Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-13
BROWNLOW SAYS
STRIKE TALK HURTS
Commissioner Tells Clerks of
Danger That Higher Pay
May Be Affected.

Recent talk of strike of per diem
employees of the District already has
injured the chances of getting appro-
priations for higher pay at the next
session of Congress- Commissioner
Brownlow' asserted at a meeting of
workers of the city government at
the Public Library last night
IF there is further talk of strike"
the Commissioner added. 1T Will hurt
more"
The Commissioner said he had lost
the capacity of being moved by
threats.
"A man who has taken the oath of
public office" said Mr.. Brownlow.
has no business being moved by
threats"
The Commissioner explained that
the city heads cannot delegate to an
arbitrator the question of wages. be-
cause the law places the response
bility for the expenditure of public
funds upon the Commissioners alone.
Mcctin,; of Local Union.
The meeting was under auspices of
Local So Federal Employees Union,
which is composed of both per diem
and statutory workers of the District
This organization was not involved
in the strike talk. The Commissioners
nave power 10 reg TIC Buy VI .iiS
per diem employees. but the salaries
of the statutory men and women are
fixed by Congress.
Mr.. Brownlow said that since the
beginning of the war. the police, nre-
men school teachers and per diem
workers had received pay increases.
Naturally" the Commissioner con-
tinued my first interest now is IN
the remaining statutory CLERKS VINO
have had no increases.
Promise Is Renewed.
He renewed the promise already
made to include in the estimates to
Congress in December recommended
tions for pay increases for the Statu-
tory employees. Committees represent
ing the various groups of workers are
now engaged in gathering data to be
submitted to the city heads.
Mr. BrownIow explained to the
statutory employees that during the
war the Commissioners could not ask
for pay increases In their estimates
and that last year no salary recon-
mendations could be made in the esti-
mates because the Redistribution
commission was working on the
question.
The Commissioner paid tribute to
the efficient manner in which the
statutory employees have continued
To perform their duties, even though
the high cost of living without pay
increases.
Mr.. Brownlow was followed by John
Richie. jr., chief clerk of the build
ing inspectors Office, who is chairman
of the committee which is recon-
mending to the Commissioners what
the pay increases should be.
Mr.. Richie told his fellow workers
that the general policy of the COM
mittee will be not to ask for a greater
percentage of increase for the statu-
tory employees than was granted the
police, firemen and school teachers.
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolutions were adopted by the
meeting urging that the per diem
workers of the District be given the
same rates of pay which are to be
fixed on August 20 for similar trades
men at the navy yard and providing
that this meeting ask the Commits
sioners of the District to seek from
Congress as soon as it reconvenes the
fund to make the necessary increases
and adjustments, according to an
equitable new scale which shall not
be lower than the scale recommended
by the joint congressional commits
sion on Redistribution of the civil
service, such ratings when enacted
into law to be retroactive to Septem-
Der l. 1920"
Luther c. Steward, president of the
National Federation of Federal EN-
ployes. also spoke. George Howe,
president of Local SO, opened the
meeting.