Evening star., 1928-05-17
MELLON APPROVES .
PAY INCREASE BILL
PASSED BY SENATE
Secretary of the Treasury
CharaCterizeS WeICh Meas
ure as "DesirabIe."
AMENDED LEGISLATION
SENT BACK TO HOUSE
Likely to 60 to Conference for Con-
sideration of Difference
in Costs.
Although admitting that he was not

Although admitting that he was not
familiar with all details of the Welch
salary raise bill which passed the
Senate last night. Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon today declared it
would prove a benefit to many parts OF
the Government. He raised no objec-
ton to the total of more than $20,000,-
600 total increase in salaries, as an
addition to the Governments expendi-
lures.
The main features of the bill are all
right. in the opinion of the Secretary.
Generally speaking he characterized it
as desirable measure"
Cites Treasury Cases.
In the Treasury Department, for In
stance, Mr.. Mellon pointed out, there
are provided raises in salaries not only
for lower paid employees. but for some
of the tax experts. who the Treasury
has had difficulty in retaining in the
Government service. The salaries of
these experts have been insufficient. the
Secretary pointed out. TO retain men
of such experience. when firms on the
outside have offered them much higher
salaries
ITO an extent" Mr.. Mellon believes
this difficulty has been partially
remedied by the increases provided in
the Welch bill for tax experts.
The Government employees pay In
crease bill passed the Senate in amend
ed form without a dissenting voice
and today was on its way back to
the House, where 1t is expected to be
sent TO conference for consideration
of the changes made by the Senate.
The Senate. by vote of 48 TO 0. ap-
proved the measure as it came from the
Senate civil service committee, with ad-
ditional steps added at the top of many
of the grades for the purpose of having
the same number OF steps in each grade
as exist under present law.
Different Views on Cost.
There are two points Of view as to
the cost of the bill in this form. Sena-
tor Brookhart Republican, Of Iowa.
who had charge of the measure on the
floor, holds the Senate amendments
place the total cost at $50. .10i ,080. Sem
ator Smoot. Republican, of Utah. be-
lieves the cost of the Senate bill would
be $25. 1887, 900. The cost of the meas
ure as Ii passed the House has been
placed generally at $4,000. 900.
The roll call vote came about 1890
last night after brief debate and be-
fore crowded galleries. A muffied wave
of qualification arose from the specta-
tors as the clerk called the roll and the
members responded. AYE"
The House could either concur In
the Senate amendments. or ask con-
ference. II the latter course Is fol-
lowed 1t Is probable the conferees will
be named today or tomorrow and get
to work without delay on the task Of
ironing out the differences. None of
the administrative provisions OF the bill
Is in dispute, so that the chief ques-
ton in conference is likely to be the
total cost Of the bill.
Effort to Simplify Measure.
Senator Brookhart assured his coll
leagues. in response TO queries from
the floor, that the purpose of the Sem
ate amendments is 10 simplify the
carrying out of the increases. He said
that the House bin added new steps TO
the tops of the grades, but in many
cases reduced the number OF steps
within grades, and that this had left
the employees In doubt as 10 which step
they would go to under the measure,
He said that under the Senate bill
every employe can tell Just where he
will be placed.
Senator Brookhart replied that ne
agreed with the general thought ex-
pressed by Senator Reed OF Missouri,
but he wanted to say that the COM
mittee had not received any threat or
suggestion from the administration.
"The committee has proceeded upon
the merits OF the question and has
every confidence that 1t will receive that
kind Of consideration when 1t reaches
the Executive" said Senator Brookhart.
Sees Danger in Increase.
Senator Dill, Democrat, of Washing
ton previously had said there were re-
ports that the final enactment of the
bill might be endangered by the addi-
tionai cost said to be involved in the
Senate amendments and he suggested
that If it came TO a question of keeping
the cost to certain figure in order
to complete the legislation 1t might ue
we'll for the Senate to cut out the au-
ditional steps II had added to certain
of the higher grades. He said ne hau
no objection TO the higher positions get"
ting a proportionate increase, Dut nc
wanted to be sure a law could be en-
acted taking care Of the low-salaried
clerks.
Senator Brookhart explained THAI
there are only comparatively few en-
ployes In the higher grades and the
elimination OF the Senate amendments
relating To those grades would not ma
terially change the total cost.
Lower Paid Cared For.
ssanatar Ionas Rantlhlicafl of WASH
inQton. said he wanted TO be assured
the bin did full justice to the lower
paid employees. Senator Brookhart ex-
pressed the belief that the Senate
amendments take care OF the situation.
Referring 10 the variations In eati~
mates Of the cost OF the amended meas"
ure, Senator Brookhart said;
"If / am mistaken In the figures and
If the cost will go beyond the point
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