Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-11
LEAVE j. S. EMPLOY
=. FOR BIG PAY GAINS
Salary Level for Technical
Men Especially Disastrous,
J. Statistics Reveal.

Scientific, technical and professional
employees who have left the govern
ment service in Washington within
the past two years have secured an
average salary advance of 1855. or
IS per cent over their government
salary. the bureau of labor statistics
has announced. The bureau made pub
lie tables showing the salary in
CreaSes paid in private employ to
lib former federal employees who
have resigned.
The average increase of salary re-
ceived on leaving the government
service. as shown in the tables. ranges
from $500 for the fifty-fve former en-
ploycS of the coast and geodetic sur
Vey to Si,3l2 for eight former en-
pIoyeS of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. In five cases the aver
age increase is $4,000 or more. says
a statement from the bureau: I'm ten
cases is under $4,000 but over $1,000
and in only six cases does it fall be-
low $500"
Must Raise Pay Level.
1T is not suggested that the gov
eminent can or should aim at eS-
tablisl,ng salaries equal to the high
er ranges of those paid outside. says
the statement. But unless the gen
cral level of government salaries APP
proXimateS that of the salaries out
side. not only the exceptional man,
but the average man as well. will pre-
fer private employment.
IF the government seeks efficiency.
1t cannot afford to ignore the value
set upon services of a specified grade.
as evidenced by the salaries generally
paid for them. nor can ii afford to as
sumo that because thirty years ago
given salary would attract an
abundance of workers of at least
average ability it will continue to at
tract and hold them when both the
cost Of living and the salary level
outside have risen cOnSpicuousiy. The
striking increase i'll the number OF
voluntary separations from the gov
eminent service teStifieS to the I'M
fortunate results of such policy
4 survey conducted by the bureau
shows that total of 1,692 persons
left scientific bureaus of the govern
ment during the fiscal year 1920. at
tracted by better salaries outside. OF
this number S91 were scientific and
technical employees
Bureau Of Standards Hit.
The bureau of standards has been
particularly hard hit by designations.
the statement said. In 1919 the num-
Der leaving was greater in all groups
of employees than the average total
staff employed. The situation improv-
ed in 1920. but the rate of separations
was still 100 per cent for the bureau
and 100 per cent for the scientific
workers.
"One unfortunate aspect of the sit
uation." says the bureau. lis that the
government service. career for
the specialist. is losing its standing
and the men who should be attracted
to it are almost unanimously turning
their backs on it. or in some cases en-
tering it with the intention of staying
just long enough to receive a train
ing. which will make them especially
valuable in private employment.
Summing up the situation says
the bureau. lit appears that condi-
tons within the government service
are far from satisfactory. The num-
Der of separations has increas almost
without interruption for fifteen years
past, the rate of increase being much
accelerated during the war period, and
the separations now amounting to
about one-third of the whole force an
nually. Accompanying this there is an
increasing difficulty in filling positions,
which is especially marked in the low
paid routine positions. and in the sci
entific, technical and professional posi-
tons. There is an actual lack, in
some divisions. of the employees neces-
Sary to the service, so that the work
is cut down, falls behind or de.