Evening star., 1928-03-19
2,Ol)OU.S. WORKERS
ATTEND HEARING
Representatives Speak for
Salary Bill After Seeing
Large Delegation.
Continued from First Pase.)

! they couldn't hear word that was
/ said. but they Joined in all the applause
and yelled several times on their own
| hook Just because they thought 1t was
| time 10 yell.
The proposed bill affects approxi-
mately 10000 employees of the Gov
| ernment in the District Of Columbia
| and throughout the field service, ex-
! cept those in the Postal Service and
skilled tradesmen in the navy yard. 1t
/ includes the custodial, customs and i'm
migration services, with the Treasury
| Department having the greatest num-
! Der Of low-paid employees to be benefited
| through this legislation. The estimated
| cost is S35.000, 900 year, at the start,
with savings resulting by lessening
overturn and through increased eff
cheney BY inducing the best workers
to make Uncle Sans business their
Efework.
Members of Congress who spoke in
support OF this measure included Sena-
tor Ashurst, Arizona; Representative
Grail. California: Mrs. Kahn, Cali
ginia: Blanton. Tex; Howard. Ne
braska; Taber. New York; w. T. Fitz-
gerald, Ohio: Summers. Washington:
Busby, Mississippi; Clancy and Nc
Leod, Michigan; Connery and CALI
van. Massachusetts,: Updike, Indiana:
MacGregor, New York: Let's, Iowa, ana
Hudspeth. Tex.
Preliminary remarks were made by
Representative Welch of California.
author Of the measure, and by Mr..
Steward. DR.. Paul H, Douglas, pro-
lessor Of industrial relations at the Uni
yersity Of Chicago. spoke as a private
citizen, who has given intensive study
10 the related problems Of earnings by
employees in proportion to the cost Of
living, and a comparison Of these condi-
tions IN outside employment with con-
oitions IN the Government service.
Ashurst Favors Measure.
Senator Ashurst expressed confidence
that the Civil Service committee is
profoundly convinced Of the vast I'M
portance Of the WEIGH bill" He said
it should be enacted and that this most
opulent OF all nations. the cleanest OF
world powers, can well afford 70 pay its
employees 50 that they may be mair-
tanned according TO American standards
OF living. He emphasized that the
purchasing power OF the dollar has de-
creased about 81 or 81 per cent, and
called attention that there has been
horizontal rise in prices. while the en-
ployes have not participated as they
ought IN this rising scale.
The salaries today are dispropor-
tionate TO the rise IN the cost Of living.
Senator Ashurst said. and it is unfair
70 prevent these workers TO make a
decent living
The Government owes nobody a
living the Senator said. but it does
owe every person IN the Nation a
chance 20 earn decent living" The
Government has no right 10 ask per-
son 10 give up mis- time to the business
Of Government when the compensation
Is not balanced with the cost and
standards Of living"
MIS-. Kahn paid tribute to former
members Of Congress from California.
who died in serTfce fighting the cause
Of uncerpaic Government employees
and then spoke on the womans side.
saying that very few in the Govern
Tert service are working Just for them
selves. but have dependents. and said
particularly the women workers, who
are trying TO be decent and earn their
way. should feel ci1at Congress viii do
everything il can TO help them.
Moore Urges Enactment.
Representative Moore Of Virginia told
the committee that he is very much
IN favor" o. this measure. He said he
speaks with absolute and incontest-
able knowledge of the facts. having teen
lOng familiar with conditions" Il am
just as well satisfied as ever was on
any question" Mr. Moore said, ''tha.
the Government employees are in
Adequately compensated uow and very
often work under inequalities that ought
70 be corrected" He reminded his COL
leagues that ne had refused 10 vote for
increasing the salaries Of members Of
Congress. although ne realized that
slcn an increase vas justified, bat that
ne n2o been opposed 10 IL until the
corsicerstlcn Of increaging the salaries
0. employees in the executive depart
nente O. Government had been giYen."
lie Rad not completed his statement
WIEN the committee recessed. Wit
reGSes who are 10 follow in ggurcrt Of
this measure are the various vice pres.
scents Of the employees federation rep
reSentirg the centerg. or communities
in Thicn there are large numbers Of
employees throughout the country. These
are: John Fitzgerald, New YORK: Lee r.
/. whitney. Milwaukee: JOHN p. Tnorop-
Son. San Francisco: n. J. Hines, LeaY-
enTofta. K&ns: Charles l.. Wiegand.
+ - u.
InJ,naS w. Gould, ClsYeIanc, and Wal
te. p. Taylor, Tucson. Ar.z.
Ar- Moore argued that 10 give ahe-
qlate compensation Is In the interests
oi economy because Satisfied ernDI0yex
EiA p1t tneig hearts into ,heir york
representative Elarton said that the
otaiy concern ne has Is regarding those
snployes Q; tDe Government who are
ca1eiS oi bureaus ard GET 81 500. because
Elien salaries are cisproportionate 70
tfaos@ received By the ones vino actually
90 the Bcyk
II was never the intention of Con-
gftSs and never the purpose Of the
CLASSIFICATION ART thar there should be
MS unjust c!spyDpovtion Of salaries.
Af. EAantor2 said, Tn for paying fair
increases 70 al these undcrpaid en-
p4cgef, ne aaic. adding ne would be
.o1nc worksng shoulder N shnt,Ieer
WITH members ~ the civil service COM
n1l'tee 10 see justice 6one."
Called Horse sense" Bill.
Eep,eaentatjYe Howard u GebYaska
0Y2fc taTofa1le acI!9n On this bill. de-
scFlo}n2 =. e. !4orSe Sen5e" measure.
representative Iakfr .! New York said
f4e is heartily ~ taYoy o! the bill, beliey~
is.Z ta&f en2Il.pFe$ should he literally
pad He GazrAc,ef.zeG the Co@ern~
ngeft enpDyes. wnO@e work he has
cIDsejy oysf:9ec, as De!ng faithful, en-
eFgel1c and iO?sI" b3l protested that
! tsDey ere mot getting adequate wages"
He SAD Il L ~ t!le interest u national
welfare fnat tneE emDioyes should be
~ ggalc tnz{ = Wojlc De an example "
l'neg enE.syeTs .! l&kr W pay just
Wages.
Fepcesentzsiyes FI,z2erzld, Ohio;
eln0rye. Wasnington. ard E1&by. Mis-
s:Sstgpi al s;rgks ii favor ~ LIBERAL
] t<3n3penxs 'Mf ~ al ennpioyef ard to1s
IManA7 7aa1.n r.,