Evening star., 1922-06-21
Reducing the Bonus.

When the regular appropriation
bills were framed and presented to the
House from the appropriations COM
mittee it was noted that there was no
provision for continuing the so-called
bonus, or extra pay. for government
employees, which several years ago
was granted as compensation for the
increased cost Of living. 1t was at
once explained that there was no in
tention to refuse the bonus this year
to the government workers. but that
if the reclassificatien legislation was
not enacted. which would have the eff
feet of establishing a higher range of
basic pay, special bonus bill would
be introduced and passed. There was
never any question that it was the in
tention Of those in charge of appro-
priative legislation to continue the
bonus at its former rate of $40 a
year.
The reclassification bill passed by
the House is now pending in the Sen
ate, with no prospect of enactment be-
fore the close of the fiscal year. From
the House appropriations committee
Yesterday came a bill continuing, not
the bonus of the past. but a substitute
bonus of $3.50 per year, a reduction of
25 per cent. This reduction is sought
to be justified on the ground that
there has been a reduction i'll the cost
oe living since the $40 rate was
reached.
Originally the bonus granted as a
temporary adjustment of compensa-
ton was s120 year, or $40 month.
1t was later increased to S240 a year,
or SEQ a month. 1t is now proposed to
drop it to $3.50 year, or SIS month.
If the bonus is on scale this pro-
posed reduction would suggest that 80
per cent of the increase in normal liv-
ing costs has been resained through
reduction. That this is not the fact is
definitely proved by the size Of the
monthly bills of all who pay rent. buy
clothes and food and all the essentials
Of living.
In the report accompanying the bill
from committee it is stated that the
temporary increase has not been re-
garded as a scientific adjustment of
nav on the basis Of the cost Of living"
Such an adjustment is now attempted
in the reclassification bill. The latter
measure seeks to establish scale
commensurate with the services rem
dered, and creates for the first time
in the history of the government
system of duties and responsibilities
for the administrative forces.
The bonus has been an unsatisfac-
tory method of adjustment. 1t was
adopted as an expedient when distress
was caused by the sudden increase in
living costs without any correspond
ing increase in the government pay
scale. 1t was increased when the orig
inal amount was found to be totally
inadequate. Being fiat sum. it was
not commensurate in that it made no
allowances for differences in scales of
living. The clerk of higher range of
pay, with larger responsibilities, re-
ceived no more in addition than the
employe at the bottom of the pay roll.
But it was the best that could be done
in the emergency, and especially in
view of the expected permanent read
justment.
Naturally disappointment and dis
tress will be felt on the score of the
proposed reduction Of 25 per cent. 1t
is impossible to avoid the feeling that
faith has not been kept in the light of
the assurances given earlier in the
session that 1.-The bonus" would be
continued. The House may and the
Senate should correct this matter by
restoring the full amount Of the
bonus. And the reclassiflcation bill
should be pressed to final passage so
that the government employees will
not longer be dependent upon these
annual grants of grace.
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