Evening star., 1928-05-14
WEIGH WAGE BILL
in AMENDED FORM
OPPOSED BY SMOOT
Senator Declares Proposed
Changes Would Increase
Cost to s25, 400, 900.
DALE PLANS CONFERENCE
TO HASTEN SENATE VOTE
Brookhart Favors Amendments.
Employees Spokesman Anx-
ious for Action.

With the announcement today by
Senator Smoot, Republican, Of Utah,
that he could not support the Govern
ment employees pay increase bin as
amended Saturday by Senate commit
tee. the legislative horizon for Wash
!ngton's $1,000 Federal employees today
became beclouded.
Senator Smoot declared the commit
tee changes would run the cost Of the
measure up from $4,000. 900 to s25.-
100000. He said he could not approve
ment funds under the bill.
Senator Dale, Republican, Of YER
mont, chairman Of the civil service COM
mittee, said his position was that ne
wanted 70 see bill go through. ard
that he planned to confer with Senator
Smoot during the day as TO the --latest
developments.
Visits White House.
Senator Smoot made known his posi-
ton on the amended bill after a trip TO
the White House. The Senator cid not
discuss his talk with the President Il
was understood at the White House.
however. that the President would not
look with favor on the increased amount
made necessary by the Senate COM
mittees amendments. At the same
time, it was recalled that the admins
ward the House bill, with total cost
of s18.000,0o0.
Senator Brookhart Republican. Of
Iowa, and one of the committee mem
bers. who advocated adding new steps
at the top Of many OF the grades Of the
House bill, In order TO have IN each
grade the same number Of steps that
now exist. estimated today that the total
cost of the bill, as amended. would be
$23. .697 900. He agreed with Senator
Smoot that the Senate amendment
would add approximately S7.40o 900 to
the cost Of the House bin, but he start
ed from q different basis IN estimating
the cost Of the House bin. He said
he used the estimate of the cost Of the
House ball as s16.i57. 600. which. he
said. was Budget Bureau figure.
Employees Want Action.
Luther C. Steward OF the National
Federation Of Federal Employees, dis
ctissing the status Of the legislation to-
day. said:
i've are strongly in favor Of the
most favorable terms that can be en-
acted. but view with alarm anything
that win tend to jeopardize the as
surance of definite action at this ses-
sion. The most important immediate
step Is 70 secure some action by the
Senate. 50 that II there is q difference
that win require adjustment the con-
fereeS could begin work without de-
lay"
Senator Smoot did not give any optr-
ION as 70 what he thought the Senate
would do with the salary bill as Il IS
to be reported He merely announced
that the Senate changes would add
81 000, 900 to the cost and that it would
make the total cost. as reported % the
Senate, $25,4Oo, ,00o Then he added;
II cannot support that"
Asked today regarding the discussion
which took place at the Senate hearing
Saturday TO the effect that If the
relative position" clause of the House
bill were eliminated only about 5000
900 Of increases would take effect dur
ing the first year, Senator Smoot said
today that was not his understanding
of the proposition. The bin was in
tended to provide for increases total
ing $4,000, 900, he said.
Brookhart's Position.
Senator Brookhart indicated that be
was still strongly ia favor OF the ad6f-
tional steps added to the bill by the
Senate committee and pointed oue that
the committee was unanimous IN its
action to report the bill. He indicated
that he could see no reason wby the
total cost Of the bin could nor run to
his estimate Of $2SSsT.ooo. instead Of
$4,000. 900.
The committee may file its report IN
the Senate some time today and VII
try to have the bill considered IS soon
as possible. but il Is not likely 90 ee
taken up today.
PKie Sees Deficiencies.
apparent deficiencies" In che weseh
bill were pointed out IN \ letter Nrat-
ten by II. NJ PlTie. assistant chief
clerk Of the United States Public Health
Service. 70 Chairman Dale Of the SEN
ate civil service committee and made
public today.
Mr.. Pirie points out that there S no
language In this bin repealing the aver
age provision appearing IN al the AZ,
preparation acts for the next nScM
wear" and that the words relative
position" used In the measure, are nce
specific On account Of the fact tfaas
there are not the same number or paw
rates in the grades Of the new OIL sS
there are In the same grades Nnaer tae
nreSent law" The bill rs II now StanCsS.
Mr. pirie asserts. has Increased tAe
maximum OF grades 10 in the csegt-
cal administrative and fiscal service
and has added two additional gTaesS ~
the top"
Mr. Prizes letter. IN part. follows:
Permit me to invite the attention
Of your committee % the following
apparent deficiencies I'M bill HE-SStA
~An Act 70 provide for the classification
OF civilian positions within the piStricss
Of Columbia and the field service
better known as the welch bin
Il, There Is no language IN this eil
repeating the average provision appear
tng IN all the appropriation acts tor the
next ftScAl year, IL Is not understood
how this proposed act can be made
lieved BY many. rs hing AS the average
provision above mentioned h stu In
loTce, For example. ennloyeS IN grades
where the average Is now reached (oSsen
by reason or $orne eGnpioyes in the grade
receiving the maxhnufal, would eA
blocked BY this average prcytSAon' ffcna
bill
- The words relative neslsa0ns
IN line Is, page sa Of the bill
taS printed IN the SeaAtel. are aaoa
specific nn account of the fact that
there are net the same number of pay
rates IN the grades o9 the new elN as
there are IN the same grades under the
present law, The words relative peNi-
ston' could mean certain number of
steps ffpM the tNp on coNld hlst as
MCs0ntintled on nap.e . gHNstalsan a.