The Washington times., 1921-12-14
Increases of Salaries for
District Employees
By BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE.
The action of the sub committee Of the House Com-
mittee on Appropriations, in declining to follow the
recommendations of the District Commissioners for
general Increase Of salaries for employees of the Dis
trict government, will be regretted by Washington
people, who have long felt that workers for the Dis
trict government underpaid, as compared with
salaries paid by the Federal Government for similar
grades of work That too, in the face of admittedly
low pay for Federal workers.
1t is to be hoped that the Senate will understand
true situation better and WILL when it takes up the
District appropriation BILL follow the recommendations
OF the Commissioners who appointed for the pur
pose of conducting the District government along the
lines of just treatment of all municipal matters
The District appropriation bill, being the frst large
appropriation bill to receive attention by the House sub
committee, is to be the vehicle to test the
thory and power of General DAWES, Director Of the
Budget in the handling of estimates for appropriations
AS between the recommendations of the Commissioner
and of General Dawes, the House attitude is that II
will follow the Budget Director.
The Commissioners directed by law prepare
the estimates of District needs for the fiscal year b.
ginning July 1 next. They did so, going carefully
into every phase of the subject The Commissioner
long ago determined that their estimates would b.
pared to the limit and that they would not try IN.
familiar game of padding estimates to make
of getting what they actually needed. They confeed
with House and Senate leaders of appropriations
displayed toward Congress in trying keep estimates
within actual requirements
The estimates of the Commissioners went To General
Dawes. That able, fair official swamped under a load
of work that he and his coworkers could possibly
handle in detail in the short time allotted, called IN
former Senator SHERMAN of Illinois, a member
of the Senate District Committee. Mr.. Sherman. also
pressed for time, followed custom and whacked the
mates to the extent of $3 100000
The House leaders will apparently pay little atten-
ton to explanations and pleadings of the Commission
ers regardless of the wisdom of accepting the Comms
soners' views.
In the matter of local salaries, General Dawes Office
recommends increase for many of the underpsid
workers of the District government but decline. to
stand for increases for higher paid workers In
two cases, the salaries of higher officials cut
The Commissioners had hoped to a blanket in
in view of the low salaries prevailing throushoui
the service. That the ow-pad workers to receiv.
increases is gratifying, and their increases should
least be on the basis of living wage.
There are hundreds of loyal District employees who
had opportunities to leave the District governmen,
during the at fancy increases in their paw buf
remained under repeated promises that the unjust
pay of years past would be corrected Many men am
worked at ght in private business estabisb
ments to supplement their municipal paw Workinr
night and day to bread and clothing for them
selves and dependents, they found it o
meet conditions-al because the salaries in the DIS
rct government have long been far below their prurr
level
Under the Dawes recommendations there will he n
increases whatever to fremen and policemen and !,
yet doubtful whether Congress will continue the bnuu
another fiscal year The policy of Congress in that ~
spect is held in allegiance pending developments as u
recassfcation legislation. Should reclassiS-atio-
fail to fairly adjust salaries and bonus he ao-.s
next year. the plight Of District employees will ndee
he q nnfair