Evening star., 1921-12-13
ASKS MORE SALARY
FOR j. 5. EMPLOYEES
Secretary Hoover, in Annual
Report, Declares Govern
ment Clerks Underpaid.

Report, Declares Govern
ment Clerks Underpaid.
1.-The government employe as class
is greatly underpaid for the qualifi-
cations he must possess and the work
he has to undertake" Secretary of
! Commerce Hoover declares in his
annual report, made public today.
This is more apparent in the sci
entific and supervisory positions. Mr..
Hoover adds. declaring that 'in
spite Of promising prospects which
have presented themselves from time
to time for some years. salaries re-
main practically unchanged"
| Recent compilation of the average
salary of clerical employees of the
Department of Commerce. the report
says. showed it to be less than $3.50
per annum. "a comparison of these
figures not only presents the made
Quacy of the salaries offered. but the
comparatively limited promotion op-
portunitfes as shown by the slight
difference between the entrance sal
ary and the average salary OF ex-
perienced clerks
Talks Of Trade Workers.
ment and mechanical employees in the
field service, where local conditions
permit of equal competition. are get
ting wages equivalent to from $4,000
to $4,000 a year. Laborers can get
wages approaching the average sal
considered advisable to keep a low
entrance salary there should be a
sufficient proportion OF the higher
grades to permit prompt and reason
ably frequent promotion scheme Out
of 1000 clerical positions in this de-
over $4,000 per annum, OF 152 between
81, 500 and $4,000 per annum, OF 577
between $1,000 and $1,000 per annum.
and Of 27s in grades below. It is ex-
pected that Redistribution VIII rem
edy some Of these drawbacks. but al
though for several years the question
has been under consideration and con-
siderable labor and expense have been
devoted to 1t, reclassification does not
appear to be appreciably nearer tnan
the form Of bills introduced into Con-
gress are suggested. one desirable
I'm is common to all, the differences
are secondary and should not be per-
mitted to further postpone SO advan-
tageous movement.
Would Amend Retirement Law.
The first years operation of the
retirement system has developed
some of its shortcomings which
should be amended. the report says.
Among these may be mentioned the
low rate of pension. which is In
sufficient to support an annuitant
such a condition" the report adds.
| 'has a tendency to minimize one of
the great advantages of the system.
THE superannuated employe is un-
willing to retire, and out Of consldera-
ton for him his superior officers may.
against their good judgment. ap-
ment age. 1t is understood that the
cost of the system is much less than
was anticipated. and it is hoped that
favorable consideration may be given
to the increase of the amount OF
lannuities. An inequality in the act is
! ing over $1,000 per annum to con-
tribute the usual percentage OF the
full amount Of their compensation
| while the maximum annuity is that
which might be earned by $1,000
clerk. In all equity If such limi-
comparable Limitation should be plac-
ed on the deductions from his salary.
The matter of refundment of deduc-
tons to employees leaving the serv-
ice has been a source of considerable
trouble and delay. Under the law such
deductions can be made only after
reference to and the necessary opera
ton in the immediate Office of the
employe, through the department,
headquarters to the Civil Service
Commission. thence to the pension
Office. Simplification and promptness
would be secured II the refunds
would be made by the disbursing
officers by whom the deductions were
made"
RegrOupinE In Advised.
The Secretary says establishment
Of real Department of Commerce,
effective in service to producers,
manufacturers and distributors, able
to give economic Interpretation OF
importance to the American public
generally and to stimulate American
trade and merchant Marine" requires
"a thorough reorganization and en-
| tire regrouping of the federal func-
| tons bearing on these problems"
He adds, however. that inasmuch
before Congress and the administra-
ton it is not necessary on this oc-
casion to enter into discussion OF
them.
Secretary Hoover says that while
the total foreign trsSe sss ood Of the nstSn
| oCSA SooSo oS V'VSVpvVS MA @Aass SIe-
past fiscal year, there was q slight
| increase in the visible balance OF
trade in favor OF the United States
as a result of the years operations
Exports and Imports.
Exports for the year totaled $6.-
3S5.636.o39 against $7,950.429,1S0 the
year before, while imports were $S.-
654,449,4S0 against $5,23S,352,114. The
balance Of trade for the year was
$2,73l,186,6 500, compared with S2.711.-
S07.512 the year before.
at is, therefore, increasingly i'm
portant,"" it is added, that the serv-
ices of the bureau of foreign: and
domestic commerce be developed and
intensified to meet the, increased de-
mands of American manufacturers
who are planning to hold and extend
their markets abroad"
In this connection. Mr.. Hoover re-
views the work of the various di-
visions of the bureau. noting that the
Latin-American division has render
ed notable service to American busi-
ness men during the year." He also
calls attention that the far eastern
work has been expanded and de-
A request is made for additional
vessels for the coast and geodetic
survey, the report declaring that II
the much needed speeding up OF sur.
yeys in Alaska to meet the increasing
needs of commerce there is to be &C.
compiished, "it is absolutely neces.
sary that several new vessels de-
siened and built for the purpose be