The Connecticut labor news., 1924-12-06
FEDERAL EMPLOYES WILL ASK CONGRESS
 FOR A SQUARE DEAL
Reclassification Act of 1923, Amended by Shoots Joker" Has
 Failed of Purpose.

The National Federation sof Federal Employees, representing the department and field" employees of the government under the civil service-exclusive of postal employes-hopes to secure amend ments to the "Reclassihcation Act of 1925" which will give them what Con- gress intended they should have when 1t enacted this legislation
 More than 3OO,OOO of Uncle Sam's workers are vitally interested in this problem.
 Congressional inquiries which prece- ed the passage of the reclassihcation act, showed that conditions of the most cha otic and inequittable description pre- vailed among the government workers. Salaries and other priveleges were based not on work performed, seniority or other consideration, but on time-worn usages and in many cases upon the whin1s of supervisory officials For ex- ample, in one group of six employees, all working in one room and doing iden- tical1y the same work. salaries ranged from $1,000 to S, 4,200 per annum.
 The reclassihcation act of 1923, which was sponsored by the organized civil service employees, divided the service in to Services" and grades" taking into consideration the entire field of activi- ties covered by government workers and establishing uniform maximum and mi ninum rates of pay within these divi- sions.
 Under such'a plan the agency respon- sible for the administration of the law was of the most vital importance, as the whole question of justice and efficiency depended upon this factor.
 The employees federation insisted that the logical agency was the Civil Service Commission, already charged with the enforcement of civil service laws and regulations and familiar, more than any other establishment of the government, with the problems to be solved.
 Senator Reed Smootf the traditional enemy of the government employees, was determined, however, that his pet insti- tuition, the so-ca1led Bureau of Efhcien- cy, should have voice, and, if possible, control The head of this bureau, Her bert D. Brown is Shoots faithful henchrnan and keeps his chief informed of the internal affairs of all depart ments of government.
 After delaying the passage of the re- classification act for B months, Shoot was able to force compromise provid- ing for tri-partite administration with representatives of the Bureau of Eff ciency, the Bureau of the Budget and the Civil Service Commission constitut- ing the board.
 Experience has since amply supported the fears expressed by the employees that the whole will and intent. of Con gress would be nullifed by this method of administration. The representative of the Civil Service Commission has stood layally for the letter. and spirit of the law, but the Budget and Eficien- cy bureau have succeeded in making the legislation of little value to the mass of the employees.
 Miss Gertrude McNally, vice presi- dent of the National Federation of Fed eral Employees, discussing the situation, said:
 We are seeking to secure real re- such as Congress intend ed we should have, and ask that this be extended to the field service as we'll as to the forces in the Washington depart ments. Salaries should, for reasons of obvious justice and efficiency, be based on the work performed but this is not being done.
 "This is entirely due to the stand taken by the Bureau of Efficiency and no relief from the injustices now, exist ing is possible as long as the admins tration is vested in the tripartite agency dominated by this bureau with the mis- leading title
 We hope that speedy action will be secured on a proposed amendment, in by Representative Frederick Lehlbash which will make the Civil Ser vice Commission the sole administrat- ing agency of the reclassifcation act.".
 Favor Balanced Navy