Evening star., 1928-12-07

With the 81 800 minimum ana con-
solidation of some of the lower grades
where fine distinctions are drawn, the
friends of the Government workers say
it would be possible more equitably to
allocate the great mass Of lower-paid
employees.
Complaint also has been received by
the civil service committee members
which Is especially important in the
field as distinguished from service n
the departments here that while the ef-
fective date of the Welch act was July
!. 1928, it has been put into effect on
various dates by executive action. For
example, by the Navy on August l, and
by the Veterans Bureau on September
! and october |, thus depriving many
employees of the benefit for several
months.
On entering the executive conference
with Chairman Lehlbach today, Stew
ard said: we are naturally gratified at
the very general display of interest on
the part Of members of Congress in the
pay of Federal employees. Congress
S,onal sentiment is clearly in favor of
further amendatory legislation on be-
half Of the employees in the lower
kalary brackets
He explained that the welch bill as
introduced at the request of the fedora
tion represented rates, which. in our
Judgment would have more nearly rep
resented the conservative valuation OF
services rendered.
Was Compromise Measure.
"The Welsh bill, as finally enacted was
a compromise measure" he emphasized,
land represented all that was obtain
able at the last session of Congress" F"
Mr.. Steward pointed out that those who
voted for the bill stated that it was a
temporary measure of relief which
would necessitate further legislation at
this session. mot only was the WEIGH
bill itself a compromise" said Mr..
Steward, "but its benefit, especially in
the lower r-salary groups were still fur
ther circumscribed by an opinion of the
controller general and the failure of
some departmental heads to take ad-
vantage of the authorization contained
in the act to as full an extent as was
possible.
I'VE shall use our utmost endeavor," {"
said Mr. Steward. Ito secure for the
employees the relief which an over
whelming sentiment in Congress url-
questionably favors."
AS for Senator Brookhart. he said
that he is still in favor of the amend
rner1t he advocated last Spring. to keep
lie SAINT IluIIlDGT VI SISpS SdCIl
grade under the WEIGH law that existed
under the old law The bill as enacted
cut off the two bottom steps of the
grades, but in q number of cases added
only one higher step at the top.
Would Simplify Application.
This meant that grades which for
3nerly consisted of seven steps contain
only six under the Welch act Senator
1~Af- A. 4fan{ xxt1AA a
bottom salary steps we're eliminated two
new steps should be added at the top.
Such an amendment would simplify
the application of the section of the law
which provides for placing each employe
in the same relative position under the
new law that he or she held within q
grade under the old law. In grades
where seven salary steps were consoli-
dated into six the task OF determining
what the relative positions Of the en-
ployes should be became more COM
plicated.
Senator Brookhart has not yet de-
Cided what procedure he will take IN
bringing up the question but is in fa-
vor of some action by Congress If time
will permit at the present session. If
that cannot be done, he is in favor of
Congress giving attention to the prob
lem at The following session.
Woods statement yesterday was made
during an explanation of elimination OF
increases in salary for number OF
supervisory officials. Mr.. Wood pointed
out tina. ''vnder the act of May %, 1928
amending tnt classification act of 1923
and the decision of the controller gen.
eral assistant heads Of the departments
whose compensation was fixed under
the classification act of 1923 at $7,50(
are being compensated at 1000 per an
nun. The five officials whose salarie!
are estimated in the budget for increases
of So 900 each did not benefit under tht
provisions Of the act of May %, 1928"
Another Objection Stressed.
Attention was called by Representa-
tive O'Connell. Democrat, of New York
that the WEIGH act increased the high
paid officers and failed to compensate
in large measure, those in the lowe
brackets" Mr.. Wood agreed that thi
sis correct" and explained to his col
leagues that when the Welch bill wa
pending before the House the member
believed that its purpose was to in
crease the wages of the lower-paid en-
ployes. but as it turns out, instead o
it making a substantial increase in tn
salaries Of the lower-paid employees
gives them a pittance Of an increase
amounting to about 5 per cent. The sal
aries of the gentlemen in the highe
grades, $500 and in that neighborhooc
were increased from 20 to 25 per cen
ana through the Interpretation made
the controller general of the Unite
States two Of the grades from whic
some of them we're advanced under tn
discretion Of the department heads hav
been entirely vacated. In some case
they went up two grades, and in corse
uuerce many who were receiving $3.50
under the operation Of the WEIGH az
end the decision Of the controller ger