Evening star., 1921-05-25
COMMITTEES HEAR
OF |LL-PA|D WORK
Steriing-Le ehIbach Classifica-
tion Bill Favored by Federal
Employees in Other Cities.

Underpaid government employees in
field forces operating outside of
Washington had their inning today be-
fore the Senate and House civil service
committees considering classification
legislation.
New York and Boston representa-
tives of these workers told the joint
committee they favor the Sterling
Lehlbach bill because 1t provides for
Standardization of government employ
ment outside of Washington along the
lines proposed for it's Standardization
here.
The Smoot-Woods bill does not af-
feet the situation outside. with the
exception that it provides the classifi-
cation to be set up in Washington may
be extended by executive order. .,-s;
Pay 81 Custom Guards.
Chris r. GayIsr, representing Unit
ed States custom guards. and night
inspectors in Boston. the first witness
this morning. presented the commit
tee with data showing that this class
Of workers is. grossly underpaid.
While custom guards in New York re-
ceive q basic pay OF 81. 300 per annum
those in Boston are paid only $1,170
per annum. the witness stated. At
T.
the Dallinger bill introduced in the
House. which is designed to compen-
safe more Justly the custom guards
This measure. he said. has the in
dorsement Of custom guards and night
inspectors in all of the principal ports
in the country.
The witness questioned whether the
Sterling -Lehlbach bill as at present
drawn would cover the situation with
respect TO custom guards and night
Representative Black Of Texas directed
his attention to a provision in the meas
ure which no thought would meet the
situation. Tho pay provided for the
classified group referred to by the Texas
member ranges from $3.50 to 1920
per annum. Mr.. Gaylor said II the GUS
toms guards should be considered as
coming within this classification the
range Of pay provided would be salts
factory.
p. j. Lydecker Of Paterson. n. J.. who
was to have spoken for government en-
ployes in that city. was summoned home
by illness in his family just before he
was to have been called to the stand
this morning. He left brief for the
committees consideration.
Declares Pay Much to Small.
The second witness was Theodore
Saal Of New York. secretary of the New
York branch Of the National Federation
Of Federal Employees Early in his tes-
timony he developed the fact that there
are Approximately twice as many fed
eral employees in the field service as
there are in the departmental service in
the District Of Columbia.
I'VE have in New York." ne said, "a
tremendous body OF woefully underpaid
government employees, nearly a thousand
Of whom receive less than So a
day base pay. the custom laborers
among them being limited by statute to
a maximum Of $64O a year. Many Of
the guards and watchmen. particularly
those employees in the post office build
ing. but employed under the Treasury
Department. receive similar low wage.
some as low as $120 per annum, out of
which they have to provide at their own
expense the Official watchman's uni
form at a cost Of about $70."
MIR. Saal stated the most desirable
plan would be to have an ALLEGATION
made by neutral committee on which
the employees should have representa-
ton. This committee could allocate all
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