Evening star., 1921-05-23
Luther C. Steward, President
of National Federation,
Heard by Committee.
CALLS SMOOT-WOOD BILL
"MERELY A SALARY LIST"
Witness States Investigations OF
Service Show Funds and
Human Effort Wasted.

employed by the government at less
than Ewing wage. Luther G. Steward.
presiden: of tn. National Federation of
Federal Employees. tod the Senate and
, House civil service committee today.
urging the enactment of Reconsideration
legislation.
Mr.. Steward strongly advocated the
adoption of the Sterling and Lehlbach
bills as basis for the proposed legis-
lation. He criticised the Smoot-W ood
bill on reclassification. characterizing 1t
as merely a salary list of numbered
grades of salaries. with a limited num-
Der of sample definitions of duties in a
limited number of services"
Mr.. Steward said that the organiza :
tion which he represented is composed
of PAP local branches with membership
in every state, territory and insular pos :
session. One of the prime objects of
the orsaniza ton. he said. is to aid in
the perfection of systems that will
{ make for greater efficiency in the vari-
J Gus services of the United States gov
eminent.
Based on Experience.
Ever since we were organized we
have been urging reclassification of
the government service said MIR.
Steward. Nobody knows better
what is wrong with the service than
the men and women who operate the
found by experience is confirmed in
Official records of the civil service
commission. the joint congressional
commission on reclassification and
other agencies which have investi-
gated"
Those Investigations have shown.
in addition to the fact that many
thousands are employed at less than
a living wage, the following condi-
tions:
A. x,,.,,. no Tan nv f,,.aIx, diforant
rates of pay for the same work.
Scientists and highly trained work.
ers of many callings paid less than
common labor.
Hundreds of positions vacant be
cause the salaries are too low to
tempt qualified applicants.
Little future for employees appoint
cd on merit. because almost all OF
the best positions are filled by political
appOinteeS. .~rss~S r',r-s-ss 1872
A 40 per cent turnover in the gov
ernnent service at a cost Of millions
OF dollars TO the government.
In short" said Mr.. Steward. CON
ditionS will show a complete lack OF
a complete lack OF Standardization in
personnel conditions and great
waste OF human effort. human ma
terial and government funds
We contend that what is necessary
il first Of all a new point OF view to-
ward the civil service on the part of
the public and Congress. who at pres
ent look upon il largely as great
aggregation of jobs"
Suggested Principles.
The following principles should be
recognized. Mr.. Steward said. in draft
ing legislation:
"A uniform employment policy af-
fecting working conditions and SAL
ary. determined by central admins
trative agency after consultation with
= l.
power of review and to constitute a
board OF appeals.
"A standardized salary scale based
on skill and training required for the
work performed. with just relations
to the cos: Of living as determined by
official investigation.
Equal pay for work Of correspond
ing skill. and equal opportunity for
promotion. irrespective Of sex.
Increased compensation within
grades on basis of efficiency.
IAN efficiency rating system ap
proved by the United States Civil
Service Commission and ratings ac-
ceptable to the employees
appointment. ALLEGATION and re-
moval in accordance with proved
qualifications determined by the CO.
relating agencics-that is. the United
States Civil Service Commission and
budget bureau in consultation with
appointing officers.
Freedom of transfer between bu-
reaus and depa rtments under reg,lla-
tions prescribed by the United States
Civil Service Commission.
"Employe representation on all per-
eonnel boards.
The first step in tho achievement
Of thie program. continued Mr.. Stew
ard, lis a scientific reclaSsl fca tion Of
the entire federal civil service-and
by reclassifcation we mean not mel re-
ly new list of salary rates. but a
thorough overhauling of the entire
wage-fxing system of the govern
ment.'
Specification OF Duty.
Mr.. Steward said that the employees
wanted minute specification of duty,
which shall govern the application of
yeclassifcation principle: also they
want the appropriation committee to
be able to see that having provided
clerks. OF twenty-five Junior account
ants. there Is a specification by which
the work done in return for those sal
aries may he checked up.
Finally" Re said. we want this re-
classification 30 administered that II
shall be unii"rm. and shall be kept up
TO date by the sans fundamental prin-
c;ples upon which 1t was based
We favor the adjustment OF COM
pensation by federal wage commits
Lehibach bill"
Mr.. Steward said that the Smoot-
Wood bill leaves very large propor-
ton OF the employees outside the terms
of the measure, with merely the gen.
eral provision for including them by
executive order; furnishes no standard.
since there are no specifications for
ti,ose positions. and the result would
be merely salary fixing by individual
opinions, which is one of the creates,
sviis now existing in the civil service
Low Salaries Discussed.
Representative Black OF Texas asked
Mr.. Steward IL there arc many va
cancies in government positions by
reason Of the low salaries paid. The
witness replied that in general way
difficulty is being experienced in NIL
ing positions on account Of the COM
pensation feature He mentioned par
tioularly tho field service of the bu-
reau of fisheries whore 90 per cent
Of the statutory positions are un-
EIied. he said.
/ Tho Texas member directed an in
teresting discussion along tho line
of the relation of salaries TO tho cost
of living, in which he developed tha
II vas Nr Stewards opinion there
should be a flexible wage scale that
might be adjusted to changes in the
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