Evening star., 1920-03-01
ASKS LAW TO BACK
NEW PAY SYSTEM
Commission Preparing Bill
Designed to Carry Out
Salary RecIassification.

Work was begun today on bill
10 oe introduced into Congress as
part OF the report of the joint con-
srerssional commission on recla ssifi-
cation of salaries in the District. The
SIX reclassification commissioners per-
sonally are engaged on the draft of
Dill which either will be presented
as part of the report of the commits
sion proper or be introduced into Con-
sress shortly after the formal report
is presented next week.
Major Propositions in Bill.
The bill, as being drafted this aft
ernoon. viii contain three major prop
ositions.
J. Provision to carry into effect the
LOO class spectAcations-in other
words, to set up Redistribution
z. PROVISION to make the salary
schedules. presented as part of the
class specifications, law.
.. PROVISION to give powers to the
Civil Service Commi ssion to carry on
all Redistribution.
The class specifications are regard
ed as the basis of reclassification and
constitute the divisions into which the
100000 federal employees here have
been divided according to the actual
cation includes the title of the posi-
tion, its duties, the qualifications re-
quired to hold the position and a
statement of the lines OF promotion.
AS pointed out recently. these 100
class specifications are approximately
$50 less in number than the hazy
titles which now are used.
Made Duty of Communion.
The reclassification commission was
enjoined to make its report to Con-
gress "by bill or otherwise" For sew
been at work on the otherwise" part
Of it's report, which will consist of a
running text, the actual class speci-
f1cations. and the attached salary
schedules. There also will be elabo-
rate statistical tables.
AS the time drew near for the re-
port, however, it was seen that 1t
would be feasible to follow out the
act creating the commission to The
latter. ana report by bill as we'll as
otherwise"
Accordingly. the six reclassification
commissioners headed by Senator A.
A. Jones of New Mexico. chairman.
are devoting a great deal Of time to
The actual preparation OF bill, with
the hope that it can be made ready
for presentation to Congress as a part
Of the report Of the commission.
presentation to Congress March ~ It
is probable it will be held and COM
pleted and introduced later.
Necessary to Include Schedules.
In addition to provision for the set
ting up as legal of the LOO class
peciflcations, it Is believed necessary
to make the salary schedules for the
positions equally law. and that this
can best be effected by bill to be
presented at once.
The third major provision will be
for powers to the Civil Service Com
mission to carry the reclassiacation
into effect after the reclassificatiOn
commission ceases to function. The
report and the bill will carry provi-
sions for various reforms In the work
Ing conditions of federal employees.
The elaborate system of periodic
efficiency increases' which it is pro-
posed to set up as an integral part Of
the class specifications and salary
schedules will require some agency to
properly administer the entire sys-
tenn Under this system of increases
there will be between four and six
ranges of salary in each class specif1-
class will be entitled as the result of
the advance Of time and proper full
fillment Of duty.
Promotions to Hig her Class.
After the employe has reached the
highest salary in his class. he Will be
required to take an examination to
pass into the next higher class. This
will require the steady supervision OF
some controlling body in an even
greater degree. 1t is felt. than will the
system of merit promotions.
Today saw the return of all proofs
of class specifications from the gov
ernment printing office to the reclassi-
fication commission. When the COM
mission completes It's work on salary
schedules the class specifications
proofs will be returned to the govern
ment printing Office with the salary
schedules, and these latter will be in
serte ed ON the class specificatious.