The Washington times., 1924-07-18
Reconsideration Brings In
Justice Instead Of Justice
By Bile PRICE.

interpreted 81 the Personnel classification Board working
the grayest Of injustice TO thousands Of sgOod and
instead Of equazng salaries and destroying nequai
ties as the law contemplated
Practically every classification expert the country takes
the position that the law itself fine and that the
spirit Of the enactment followed good win result every
worker for the Government and to the Government ITSELF
creasng efficiency and making for widespread contenment
It Is manifest all sides today that there is such
tentment and that dissatisfaction intense and bitter The
service rendered to the District and Federal governments viii
be improved when loyal and getting the
worst Of law from which. they expected benefits.
There something like $4,000 Government workers in
Washington OF this number fourfhs have been either
reduced ii salaries have been small
hardly apprecb The claim made for the law that
It would result n small increases to the great majority Of
employees That the intention Of Congress- but that in
BENTON has apparently been sdetraCked.
Poorly paid workers both the District and Federal gov
ernmens have gotten the worst Of the deal all around In
many instances their salaries have been reduced almost
much as the bonus they getting above their basic pay
Whatever increase there Is in the total Of the monthly pay
roll here has gOne to those already drawing good salaries
Hen and in the higher positions have almost nvari
ably found themselves the benefCares Of comparatively
large increases Those having influence and pull have gained
much and lost nothing The little fellow, who must live and
meet high costs the the highly paid worker
The victim throughout considerations have had
weight in this reclasicaton Special privilege usual
gets away with the best there is.
Officials in higher Government positions have been
paid too much money They deserve what they win get under
The cassfcations in force They do not deserve it
however the expense Of the Of employees under
Them All classes Of workers deserve better salaries than
they have been receiving and is profound shame that
The law could not have gone into operation smoothly
and satisfactorily with content instead Of discomfort
Everybody had expected there would be individual
Of reduction in salaries No reClascaton would work
without this but hardly anybody expected the general dis
satisfaction that exhibited today that the decreases
Monld affect so large number Of people,
The Personnel classification Board seems to be working
under the impression that it is constituted reduce expenses
Of the Government take the place Of the appropriation
money and boost salaries in violation law
Neither was il constituted to violate the spirit Of the
President Coolidge and all thoughtful citizens in or out
Of official life want to see Government reduced in
be any noticeable reduction through cutting the measy
salaries Of messengers and underpaid workers.
The President has wonderful opportunity to take hand
IN this butchering Of good law and give the Personnel
Classification Board emphatic notice that while he wants
economy in Government he has desired It at the
pense Of lowpad employees of the United Satethousands
Of good and women who should have had Substantial
increases in salaries.
The Personnel classification Board had TO frame s cassi
Hcaton in too short time. It is but fair to this board to
say that has really not had time to do thoroughly salts
factory job It viii be flooded with thousands Of appeals
from it's job specifications and in the handling Of these ap
peas 1t win be judged by the public and BY Congress- when
pass upon the appeals reaching IS beyond understanding
II manfety impossible Therefore inusces by the score
are almost certain TO go uncorreced unless there IS sweep
The ten local declarations Of Federal Employees have joined
n the formation Of committee assemble the facts that
will be laid before i from the numerous complaints pouring
II. These facts win be ready to submit to Congress in
December The National Association Of Federal employees
and the local bodies sO united to for the abo
on Of the Personnel Classification Board and the transfer of
Its duties to the Civil Service Commission which is the right
full organization to handle the civil service personnel Of the
Government.
The House. at its last session. BY vote Of seven to one
passed legislation for this change and the Senate which a
peared overwhelmingly in favor Of the thing failed
ac in the rush Of the. closing days Officials Of the Fedora
ton OF Government Workers confident the Senate will
pass the House bill this winter and that win become law
Whatever may be the outcome Of this chaotic tuaon
Is evident to every armnded person that law should be
passed. law construed which has the effect Of lower
ing the salaries Of derpaid workers for the United States
Or District governments Any body Of responsible for
this will gories and viii accomplish nothing to the
credit Of themselves the Government
Every political administration and leader is supposed to
stand for better pay for American workers. for less No
political party win dare to go before next November
on an issue Of cheapening Americans who toll for living