Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-18
The Governments Pay Scale.

The Governments Pay Scale.
When the House committee on civi
service tomorrow opens the hearings OF
the WEIGH bill providing for a genera
increase in the salary scale in the Fed.
eral service. 1t will have laid before II
incontestable evidence of the urgcn,
need of relief for the Governments
workers In Washington and elsewhere
Demonstration will be given of the
fact that in a great number Of cases
actually. and relatively throughout the
entire range of service personnel there
is grievous hardship in the endeavoT
to maintain self and family on the
compensation granted by the United
States
Were this wage scale arbitration in
one OF the industrial trades there could
be no doubt rs to the outcome, for it
will be shown incscapably that the
present rate OF pay granted by the en-
ployer does not suffice to permit a right
standard Of living on the part Of the
employe. But this is not an arbitra-
ton. 1t is an appeal to the conscience
OF the Government as represented by
the collective deputies Of the people sit
ting as the Congress TO Ak the scale
OF wages" without the possibility of
appeal to a higher court or in practice
TO the remedy Of the strike, which Is
the ultimate weapon Of organized labor.
In this appeal to reason and to the
sense Of justice OF the Nation as rep
resented by Congress 1t can and will
be shown that for many decades the
United States has been the poorest OF
all American paymasters; that even with
the adjustment of the Redistribution
act OF 1929, which was supposed to
establish the Governments pay scale
on an equitable and a generous basis,
the resulting range OF compensation
was inadequate.
In the course OF the long lapse of
time, when the Government stood still
in the matter of the pay Of Its de-
partmental workers. every other occu-
patton in this country was being steadi-
ly more highly rewarded. Had the
Government pay scale risen during
those years in keeping with those OBJ
tanning In the industries and trades and
in business the readjustment OF 1923
would perhaps have been adequate. But
actually In relation to all other work.
ers. clerical and technical, skilled and
unskilled, the Government employees
had gone back during that period and
the act Of 1928 did not close the gap
that had been opened between them
and the employees OF private business in
this country.
The WEIGH bill will cost the Govern
ment, 1t Is computed, between
$50. 900 600 and $4,000. 600 annually In
addition TO the present appropriations
for personnel. Considering the volume
cases TO despair on the score of the
this is not a large addition. Consider
ing the encouragement and stimulus
on the part Of the personnel which
the enactment Of this bill win yield, 1t
will be a good investment for the United
States. For there Is at present through
out the Government service a feeling
OF dependency amounting In some
cases TO despair on the score OF the
hopelessness Of an improved condition.
The chances Of promotion from grade
to grade are slight. In the average
individual case the outlook Is gloomy.
The percentage runs against the en-
pioye. He has 10 contribute to the re-
tirenent fund. He can look forward to
his retirement with no degree OF happi-
ness, for with the annuity scale stand
ing as II does. or even as II may be
revised by pending legislation. the pros
pect Is one Of penury and priyation.
1t will be worth thirty millions or
forty millions spent in an increase OF
Federal service pay scale to change this
spirit TO one Of satisfaction, Of optimism.
Every private employer doing business
on a large scale knows this truth, that
he must maintain the morale Of his
working force just as he maintains the
efficiency Of his mechanical plant II he
would succeed in business And It Ia
that point OF view that Congress should
now take In considering this measure
II 1t Is taken. the result viii be the
enactment Of this measure Of justice.