The Washington herald., 1921-05-19
YALE ECONOMIST
TO TESTIFY UPON
RECLASSIFICATION
Lawmakers Expect to Fill
Week With Hearings
On Subject.

1t became known yesterday that
the hearings on reclassincation be-
fore the Senate and House Joint
Civil Service committees would not
be concluded before next Wednes-
day. on that date DR.. Irving
Fisher 4 Yale niversiy, an econ
omist who has made an exhaustive
study of costs and their effects
upon wage earners, is expected to
testify. Senator Sterling, chairman
of the Joint committee, telegraphed
DIR. Fisher yesterday that he would
be glad to have his views.
Dr. George F. Bowerman, city IL
brarian. testified yesterday that IL
brary employees would be satisfied
by the status given them in the
Sterling and Wood bills. or any ar
rangement that would prevent dis
crimination against them as here
tofore.
Tariff Employees.
Orin Davis. Of the tariff depart
ment of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. asked the committee
where the tariff people would be
cIassed. and thought those entering
the service should be increased in
pay to $4,000 at least, from the
$3.50 average they now receive.
At the conclusions of the sessions
yesterday. two of which were held
in the Senate office building. the
committee took a recess until to-
morrow morning at 1890 o'clock.
Two meetings probably will be held
tomorrow and one Saturday Ar
rangements for next week will be
announced Saturday. Several wit
nesses arrived too late yesterday
afternoon to be heard. Members OF
the committee expect some delay on
account Of the large number to be
heard.
CritciSe. system.
At Yesterday mornings session
Edward C Finney, First Assistant
Secretary Of the Interior, criticised
the report Of the Congressional joint
commission on reClassihcation as
establishing too elaborate svsterl
Of positions The situation was
Otherwise very scientifically covered
he said.
"A fair and equitable reclassihca-
tion Of the Civil Service cannot be
administered without an unabridged
dictionary Of the positions and
kinds Of work involved" said Lewis
r. Merriam. of the Institute of Gov
ernment Research. who assisted the
Congressional join commission. and
was one of the morning witnesses.
whether or not such dlctlon-
ary should he a part OF the re-
classification law is another ques-
tion. but it must be at hand for
guidance The Sterling. Lehlhacn
and Fairfield bills either include
specifications or provide that the
reclassifica ton commissions report
shall be used as a guide by the
classifying agency. The Smoot and
Wood bills" he said. work by an
alogy since they omit large num-
bers of types of positions and sew
eral large government establish
ments in Washington. as well as
the entire field service and leave
the administration, including allo-
catiCn, TO the department. execu-
tives."
Lehlbach Proposal.
Chairman LehIbach of the House
Committee on Reform in the Civil
Service. yesterday introduced a re-
vised bill for the classification of
government employees in the Civil
Service.
The new measure provides the
same schedules as contained in the
Sterling bill with the exception that
iI does not include the schedules for
employees in the skille dtrades and
labor grades. but creates a wage
commission to adjust salaries for
these employees.
The LehIbach bill also makes the
Bureau of the Budget the review
ing body for the ALLEGATION of en-
ployes to the various grades, In
stead OF the Civil Service Commis-
sion.
The printed bill will be brought
before the joint meetings Of tho
House and Senate committees con-
siderinE reclassification for the In
formation Of the members.
The proposed Federal wage COM
mission. under the Lehlbach bill
viii consist of three members, one
Of whom shall be chosen from the
employees affected. The provision
will apply to employees in posi-
tions the duties OF which are TO
perform. assist in or supervise ap-
prentices, helpers. or journeymen
work in a recognized trade or craft,
ana ld0OTeTS OF All
such as are under the direction
and control of the custodian Of a
public building.
Rates Of Compensation.
The rates of compensation shall
be fixed and readjusted from time
10 time by a board of three mem
bers duly known as the Federal
Wage Commission. who shall be ap-
pointed by the President and shall
hold office during his pleasure. One
member of such commission shall
be chosen from the employees af-
fected. The commission is author
ized to employ such assistance at
reasonable compensation and to
make such necessary expenditures
as may be appropriated for by Con-
gress-"
Hearings for the skilled trades
are scheduled to begin next Monday,
at which time various organizations
AFFILIATED with the Trade Union
Legislative Council have asked to
be heard. These organizations rep
resent the various trades. some fifty
IN number, which have members in
the government service. Many Of
them are known to be favora Bile
to the wage board idea.