Evening star., 1928-03-13
The Welch Bill.

Next week hearings will begin before
the House committee OH civil service
on the measure known as the Welch
bill. which proposes a change in the
salary scale of the Government. This
bill, proposed In an earlier Congress by
the late Representative Nolan of Cali
fornia. is intended to revise the pay
rolls of the Federal forces to correct
the inadequacies left by the reclassi-
ficaticn act of 1923, which was the
first general revision In the Govern
ment's system Of compensations for
more than half a century. The act of
1923, when put into effect. afforded
only slight relief to the departmental
workers In a large majority of cases.
1t actually, in some instances. as a re-
suit Of the reclassif1cation Of positions
and ALLEGATION to grades. brought about
losses of income to the workers.
Ever since the reclassification act was
put into effect efforts have been made
to secure relief from the conditions, in
part resulting from that enactment,
under which the Government employees
have been suffering. The Nolan, now
the WEIGH. bill proposes a new scale of
pay. which. adding some millions an
nually to the Governments pay roll,
yields scale that Is more nearly equi-
table to the employees. It starts by bring
ing the lowest pay in the "custodial
service" from $500 to s780 year. In
the clerical, administrative and fiscal
service, which embraces the largest
number OF the Federal employees. 1t
raises the minimum In the lowest grade
from sl.i40 to $500. In the pro-
fessional and scientific service, which
has always been subjected TO lower
scale than the high requirements Of the
work Justify. the minimum is increased
from Sl,860 TO $4,000
While the policy OF administrative
economy. established as the governing
principle Of the Federal service. re-
quircs the closest watchfulness over all
| proposals for increased expenditures,
this Is a measure that commands the
sympathetic support Of those who know
the condition of the Governments OPP
Grating force The average of pay in
the Federal service Is low. actually lower
than I'm the skilled trades and In many
Of the private business occupations.
The United States requires Its opera
tives. custodial, clerical and technical,
! to serve at compensations that would
not be tolerated In other lines, where
the workers have greater freedom Of
action. Heads of families are COM
PEELED 70 maintain themselves on SAL
| aries that are insufficient 10 meet the
, obligations incident 10 a decent scale
| Of living. There Is no margin for cmer-
gencies. none for even small lu1uries.
! Yet these people are required 10 live In
keeping With high standard. They
| have few opportunities 10 earn addi-
tionaI sums from outside work" They
are taxed percentage OF their pay for
the retirement fund,
/ The WEIGH bill has been carefully
prepared. with due regard for the Gov
ernment's interests as we'll as for those
OF the workers Of the Federal service.
At the hearings soon 10 begin the equi-
ties Of this proposed scale will be fully
demonstrated. Only positive. psremp-
tory refusal on the score Of administra-
tive economy can effectively be cited az
an excuse for non-enactment at this
session. All who know the straits OF
the Government workers. who appreci-
ate the inadcquacy Of the reclahsiflca-
ton act which. after more than nifty
years Of neglect, was passed 10 correc,
the pay scale, VIII wish for favorable
actiJn by the HOUSE committee followed
by the passage Of ths bill through THE
House.