Evening star., 1928-05-10
SMOOT .ASkSfAR[q
WEIGH HB|L[sAlCT|ON
,cnator Urges Committee to
Back House Measure Rath-
er Than His.

Prompt action by the Senate on the
Government employees pay increase bill
as 1t passed tire House, with one amend
ment Of an administrative nature. vas
urged by Senator Smoot, Republican, OF
Utah, testifying at a hearing before the
Senate civil service committee today.
Senator Smoot. who Is co-autfor OF
The WEIGH bill in the House. asked the
committee TO act on the House .,l
rather than his bill, pointing out thaf
the salary provisions are the same, ana
that this course will expedite final an
nouncement.
The Utah Senator said he felt sure
the House would agree to the one
change which he recommended without
the necessity of sending the bill to
conference. and that tins would m
crease the chances of enacting the
measure into law before adjournment.
He said he conferred this morning with
Luther B. Steward, representing the Ma
tional Federation of Federal Employe.,
who agreed to the amendment.
Feature Held Unworkable.
Senator Smoot explained that the ad-
miniStrative feature to be amended
would be unavoidable in its present
form In the course Of the hearing sey-
eral members of the committee expires,
ed feeling that the method Of In
creasing the salaries of the Government
workers by rearranging the grades In
the classification law. as proposed in
this bill. might prove unsatisfactory.
Senator George, Democrat, Of Geog-
gia. suggested that employees would
rather have their salaries stated In 2
bill than to have them left TO alloca-
ton.
Senator Brookhart, Republican. OF
Iowa inquired whether it was not pos
sible to provide increases on a percent
age basis. He added that this Juggling
of grades back and forth leaves room
for a great deal Of injustice"
At this point in the hearing Senator
Smoot. author of the measure, arrives
at the meeting and explained in detail
how the total increase Of $4,000, GOO
provided for in the bill would be di7--
tributed among the various classes Of
employees.
Answering a question by Senatc-
Couzens of Michigan, Senator Srn6J-
explained that while the amount cf
Increase in the case of the clerical sd-
rlinistrative and fiscal service tots .s
ncore IN dollars than in the custodIal
service, 1t is due TO the much larger
number Of employees in the clerical ad-
ministrative and fiscal service and does
not mean that employees in that service
would get greater increase individu-
ally.
Senator Couzens also called attention
to grade 8 of the subprofessional serv-
ice in which, he said. the maximum of
So 600 is not increased.
1t seems to me that under this bill'
there will be constant struggle fcT
change Of classification In order to ger
increases" observed Senator Blaine. Re-
publican. of Wisconsin.
THAT happens now" Senator Smoot
explained
Senator Blaine said there was feel
ing that influence sometimes entered
into the problem of reclassification Of
employees.
Senator Smoot said he had never
heard of 1t being done.
Senator Blaine added that he was
not referring to any individual, but
thought 1t was the fault of the system
Although Senator Smoot. explained
that there we're no decreases IN salaries
under this bill he said he had no Oh
lection 70 n suggestion Of Senator
Couzens that a clause be inserted Stat-
ing that no salary shall be rehuked
John r. Bethune, secretary Of the
Tariff Commission. testified at some
length concerning various features Of
the bill. He told the committee the
| bill was intended TO benefit the entire
service. but expressed the belief that
the greatest benefit would be for the
newest employe. 81
Bruce Presents Letters.
The committee engaged In frequent
discussions Of the technical workings
OF the classification law. Senator Bruce
Democrat, of Maryland. presented let
terS ne had received from individual
employees urging change In certain pro
visions Of the bill.
Senator Dale. Republican, Of Vermont,
presided and questioned Senator Smoos
concerning various details of the meas.
ure Senator Dale indicated that he
agreed to the suggested elimination OF
one OF the administrative features Of
the House bill as recommended by Sen
ator Smoot, but was still considering
whether 1t was necessary to make some
other provisions IN its place.
The hearing adjourned today with
several witnesses still 70 be heard. In
Guiding representatives of the Budget
Bureau and the Personnel Classification
Board. Senator Dale. chairman. an
nounced the committee would meet
again at 10 O'Clock Saturday morninG.