The Washington herald., 1921-05-26
employees EFAVOR
VINCE REVISION ON
NATIONWIDE PLAN
Committee II e ar s Field
Workers Ask for
Increases.

How to make reclassification leg
islstion apply to the federal en-
ployes throughout the United states
as well as the federal and District
employes in Washington, interested
the joint civil service committee OF
the senate and house at yesterdays
hearings in room 235. senate onice
building
Senators Sterling sed Helm and
Representatives Fairfield and Black
questioned w. ]. Coyne, president of
the Ellis island branchI of the New
YORK Union of Federal Employees
along this line. Coyne is an immi-
grant inspector.
Coyne favored a proper system OF
service promotion applicable to all
government employees and the class
ification of immigrant inspectors so
that their minimum wage would be
at least 81 900. He said the entire
force is now on a starvation basis
and that the government has lost
millions of dollars in the care of in
sane. and otherwise defective aliens
because OF the penurious methods
of Congress. He said there are diff
ferent rates OF pay for the 40 in
terpreters in his territory, the 100
watehmen have four grades, the 70
NATIONS and 25 charwomen and all
other employees are variously graded
and Inequalities are so many that
nothing can approach justice except
legislation OF the kind proposed in
the bills offered by senator Sterling
and Representative Lehlbach.
Is seIf-sustaining.
The immigration service practi-
caIIy dates from the sudden great
infiup of 700. 900 aliens in 1881. The
service has grown in a haphazard
way and for ten years has been
practically starved for lack of ap-
propriations. The service is more
than self-sustaining"
Appearing for federal employees
of the customs service of New York,
J. J. viele said the growth OF the
customs service has been without
defpite plan. Positions have been
created to take care of special work
or sf men and appointments have
been made on the recommendation
or oSer the protest Of the head OF
the Office.
For more than fifty years" said
Viele, "there has been no general
lANlErl SALARIES Win reference 10
the work performed and in many
cases the present officers and their
titles have no relation to the work
they are doing. Certain laborers
are prevented from getting an in
crease in pay by an ancient act OF
congress limiting their pay to 50 3;
a day We believe a good and eff
cient service will save the govern
menf far more than it will cost.
Favor Sterling Bill.
We favor the Sterling and
Lehlbach bills for reclassificatior
of tbe field service and believe the
em5hoyees should have representa-
tionr before the classifying agency
Theodore H Saal appeared a.
spokesman for federal employees OF
greTier New York and vicinity oi
whQse organization he is secretary
He said there are about twice as
ma1y federal employees in the field
seryice as in the departments ir
Washington. The field service is
certainly as. much in need OF re-
classifying as the service in the
natiPnal capital. he declared.
We nave a tremendous body of
woetully underpaid employees in New
fork,' said Saal Nearly 1000 OF
them receive less than 50 day
base pay. Many guards and watch
men especially those at the post
ofhde building. receive only s72O a
year, out of which they must pro-
videifor their own expenses and uni
forHs- There is a growth of incon-
Sruries between titles and work
performed. The Smoot recIassifica-
tiou; bill does not provide for the
new. field service. Its adoptjon
would be a calamity in view Of the
proposed abOlishment Of the bonus. -
CHRISTOPHER Gaylor and G.. c. La
dew Of the Boston customs service,
were heard during the morning
Gaylor said the customs guards work
twor shifts a day and are exposed to
many dangers, receiving at present
only H.4l0 a year with a seve ay
week and only IA days annual leave
senator Sterling and Representa-
tive Black suggested grade two of
the police and criminal Investigation
service in the Sterling bill. as the
probable ALLEGATION for the customs
guards, with a salary range OF
$3.50 to $3.50.