Evening star., 1928-05-13
SENATE BODY D KS
WEIGH WAGE BILL;
ADDS MORE STEPS
Civil Service Committee
Amends'Measure to Raise
Pay of U. S. Employees.
DALE INTENDS TO PRESS
FOR ACTION THIS WEEK
Average Increase of $120 Proposed
by House Is Raised to $3.50
in Report.

Amended by the addition Of higher
steps to many of the grades, resulting
in somewhat greater total increase,
the House bill sponsored by Representa-
tive WEIGH of California to raise the
salaries Of Government employees, was
ordered fayorably reported late yester-
day by the Senate civil service COM
mittee
The total cost of the measure as re-
ported to the Senate was not definitely
known last night. One estimate placed
the total at about S22 2,oO0, 900, but mem
bers OF the committee were represented
as believing it would not run much
above the $4,000, 900 figure heretofore
used as the cost Of the House measure.
Exact calculations are expected to be
available early this week.
The notifications made by the Sem
ate committee in the rate schedules
would tend to raise the estimated aver
age increases to be received by larre
groups of workers. II was Calculated
last night by those who have followed
the legislation that the employees who
would have received average increases
OF SI2O a year under the House bill
would get about $3.50 under the bin as
1t VIII be reported to the Senate.
chairman Dale Of the committee
announced last night he would report
the bill Immediately and intends 10
press for action in the Senate AT the
earliest moment, some time this week
II the Senate passes the bill as amended
IL would go back to the House, which
could either concur in the Senate
amendments or send the measure to
conference. In all probability the latter
course would be pursued.
Same Salary Steps.
In adding additional steps TO MANY
OF the grades the committee not onIv
HoeralizeS the bill in favor of the
employees, but accomplishes the surres-
ton made yesterday morning by Sena-
tor Brookhart, Republican, OF iowa
OF having the same number of saIary
Steps IN each grade under the new Law
as now exist. The committee made An
exception to this general rule by leay-
ing certain high grades Of the House
Dill undiSturbed.
The Senate committee also left mn.
changed the so-called relative positionr
clause Of the House bill. which Sena.
tor Smoot. Republican, of Utah yuR-
geSted several days ago should be eIfrni-
mated from the House bill. This Is m
tended TO insure the application OF the
revised rates TO all employees by direct-
ing that they retain their present
relative positions in the ranges of SAL
aries of the various grades.
The Senate committee believes its
action in adding additional salary steps
TO the various grades, so as to pro-
VIDE as many steps in each grade as
now exist, makes the relative posi-
ton" clause workable and also sirnpii-
fles the administration of the bill. II
was contended by Senator Brookhart.
at the committee hearing yesterday
morning. that employees were confused
as TO where they would stand in the
House bill In those cases where fewer
steps were provided in certain grades
than exist In those grades now.
Senator Smoot. who several days ago
urged the committee to adopt the rates
in the House bill and who has ex-
pressed the belief that the safest way
70 insure passage OF the legislation be-
lore adjournment was to pursue that
course. was not prepared last nieht 10
comment On the changes made BY the
Senate committee. He was engaged
with the tax reduction bill In the Sem
ate throughout the day and said he
wanted TO examine the modified salary
measure before expressing an opinion.
AZ End Of Hearing.
The favorable report, with amend
ments. came as the climax TO q public
hearing earlier in the day. at which
testimony was offered to the effect that
while the ultimate amount Of increases
under the House bill would total Sle.-
100000. whether the relative position"
clause was left In or taken out, the
elimination of the clause would mean
that the Increases made mandatory
Tor the coming year would only amount
TO four or five million dollars.
This gave rise TO considerable spec
uiation following the hearing, but the
committee. when IL went into eNecu-
tive session later in the day, decided
not to change the relative position"
section Of the House bill. II the Sen
ate passes the bill as reported that Ques-
ton will not be In controversy.
The rate schedules as they appear
IN the revised Senate bill follow:
Professional and Scientific Service.
Grade l. the committee added two
steps at the top, 81 that the grade now
reads--$2,00o, $s,i0o. $4,000, $2,t00.
$a,a00 and $1,000.
Grade :. two steps added at top, 90
as to read--$a.6oo, 81. 700, $4,000, $4,000,
$4,000. $Si00 and $500.
Grade l. two steps added at top 80
as 10 read~~$S, coo $S.So0 $500. $500.
$s,6Oa, $S,T00 and $500,
Grade I, one step added at top to
Continued ON rage :, Column a.
-es-~-~~v---=z s------z~--~--s
-