The Washington times., 1925-01-30
Misinforming the President as
to Salaries of Federal Employees
Bv BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE,
Official officials who President COOLIDGE
impression there has been boos the salaries OF
the Federal employees anything like SOFA per year
since July 1913 should be called to account for supplying
misleading information and sincerely hope to see the
President demand further light this subject
highly important that if there to be reductions
in the classified civil service during this fiscal year aid in
Presidents splendid program of all around governmental
economies the President should be supplied with many de-
tails as to where the money appropriated Tor salaries IN
The Presidents statement was that July l. 1913 the
average salary in Washington was S4 and that on July
81 per cent which the President regarded keeping
Literally and technically the figures are doubt
less correct when the high salaries included but whoever
gave the President the impression that this increase Of 1914
year has been shared by the great of Government
employees deliberately mised the minded and honorable
Chief Executive and Should be asked for explanation
The President of course that prior the European
the statutory salaries of Government workers had
been increased for eighty years With the jumping
prices everything that mankind required for
Congress- after the United States had war;
bonus of $20 the salaries Of all employees receiving
much $4,000 per That bonus remained in effect
each year until the recassication law passed. and APP
preparations made fit the law That recassificaon
under it should be increased to the extent of absorbing the
same bonus Of $24o year. with varying additional
this writer unhesatngy expresses the opinion that the
$4,000 employees of the Federal in Washington
more than $4,000 today being paid not 1886 year
above the prwar average salary annually while
the great bulk of the $615 year increase gone the
Il is candid belief upon letters and personal con-
vesation with employees that ALL employees receiving
recascation $685. year above prear salaries
This class of employees probably than $4,000
OF the total $4,000 Government workers here.
viii be comparatively easy for President Congress or
General LORD to close the There ought to be
tables now IN possession Of the Redistribution showing
where the increased went under the
law Congress could handle this problem better the
President for it could make investigation to determine
the fairness and accuracy of figures submitted
showing:
How much any added to the salaries of workers
which, with bonus added, gave $500?
How much to salaries of ST. 900 year. how much to ala
res OF 81 zoo and the line $4,000 year?
Tnen let there be other tables showing HOW MANY en-
poyes OF the Government there Washington getting
$4,000 or less at this time also giving total
Der in each salary grade all the way down
Let these tables show plainly each
grade the average salaries paid grade and the aver
age increase in the salaries Of workers since July 1918
Next let US have tables showing exactly how many
poyes there from Presidential appontees down to those
getting above $4,000 with salaries by the
various classes July 1913 and the salaries July 1924 or
much better STILL the salaries AT THIS TIME
Redistribution did until July of
last year and there widespread conviction that the
age increase in salaries under that for paid employees
dld not amount TO than few dollars year
$240 bonus paid until July l. 1924
Congress and the President should epecay find out how
much have been the increases in higher paid employees of
grades especially those under Governmental esb
hments that Rave lump sum appropriations at their dis
poal and when the question of upeuous employees does
tp now many OF n nne n ups viii get the aa
drawing big salaries gene into carefully by competent
representing Congress the President there
will be interesting revelations genuine opportunity
to to the Government It different than
under administrations of other political faith parties in
power and the majority high of both parties have
paid their avortes all the money they felt Government
could stand
Despite all that will have spectacle small salaried
employees large numbers being pred loose posi-
lions to while the employees with pull will hang
That is what people seriously talk about as the
merit plan of civil service.