Evening star., 1923-10-21

a., s4.40o to $500
Maximum Of w 500
g. Dividing the present "chief pro-
| fessional" grade, which has a salary
range from $4,000 to $500 into a
head professional grade, with a
salary range from $4,000 to $3.50
and a chief professional" grade.
with salary range from $3.50 to
! $500.
| Many of those who are In closest
touch with the reclassificat!on work
and with the professional. scientific
and technical services appreciate that
to ask Congress to make changee in
the classification act before the act
went into operation might, perhaps.
seem a rash thing to do. But that
cons, deration they believe Is out
| weighed.
First, because the suggestion
amendments do not materially change
the principles established by Congress
| In providing this service and grades
| within 1t.
Second, because the changes, 1t is
claimed. will result In a saving to
| the government in the amount Of
compensation pad, while at the same
| time providing fairer rates Of COM
nensation for the kinds of service
| rendered.
Qualifications Required.
| Considering these proposed changes.
one at a time and in more stail-
! first. the present minimum grade in
the service. Junior professional"
| has a salary range from s1,s60 to
s2,400 The educational qualification
! for all positions in the professional
| and scientific service are those OF
| professional, scientific or technical
| training equivalent to that repre-
| Iented by graduation from a college
/ or university Of recogized standing"
! while but little or no experience" Is
! required
| Because OF the diversified charac-
| ter of the scientific work of the gov
ernment and because the universities
are often unable to supply persons
with the special experience required.
| the technical bureaus have to teach
the beginners 1t Is asserted that
| the minimum salary rate for the
f, lowest grade in the professional and
scientific service, s1,s6o, is higher
than should be paid by the govern
ment for this kind of service.
That fs why it is believed by ad-
ministration officials in charge of the
work of the technical and scientific
bureaus that this new bottom grade
i should be provided, and that the rea-
sons for 1t Will appeal favorably to
the personnel classification board In
its discharge of the duties imposed
upon it by section IL of the act, ITO
make a study of the rates of COM
pensation provided In this act for the
various services and grades with a
view to any readjustment deemed by
said board to be Just and reasonable"
Would Have Two Grades.
The second suggestion is that the
so-celled full professional grade,
with a salary range from $4,000 to
$1,000, shall be divided into two
grades. Technical administrative off,
GERS point out that there are classes
of positions In their work OF a higher
grade than the next lower grade
/ $4,000 to s3,so0), but which should
not be paid at any time as much as
| the maximum of the full profess
sional" grade, 5000.
More especially they point out this
difficulty, that some OF the positions
/ that would fall in the full profess
sionar' grade should not have a min
imum as low as $500. For exam
| pie, if the head OF an important Sec
| ton OF technical work In one of
these bureaus now receiving a salary
of $4,000 should resign, the head of
| that scientific bureau faces the prop
osition that he is not going to be
able to secure o man with the re-
quired special experience for this
| particular kind OF work at $5,S00,
| the minimum rate of the grade, which
! Is ali he can pay under the provision
OF the act requiring all new appoint
| ments to be made at the minimum
rate for the grade. The very fact
| that the man Is leaving the posi-
tion at $4,000 to take a higher salary
elsewhere shows that in the open
| market a man OF such qualifications
is worth more and that 1t will be
! difficult even to fill the position at
| $4,55J and practically impossible at
s3,S0o.
| Chance for Better Men.
With the new proposed grade having
a salary range from $4,000 to $4,000
there would be much greater possibility
| of securing a good man for the posi-
! tion at the minimum rate of $4,000.
The third proposed change is 20
make two grades out of the present
F.; chief professional grade, which has
salary range from $4,000. to $1,000;
administrative head of a major profess
sional or scientific bureau" The next
lower grade, with a range OF $1,000 to
$4,000, covers the head of a small
professional or scientific organization"
| The personnel classification board, In
the opinion of technical men in the
| government service, has faced the diff
| "small professional or scientific organi-
i nation and major professional or
scientific beureau," and in their opinion,
! for a satisfactory handling Of classifica-
| tion, the act should recognize about
three grades OF technical and scientific
/ organizations.
Proposed Changes Backed.
The proposal is one. therefore, to
establish range of $3.50 to $500
! for the heads of the largest tech
, to S6,T50 for the heads of the smaller
! technical bureaus. leaving the head
of the smallest technical organization
in the grade with the range $500 to
! $4,000.
A study of this proposed regarding
OF the professional and scientific
service will show, the administrative