Evening star., 1928-12-07
MEASURE CARRYING
WEIGH ACT CHANGE
DUE BY CHRISTMAS
LehIbaCh Promises to Intro
duce Bill to Revise Salary
Increase Legislation.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
STUDYING PRESENT LAW
Describes Any Repeal Proposals,
However, as "Silly and
Foolish"
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Chairman Lehlbach of the House
civil service committee this afternoon
promised to introduce in the House be-
fore the Christmas recess a bill de-
signed to correct what are declared to
be inequalities and administrative
shortcomings in the WEIGH salary in
crease act amending the classification
act
This remedial legislation will be based
apon conferences with the personnel
classification board, the Navy Depart
ment. the Veterans Bureau, the Bu-
reau of the Budget, the controller gen.
ersl and the War Department concern
ang certain field activities, and the Ma
sional Federation of Federal Employees
Mr.. Lehlbach said he is making an
earnest study to see what in the present
aaw needs correction and promises the
earliest possible and most vigorous ac-
ton to see that these changes are en-
hcted.
Against Repeal Proposals.
Mr.. Lehlbach has no patience with any
proposals to repeal the WEIGH act, say
ing that this is SILLY and foolish" and
when asked directly whether he SUBJ
gcribes to the opinion voiced by Repre-
sentative Wood of Indiana in the House
late yesterday regarding the WEIGH act
MIR. Lehlbach answered, 81 absolutely do
not
The appropriations committee was
directly charged by Mr.. Lehlbach with
designs to impede and block the IN
tention of the House in passing the
classification act and the Welch bill.
"If the real intent of the original
classification act and the revision IN
the Welch act had not been mpeoeo
and blocked by limitations designed TO
frustrate its provisions; if the lirnita-
ton restricting salaries to the average
of the grades as originated by the ap-
propriations committee and carried" IN
the anpropriation bill had not been IN
nneration. the major part OF dlSSatls-
faction and the muddled situation Win
regard to classification and salaries
would have been avoided" he said.
Law "EmascuIated."
He declared that the classificatlon
saw has been emasculated by nmlVa-
tions emanating from the appropriations
committee. 1r.
Iehlbach following conference VIII .,Cn
Iuther C.. Steward, president OF tlle
National Federation of Federal EN-
ployes. who expressed confidence tnal
Corrective legislation will be prompViy
brought to the attention OF the House:
Chairman Lehlbach said his sCuoies
may show that some OF the rouples
complained about may be corrected
through revision of administrative
policy rather than through the neCss-
sity of resorting to new legiSlatlon; Ing
most efficient and direct metnoos o.
settling the salary problem 1or Ine IIit
Government employees will receive MS
support. Mr. Lehlbach said.
Wood in his attack yesterday declared
the WEIGH bill to be "a monstroslIy, ap-
solutely irnpracticable, which has 1aneo
entirely to carry out the purpose Ioi
which Congress believed it to be enaCI.
ed" wood advocated repeal OF tilt
The National Federation of Fedora
FnnIoves. which drafted the orlgina
Welch bin. is in hearty accord WIN tne
plan to amend it.
Brookhart Favors Corrections.
At the same time support today came
from the Senate side when Senator
Brookhart. Republican, of Iowa, Wne
with Chairman Dale OF the ClVn SeIF-
ice Commission was active IN consloeI a
ton of the measure at the last Session
said he thought necessary coIteCCholh !.
should be made by amendment raUIle'
than repeal of the measure.
REPRESENTATIVE Richard WeIcn
California. father of the salary lncreas
which passed last May, as compronllS,
measure. is prepared to make speeci
in the House, some time Joody, SeCCi,l
forth the views of those who are WorK
ing for the interests OF the employees
the proposed amendments. a.,
While a number OF members ol !li
House are prepared 10 ollet t5,, opeOtt, ~
amendments TO une WelcL w, - con
interests of certain groups OF their con
stituents it is hoped by the civil serVlc
committee members that Whatever ne
Hesitation is enacted may be TAKEN Ca
nf in the composite commlttee ol
rather than in number OF inolvlous az :
changes. In this way it is believed tId
it will be possible to more nearly ap
nroximate Justice especially to those
the lower bracket.
New Schedules Due.
The salary question for GovernmeI
emploves is furtner complicated by u
fact that in accordance with the pr(
vision of the Welch act, new Schedui'
ere to be submitted by the PerSonn
classification Board for classification
feld service starting in January. II
recommendations Of the P2"Gcnn
classification Board are expected
contain also proposals for straightenlr
out inequities in the department
service which may or may not con1or
with the recommendations OF the nj
tional Federation of Federal Employe
Among the amendments that see
1ikelv to be urged is a provision MA
ing clear the congressional intent as
maintenance of relative position b
tween grades which the decision OF Il
controller general has upset.
Another proposed amendment is
secure the 81 500 minimum as has a
ready been allowed in the postal servl
and under the Bachrach act for Il
aklstoms service. This would take ca
Of all the low-paid Government er
ployes.
1t seems certain that the Personr
Classification Board will recommel
fewer grades. There are now 10 grad
in the clerical service, with not enout
of difference in the lower brackets
responsibility of Jobs, SO that pers'
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