The Washington herald., 1921-06-03
DISTRICT WORKERS
APPEAR In FAVOR
OF CLASSIFICATION
City Employees Consider
Sterling-Lehlbach Bill
As Boon.

Corbin Birch, of the revenue inspec-
tion branch OF the District water de-
partment. and Mrs. Edith Kinkead. of
the district tax collectors once,
told the joint congressional commit
tee on civil service Wednesday that
the Sterling bill would be
a boon to District employees.
Employees OF the local government
were subjected to a wage cut OF
20 per cent in 1874 which has never
been overcome, the committee was
told. They are much more in need
of a fsalary adjustment than fed
eral employees, II was said.
Low Pay Explained.
Birch called attention to the low
standard of salaries and said there
is no rule for promotion on eff
cheney. Many employees are diven
to the extremity OF seeking outside
employment. he declared. in order
to support their families. There
are 4S men in the ofice where he
is employed. he said, all engaged in
clerical work at an average salary
Of 1875 a year. Birch expressed
the O4lief that the government would
Increasing salaries to a point which
would prevent the present high
turnover
Mrs Kinkhead spoke Of the great
variety of work in the District govs
srnment and the many misapplied
titles. Bailiffs at $1,000, she sald,
do the work of bailiffs for only a
short time. devoting much time to
exacting- clerical work. The head
cashier in the tax collectors Of
fee, who handles more money than
a bank cashier. receives only ST.
500. Attention was called to the
fact that the District service was
reclassitied by the joint reclassifi-
cation commission report.
Nolan Presents Case.
Representative John l. Nolan, of
California appeared in behalf OF
the customs examiners of San Fran
cisco. = He said that 200 such ex-
aminers in the United States were
not specifically covered in either of
the several reclassification bills. and
that they need special consideration
because Of the peculiar Character
and responsibility of their work. He
said the whole revenue system de-
pends upon these men
John F. Costello, District reoo,d.r
OF deeds, made a plea for classi-
hcation Of employees in his office.
n. t. koehler. District secretary
OF the federal council. American
Association of Engineers; Ronald
Mcdonald. Of the archives division
OF the adjutant generals office;
Harlan I. Smith, agricultural de-
partmeht director Of information;
Harry b. Bradford. OF the bureau
or entomology; c. Marshall Stewart
OF the Agricultural department bu-
reau Of Illustrations. and Frank Fl.
Ainsworth. of San Francisco, were
heard during the day. The session
will continue at 10 o'clock this
morning.
In Favor of Raise.
Koehler said the Federal Council
of Engineers had made a careful
analysis of all the bills and came
to the conclusion that a very sub
stantial revision of salaries upward
was necessary. He said the abnor-
NAL turnover continues to the detri-
ment of the quality of work. as
qualified men cannot be obtained
for the salaries offered. The report
of the joint reClassihcation COM
mission was recommended as a
basis for salary 'cUrves." inasmuch
as the report is the result of the
most comprehensive research. The
Sterling LehlbaCh bill appears to be
n simpIihed expression of the re-
port. Boehler said. From position
one. where employees enter the serv-
ice. to position six on the joint
cOmmission's curve" Koehler said,
there are - steps. while in the
SterIing-Lehlbach bill there are
only 20 steps. enabling the en-
plOye to progress more rapidly.
While the commissions curve does
not extend beyond position six.
leaving salaries above that point to
be determined through legislative
channels. the other bills are even
more comprehensive. extending to
and embracing positions seven and
eight. The SterlinE-Lehlbach curve
rises more rapidly owing to the
smaller number Of steps.
AS The Smoot-Wood bill Is less
Definite than the others and does
not state any intermediate salaries
within grades. the development Of
its salary curve is largely proble-
matical and very uncertain Of ap-
plication."
Other technical details provided
the Committee by Koehler showed
the value OF creating an incentive
TO beginners in the service and the
advantages of holding and encourag-