Evening star., 1923-03-02
DEBATE IS OPENED
. ON CLASSIFICATION
Senator Jones Opposes Hasty
Consideration of I'M
portant Measure.
NORRIS SCORES BILL JAM
Skilled Workmen Protest to
Sterling Against Inclusion
in Provisions.
NORRIS SCORES BILL JAM

The recla ssification bill vas taken
up in the Senate at / o'clock today.
at the conclusion of the morning
Of the civil service committee, ad-
dressed the Senate in explanation or
the bill. He called attention to the
need of prompt action on the meas
ure If it is to become a law at the
present session.
Every effort will be made by the
supporters Of the bill to put 1t
through the Senate today, SO that it
may be sent back to the House for
action there on the compromise bill
gresS.
Calls 1t Act of Justice.
Senator Sterling said that the pro-
posed legislation was an act of JUS
tice to the thousands Of EMPLOYEES OF
the government. He emphasized the
fact that one of the principal pur-
poses of reclassif1cation was to give
the government service. He said
that the classifying board provided
in the bill was the result of a COM
promise.
Senator Jones of New Mexico OBJ
jected to section of the bill, which
provides that if the employe is receiv-
ing compensation in excess of the
range of salary prescribed for the
appropriate grade or class no change
shall be made in the existing COM
pensation.
Senator Jones Protests.
Senator Jones said that in the House
bill 1t had been provided that If an
employe was receiving compensation
in excess Of the range Of salary pre-
scribed. his compensation should be
reduced to the rate within the grade
nearest the present compensation.
He said he preferred this plan.
Senator Sterling. replying. said that
under the senate committee plan po-
sitions vacated by death would be
put back to the salary of the appro-
pirate grade or class and that he be-
lieved the plan would work out very
well.
Senator Norris of Nebraska de-
clared that the Senate faced a legis-
Iative situation which should bring
blush Of shame" He said that,
with only a couple of days left of
the session, the Senate is now called
upon to pass upon this bill of tre-
mendous Importance to thousands of
government employees.
Under CONFEDERATION II Months.
He said that 1t had been under
consideration by Senate committees
for fourteen months, 'fbut we are
expected to pass it in fourteen min
utes." Senator Norris criticized Wig
orously the short sessions of Con-
gress, with the congestion of busi-
ness resulting from them. Until an
amendment to the Constitution is
adopted doing away with these short
sessions this bad condition will con-
tinue, he said.
Skilled Workmen Protest.
A committee representing skilled
workmen Of the bureau Of engraving
and printing, government printing
Office and the Washington navy yard
waited on Senator Sterling today and
announced to him their desire to be
excluded from provisions of the re-
classification bill.
The committee represented about
1000 employees of the bureau, exclud-
ing plate printers, and machinists of
the Washington navy yard. as we'll
as certain skilled workmen of the
government printing office. Edward
Williams, acted as spokesman for the
group.
Result Of Joint Meeting.
The presentation Of the protest
against inclusion Of their trades in
the reclassification legislation was
the result Of a joint meeting held last
night and a second meeting Of repre-
sentatives of the various trades held
this morning. The request that
their classes be dropped from the bill,
however, was preceded by request
for an amendment to that section
Of the bill which provides that COM
pensation for classes in the skilled
trades service shall be In accord
ance with the prevailing practice"
1t was sought to make more secure
tho continuance OF the prevailing
practice, but Senator Sterling could
not see an amendment in this light
Continued on Page 2. Column 6.)