The Washington times., 1919-12-18

-As matter OF economy the Gov
ernment must cease to be a training
school TO be drawn upon by COM
rnerce and industry and must. es-
pecially In the critical period of re-
construction, retain the trained men
developed in the service. II Is our
belief that this policy Is In the in
terests OF the nation"
Such a recommendation was made
this morning to the Congressional
Joint commission on reclassiication of
salaries by employees committees rep
resenting the economic and statistical
service OF the Government
During the course of hearings be-
fore the commission II has been en-
phasiEed repeatedly that large private
ccncerns are seeking and depicting the
Government force of technical pro-
fessional and other highly trained
workers, offering In some Instances
salaries more than $50 per cent higher
than those paid by the Government
Carry knswseAse Away.
II has been argued that the knowl-
edge of such workers 10 of vital i'm
portance to the Government, some of
IL being confidential Much of II was
acquired At the expencse Of the Gov
srnment. and Is being carried 70 the
outside through competitive bidd.rx
because OF it's Infinite value to pro-
vate concerna
Aaintalnance by the Government OF
an effective economic and statistical
service as essential to national safety
was urged upon the commission this
morning.
1t was emphasized that when this
country entered the world war the
Government was statistically unpre-
pared as well as otherwise. It was
declared that accurate statistics on
the resources and innumerable eco
nomic problems were of first impor-
tance for the successful prosecution
Of the war. Complete and up-to-date
Information in this regard was lack.
ing, the commission was told, and the
Government went out and appealed to
the nations trained economists and
statisticians for help.
Needs stin Urgent.
The war is over, but the need for
facts and their correct Interpretation
Is as urgent as ever" stated the brief
presented to the commission In ex-
planning the importance of this branch
Of Government work in solving of
reconstruction.
The Government must in seIf-pro-
lection adopt q policy that will help
Its statistical-economic workers at
their tasks and will offer sufficient
Incentive to remain in the servica
No successful piece OF basic legts-
iation. no political program can be
or ever Is carried through without
the aid Of statisticians and emono-
mists."
Set MiaA1Wa at s1,S0o.
The reclassfication commission WINS
told that the data at present obtained
~ statisticians and economists, at a
great expense, Is not fully utilized or
exploited by the Government
II was declared that by paynx ade-
auats salaries the Government could
maintain force OF workers who could
more thoroughly interpret facts which
are now gathered and presented to
the public In meaningless statistical
tableA
A minimum entrance salary OF n 500
per year for . Junior economist or
seatisticiAn. with Q maximum Of g. $50
after four yearY service, was recon-
m1Dded to the eommission- The fol-
hvfng other salAry Recommendations
were made:
Other sal.zses PrspsseL
Assistant economist or statistfcian,
S1-52o entrance, S3,4so at the end of
ave years; associate economist or
statistician, $3.50 entrance; $3.50
At the end OF six years: economist or
statistician. IS, 100 entrance. Se,7eo at
end OF four years: senior economist
or stAtistician- 81. 500 and over.
J. A HILL Of the Bureau of Census
made the Introductory remarks OF
The economic and statistical workers
to the commission Francis Walker
economist OF the Federal Reserve
Soard- told Of the value of
these bureaus TO the Government In
preparing legislation and framing
Government policies h c. Taylor,
cnief OF the orice OF foreign manage
ment told OF the relation OF this
work to the public. and Allan III. VIII
lett OF the Bureau OF Labor Statis-
ues discussed the proposed salary
classification