The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-14
WORKERSAIM
TO BEAT GOOD
AMENDMENT
Federal Employees Will Canvass
Among Members of House
Tomorrow.

Organized Federal employees in
Washington will make a personal
canvass of House members tomorrow
in an effort to defeat the Good amend
ment to the minimum wage bill,
which provides that the $40 Increase
granted employees this year be COM
puted as a part of their base pay.
Employees contend this amendment
will work injustice to more than ten
thousand lower-grade civil service
workers throughout the country.
The House is scheduled to take up
the bill for a minimum wage Wednes-
day for final consideration. If the
Good amendment, already agreed to
by the House as in a Committee Of
the Whole, is not stricken out, 1T will
deprive the lower paid Government
workers OF the bonus which was vot-
cd TO them four months ago.
Luther c. Steward, president Of the
National Federation of Federal EN-
ployes, visited the Capitol today to
urge upon House members the ur-
Eency for voting against the Good
amendment when the minimum wage
bill is brought up Wednesday.
Letters 10 Members.
The federation has sent a letter to
each member of the lower body urg
ing that they vote against the amend
ment. The argument of the Federal
workers is based on these grounds:
First, the Nolan Uinimum wage bill
is permanent legislation, a recogni--
ton of the principle that every
worker is entitled to a living wage,
at least, for his services. The intent
of the Nolan bill will be defeated by
the adoption of the Good amendment,
il is conteAded.
Second, the $40 wage bonus voted
by Congress to Government workers
il a temporary measure, intended to
apply to the current year only and
intended as a means of relief to
workers whose services. the fedora
tion claims, have long been under
paid. "
Under the Nolan wage rate en-
ployes will receive at least $1,000
per year. With the bonus of $240 ex-
ira their yearly pay would be $3.50.
The federation will point out to
Congress that under the present law
an employe who receives $500 or more
a year as a promolion is not eligible
to receive the S24B bonus sutomat-
Ically.
II, in the discretion OF the officials
of the department II which he works
the empioye merits the sac bonus in
addition 20 his pay Of raise Of $500
or more he may receive the bonus,
but not otherwise
Takes Away Raise
An emplOye whose pay is feee per
ySAR. when raised by The Nolan bill
70 41.oBo per year" ssio NJ Steward
teday, would have received an in /
crease Of more than s2Dp and would /.
net receive the SEQ boruE without !
special certfhczriou
The letter Of the 1ounSzton points 4
out, however. that the east - 65Esrent |
With employees receiving Esye than
$3.50 per year and Jeas thar 8 NSe. L /
says that u these employees are sd- /.
vanced 20 the Nolan EjnfD1., wage
Of 1,0S0 they wOglS have received j
less than q f29O raise zaS ToBId Be !
entitled TO the boBuE- C0sgsssEnzn
Goods amendment. NJ. Steward points 1
out, would take away this benefit from
this class Of workers. leaving the en-
pIoyes at their present rating.
Dir. Steward has received replies 4
from many solons. some of whom have 4
expressed q willingness TO vote against .
the Good amendment