The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-10
SURVEY Of SALARIES
Government works

III recent discussions IN conr,rcss *
requests for increase of pay for gov
ernment EN- n,oyees, schedules show
ing discrepancies between the salaries
of federal and private employees were
presented, and through them Tho fact
was revealed that the department OF
labor had made a comprehensive sur
yey of conditions la the District OF
Columbia.
This survey was made through the
investigation and inspection service
of the department.. one of the most
important and necessarily least known
divisions of the big labor bureau.
Since the ESTABLISHING mt OF the service
last summer with Ethelbert Stewart
at Its head many Investigations have
been made, and among them one of
tho most interesting was the salary
survey of the District Of Co'um oia,
which was undertaken a. the reql est
OF President Wiison.
The president asked the secretary
OF labor to find out whether the scale
OF government wages. especially in
certain lines of work, caused the diff
Guilty often experienced ey the gov
eminent In ccrnpes .ae with private
employers. The secretary authorized
the investigation and inspection ser
cooperation OF the CHIEF Gle ks Of ell
the departments ard the District of
Colt llbia commissioners a thorough
and coInpre hensive comparison of
salaries vas made.
The wage survey was United largely
to mechanics, experts in certain lirsss
OF work, and Enskiiled lahorcT.s II
was discovered that In some csso3 tas
government wage scale fell below the
-
was below the union scale. AS com
paTison could not be made where Ecr-
eminent clerks and employees occt~
plying positions requiring special
knowledge OF trainir were concsrn~
ed. the increased cost Of living vas
considered and advance Of ,salss..es
were recommended.
One OF the reasons for the survey
was to compare the salaries paid in
various departments. II was found
that for the sama lines work sala.
partmen.s were able 10 obtain experts
and weli-trained employees while other
branch IS had serious difficulties.
A chart was prepared showing
averages for all departments. with
District employees considered sepa-
rately. In computing the cost Of liv-
ing the investigation and inspection
service concerned ITSELF CHtsH,E with
food prices, using the monthly lists
and comparisons OF the bureau of
labor statistics.
An idea Of the divergence Of gov
eminent ray for similar work Is to be
obtained from the fact thai a car
penter employed by tire postoffice de-
partment is paid $1,000, while In
other DEPARTMENTS ne receives. $1,000
The department OF commerce ana the
department OF the interior pay hu,
$500, while the treasury goes as low
at sT20. Electricians receive from
$3.50 to 1880 special knowledge or
training being required for the
higher-pa men. When tia survey
was maae the food administration
paid $500 for one elevator conductor
and $3.50 for two, while others re-
ceived $500 and $7e0. Among the
other departr ents the scale ranges
from $1,000 % s4So.
Through this survey effort t. stand
ardixe salaries will be facilitated. Ia
value In determining need of advance
in compensation Is great. for II show
just where increase OF ray has failed
to keep up with riss in cost CT living.