. This means
an increase Of pay Of about seventy
six per day for each employe. The
commissioners only intend to increase
the pay thirtyei-ght cents.
The law means that the $40 is
given as additional pay and that the
basic scale should not be affected by
the enactment Of this law. In other
wordR, why should Congress pass a
law giving the employees a S12O or
S24O Increase in pay, and then have
the basic pay reduced to such an ex-
tent the men would receive no add
ttouaI compensation 1t is a useless
md foolish law If this is the mean
ing OF it"
WIN Meet Tonight
President Hurley has called a
meetfnE Of his association for
o'clock tonight at the Cadets Armory,
Seventh and o streets northwest
Mr.. Hurley will present to mem
beers Of the association the views OF
Commissioner Kutz and leave them
70 take any action they see fit
Just how the men feel or viii feel
toward this loss Of 80 additional cents
each q day, Mr.. Hurley would not
state.
The matter is entirely up TO them"
he said, Il do not know what they
will do. There is no doubt an in
justice has been made. Mr.. Hogan
has told US that we are entitled to
the additional IS cents and we feel
that we should get it,
S. Tyson Kinsel, acting president
of the National Federation Of Federal
Employees, also conferred with Colonel
Kutz today. Mr.. Rinsell asked Colonel
Rutz to appoint a member Of Local
SO, an association Of municipal en-
D4OgGE dllllldLtu " AAAA NAAG It CAGl al FilA
playes, as a member Of the District
wage board.
Kutz Favors Plan
Colonel Kutz intimated that he was
in favor Of such plan, but told Mr..
KinselI some modification would have
TO be made Of the present board.
Col. Kutz intimated that a board
to regulate the wage scale in the
District might be appointed. This
board would differ from the present
board, which is composed Of heads
Of departments. The present board
has little. il any, power. This new
board, the commissioner intimated.
would have more power than the
present board.
Colonel Kutz is taking the matter
under consideration and will present
it to the other two Commissioners.
In reference TO the new wage scale
Colonel Kutz said today:
THE commission does not believe
il is putting sn injustice upon Dis
trict employees by this new wage
scale.
No Reduction In Pay.
I'VE contend that the law does not
mean the District employees should
receive more money during the fiscal
year 1920 than they did during the
year 1919. There is no reduction in
pay The men will receive the same
wages as before. We differ from the
view of Attorney Hogan.
In the new wage scale given out to-
day the Commissioners show the COM
parison Of the wage scales for District
employees and employees OF the navy
yard 1t has been contended on sew
eral occasions by seevral District en-
ployes' associations that the navy
ward men will receive more paw than
The District employees after July l.
The Commissioners wage scale shows
the District employees receive more
pay.
, -Four hundred thousand residents u
the District OF Columbia pay Federsl
taxes, obey Federal laws, and go %