The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-05
FOUR MEASURES.
AID FEDERAL
EMPL QYES
Redistribution Act Held A
Satisfactory to National
Federation.


Four important measures affect
ing the Federal Civil Service and
hundreds of thousands of employees
all over the United States Were
naased during the last twenty-four
hours OF the Sixty-seventh Congress
which ended at noon yesterday.
They are:
The recIassification bill.
The $40 bonus bill.
A customs service measure which
removes the statutory limit or $3.50
for customs laborers.
Emergency legislation continuing
commentator for awards Of the
United States Compensation Com. Z
mission in cases where Government
EMPLOYEES are Ill or have died OF
disease incurred by reason Of their
employment
wins Four-Year Fight.
For more than four years the
National Federation OF Federal EN-
ployes. OF which Luther G. Steward
/ is president, has been fighting Tor
the enactment OF the reciassiflcae
ton bill. The measure passed tbs
House last December but no action
was taken on 1t by the Senate until
few DAYS before adjournment.
Senators Smoot and Sterling held
the bill up through disagreement
az to several Of its provisions. The
differences were finally ironed OUT
and Saturday both the House and
Senate ordered the measure to cOns
ference.
During the last few hours Of the
session the conferees came to an
agreement and the conference report
+ 49, An
who introduced the measure In the
House. fought for its passage at this
| session.
Madden Pushes Bonus.
| Chairman Martin B. Madden, Of
the House Appropriations Commit
/ tee, reported the $240 bonus bill
when it was thought certain that the
| Reconsideration bill would not be
| acted upon during this Congress.
| He stated, however, in his report
/ which accompanied the bill, that the
/ S240 would be necessary even though
! the reclassification measure was
| passed. 1t would take considerable
/ time. he said, tor ALLEGATION OF posi-
tions and complete reimbursement
under the new law.
Commenting today upon the out
come of the long campaign for q
reclassification bill, Steward ex-
pressed disappointment that the
salary schedules may not become
operative until 1924, instead OF q
year earlier, as had been expected.
/ But the interval viii insure q
scientific and comprehensive survey
of the field services, In addition to
/ the survey already made in the
District of Columbia" he added.
pand now all employees, all over ffe
United States. win begin to receive
the benefits OF the bill at the same
/ time Meanwhile. the passage OF
the bill continuing the so-cAlled
bonus of $24O affords relief for the
employees in the lower grades ct
pay.
Keeps Essential Features.
ION the whole, we are satisfied
with the situation. Most OF the
Essential features OF the bill al
passed are what we asked for. 1t
provides a classification by duties
on the basis of equal pay for equal
work, and with compensation acc
cording to skill, training and re-
| sponsibility for the job. The major
services are divided into grades
with opportunity for advancement
within the grade, as well as from
| grade to grade or class to class.
| The present limitation upon trans.
/ fers between departments is re.
moved. There Is a central classify
ing agency which shall review and
| may revise the efficiency ratings
upon which ALLEGATIONS and salaries
depend.
/ "Some features of the bill which
we think could be better will doubt
less reveal their own weakness IN
the process of making the efficiency
ratings and ALLEGATIONS under the
new classifying agency, and may
thus be remedied before the new
compensation schedules become eff.
fective. Our purpose will be TO do
everything in our power TO CO.
operate with the classifying agency
| in making the law successful"