Evening star., 1924-06-09
Pay in Full Now

If 4 business corporation should
perform as Congress has just per
formed as the Districts legislature it
would be subject TO receivership pro
cedurc. AS a result OF incompetent
management several thousand en-
ployes of the District of Columbia, who
have by law been granted increases of
salary, arc TO be denied not only those
increases but even as much in com
pensation as their former pay. These
employees the school teachers, police
men and firemcn of the Capital, unless
found TO meet the emergency, will
draw $50 a month less in compensa-
ZION than heretofore, although the law
grants them an actual increase.
This extraordinary situation comes
about through the failure of the de-
ficiency bill, which carried authorize
tions for the increased appropriations
made necessary by two bills signed by
the President shortly before adjourn
rent. There was no dissent in House
or Senate on the score of these appro-
priations. They We're recognized as
necessary. But through the f1libuster
Of one man in the upper house,
angered by the failure of the conferees
70 agree upon a certain item, not at ali
related to District matters, the whole
bull failed.
Hope is felt that some way may be
found TO relieve this situation. Sug-
gestion is made that the funds neces-
sary to pay the teachers, firenien and
policemen may be drawn from the sur
plus of District tax revenues lying in
the Treasury. The Senate has passed
the bill to make that fund available,
and the House committee has ap-
proved il, so that it lies on the table
in the House awaiting action. But it
is not yet a law, and even if it were a
law question would arise whether it
could be used for any particular pur-
pose, or would merely flow into the
Districts general fund to meet requisi-
tions under specific appropriations.
Another way is proposed. The con-
troller general of the United States
may find or take authority to construe
the appropriation as in effect made on
the basis of the increased pay, al
though the amount actually appro-
priated for the twelve months ending
July l, 1925. is definitely made for that
period on the old scale. Here stands
the situation: Congress has formally
fixed the pay scale of the teachers,
fremen and policemen. 1t has in the
District appropriation bill provided
funds to pay them. When that appro-
priation was actually written into the
bill the scale was lower than that
which prevailed when the bill passed.
Is not the fund carried in the appro-
priation bill available TO meet the new
scale from the outset?
Application of the available funds
under the regular appropriation bill to
pay the teachers, firemen and police
men at their new scale would, of
course, leave a deficiency, to be met
by a later appropriation when Con-
gress reaSsembles. Such deficiency,
in fact, was perceived in advance Of
LIiS OCtQI rtdlu pIONiSlOil Was
sought to meet it in the measure that
failed Saturday night.
Unless such a ruling can be given
and the appropriations actually avail
able can be SO applied, very serious
hardship will be imposed upon these
public servants, who will lose not only
their pr omised increases, but actually
their bonus at the rate of $40 month,
which would in most cases inf1ict a
very grave hardship. Should the con-
troiler general admit the legality of
the claim of the new scale Of pay for
these classes upon the regular appro-
priation Congress will certainly not be
in a position to question his action,
inasmuch as it was it's own fault that
this prospective deficiency occurred.