Evening star., 1924-09-28
PROMOTION ISSUE
ACUTE IN BUREAUS
Going Up to Lower Pay Not
Attractive to U. S. Work.
ers in District.

CONSERVATION still stalks through
the Government departments. follow
ing the recent decision by Controller
General McCarl. under (which it will
be necessary for many employees to
take a reduction in salary when they
are promoted under the classification
act.
No definite hope of any relief from
the situation seems to be in sight for
the present although there is much
talk among officials, as well as en-
ployes. as to what will be the final
outcome
The decision comes as the last of d
long series of rulings by the con-
troller general of the United States
Interpreting the classificatio act His
decisions are binding in all instances
upon the Government departments
and all employees Many officials who
had planned promotions to fill va
cancies now admit they are virtually
"stumped" as to what to do; keep
their employees at their old salaries
or promote them and thereby cutting
their salary.
Mort Decisions Satisfactory.
The general sentiment among the
departments up to the time of the
latest decision had been that the
controller general was interpreting
the classification act in a manner
which was satisfactory to employees.
With a few exceptions, in the long
list of decisions, this feeling held
sway.
The storm which broke when the
full import of the latest decision was
realized seems to be continuing, as
officials everywhere discuss the mat
ter and look into the possibilities of
the situation.
There are those who contend the
controller general was thoroughly
consistent in coming to the conclu-
sion he did, as result Of previous
decisions which pointed somewhat at
the same problem of transfers from
one grade to another. and promo
tions, where the average provision
was violated. On the other hand,
there are those who contend that it
was not necessary for the controller
to go so far.
Somewhat Similar Decision.
A decision of somewhat similar ma
ture was rendered 60 the Secretary
of the Treasury, July 19, in the case
of a bookkeeper at $3.50 year,
whom it was desired to transfer to
another grade at $4,000. Because the
average provision was exceeded in the
grade to which it was desired to pro-
mote the man, it was ruled that he
would be transferred at the minimum
salary of the grade, which was 1880.
In this mans case, although he was
transferred to the lowest salary in
the grade. it did not result in reduc-
ton in his salary.
In the case of the bookkeeper, the
decision said that considering the
transfer provision in connection with
ha Sin 1o
be that any new adjustment of sal
aries by transfers, reinstatements, etc,
in a grade in which the average has
already been exceeded due to the ex-
ceptions expressed in the average
provision of the appropriation act,
must tend to reduce the excess
average so that eventually the aver
age will not be exceeded, and this can
be accomplished most expeditiously by
requiring the transfers, reinstate-
ments. etc, to be at the minimum rate
of salary of the grade"
Next Step Awaited.
What will be the next developments
in the case none was willing last
night to predict, but there was senti-
ment that perhaps in some manner a
way might be found to save employees
from having to take sharp cuts in
salary. This viii happen when they
are promoted under certain condi-
tions, when their compensation is
more than the lowest salary in the
grade to which they are to be pro-
noted, and where the average pro-
vision is violated in that grade. I'm
der these conditions, it was held that
the employe must enter the new
grade at the absolute minimum.
Appeals from ALLEGATIONS continue
to occupy attention of the personnel
classification board, which is taking
these up in turn. A large number of
such appeals is understood to be on
file, although it is said that few of
these are new. The majority had
been before the board previously.
The board also is occupied with the
efficiency rating system, which may
be adopted by the board in a FEW
weeks and become available for de-
partments in the rating of employees
for promotion, demotion or dis
YniSSal