The Washington times., 1924-08-13
Candidate Davis Has a Kindly
Word for Government
Employees
By BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE.
Even if Presidential candidate speak generaities
when promises elected to that Government employees
paid salaries least equal for similar work. to those paid
in private employment there grain Of comfort for those
who serve their Government faithfully and honestly
In his speech of acceptance the Democratic standard
bearer JOHN DAVIS declared that Government economy
begins at the wrong end when it attacks the pay Of Govern
employees and there is truth than poetry in his
quoted remarks.
Washington Senators and congressman who feel
that they shave the salaries Of already underpad
poyes Of the civil service they doing something they
be proud Of And yet the aggregate thus saved
mouthful to the millions wasted in Encouragement and
pertinent.
Candidate Davis could well have said that not only did
he favor Government employees receiving pay equal to that
paid by private employers but that he also favored the
United States Government setting the pace for private
poyers in salaries paid to workers That would be doing
something worth while for American workers all the
country.
The foundation Of happy contented America living
wage for all its workers The American Government in the
treatment own employees can well afford to establish
precedent which will influence private employers It can
well afford to set and maintain the principle that under
ness.
Until years before the war the Government did main
tain TINS principle IN dealing with Its own employees They
There has, however been mighty change The inflated
prices that began before the war and still bur-
den upon the Of American and brought
about increased wages in many industries especially among
skilled workers and those in position through their organ
zaons to force recognition Of their demands for decent
wages.
Despite the high of living the basic salaries of Gov
eminent workers remained what they eighty ago
with the exception of the addition by Congress Of the $20
year bonus which has been partly incorporated in the
recassificaon schedules in effect That the salaries
Of employees what they including the bonus
paid until July As to large numbers Of other employees
they have been materially reduced in salaries through
classification the administration Of which, by the Personnel
Redistribution Board be intended to make
record for members Of the board in economies praced upon
the lower paid employees.
Senator REED SM0OT whose influence with elements in
has shown much regard for Government clerks and
he has his way the Of them will get living
wages Mr. Smoot and others Of his way Of thinking in Con-
gress perfectly willing though that particular pets of their
own in Government employ shall be paid well.
the Redistribution Board please Senator Snaoot and
others by beating down the salaries Of undergrad clerks
which just what has happened in Redistribution the per-
sonnet OF the board will expect to have the continued backing
and favor of the Utah Senator in future legislation in Con-
gress which Mr.. Smoot control.
It is probable that Candidate Davis has some inside
information Redistribution methods and them in mind
when he spoke OF economy at the Of Government
employees.
Political pets favorite having strong Congressional
increased salaries they getting taken from the pockets
OF the little fellows in the Government service Thus is
economy pracced the undepad who have live as well
as the well paid.
The attitude Of Candidate COOLIDGE and Candidate LA
TOILETTE be made clear later Mr. La Toilette has
the backing Of American labor the chief organization Of which
has long been sympathy with the efforts Of friends of Gov
eminent workers in Congress to give them better treatment
eminent employees those who will forget after election
day. what they promised before election day It has long
been custom of political parties devote brief blanks in
their platforms to Government workers. invariably promising
election nobody thought to the carrying Of these
promises