Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-14

Committee From Merchants
and Manufacturers to
Take Active Steps.
PREPARES FOR HEARINGS

The board of governors of the Mer-
| chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton today directed Joseph A. Ber-
berich, president of the association, to
appoint committees and take any
necessary steps looking to increases
in the salaries of the federal and Dis
trict government employees.
Active steps will be taken by the as
ISOLATION at once to push the fight
for higher salaries for the federal
employees and employees of the District
government. Business has increased
salaries largely within the past year.
and it is felt that adequate increases
should be made in the salaries of gov
eminent clerks who are underpaid
To Make Representations.
The committees to be appointed by
President Berberich are authorized
to make representations to the Presi-
dent and to Congress. and to all
others who may help. 1t is probable
will cooperate with the joint con-
gressional commission on reclassifica-
ton of salaries in the District.
Field for the associations commit
tees is seen in the hearings to be
held in the fall by the joint commits
sion on reclassification. which is now
in the midst of it's work of reclassi-
flying the 100000 federal employees in
the District. There is some chance
that hearings on the salaries of
watchmen and others may be held as
early as the latter part of September.
The commission is planning for COM
plete hearings.
Text of Resolutions.
The members of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association petition
with cleaner hands than ever" de-
clares the resolutions unanimously
adopted by the board Of governors.
They are not asking Congress to
do that in which they have not al
ready set wholesome example, not
only today, but in previous years. 1t
was the Merchants and Manufacture
ers' Association which gave it's I'M
qualified support to a minimum wage
commission law for the District of
pointed by the commission have
reached a determination in the mat
ter of mercantile interests we feel
that the time is opportune for a
vigorous campaign in behalf of gov
eminent employes residing in the
District OF Columbia.
Employees of the federal. and Dis
trict governments have been noto-
riously underpaid and believe this
condition to be unfair to mankind and
an economic wrong that tends to the
destruction of efficient administration,
the continuance of which is distinctly
subversive of public policy.
THE board of governors of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton would remind the committee that
will represent it in the campaign for
increased salaries for federal and
District government employees that
conditions of the times have de-
creased the value of a dollar and that
in the face of such condition no time
should be lost in sincere and whole
hearted effort to right great wrong
that has been inflicted upon this great
body Of devoted and now oppressed
public servants"
Heartily Behind Movement.
Members Of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association are heart
lily behind the movement to help the
government clerks. AS stated by
Charles J. Columbus. secretary: IF
it has been found necessary to pay
employees of mercantile houses a min
we expect government employe,
with a wife and several children. to
live on $500 a year,"
Mr. Columbus pointed out the less
ened purchasing power of a dollar
today. and declared that the fact is
notorious that many of the govern
ment employees are underpaid. The
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation, he said, is going to do it's
fvysv