Evening star., 1928-04-26
The Emergency Pay-Scale Bill,

While 1t is highly desirable that there
should be some legislation at this ses-
sion 10 ameliorate the condition of the
Government workers in the matter of
compensation, it is discouraging to fi1d
the compromise measure which has Just
been approved by the civil service COM
mittee Of the House of Representatives
taking the form in which It has been
reported. It is explained that this is
provisional, emergency scale, TO give
immediate relief to underpaid Federal
employees pending a systematic survey,
upon which a report will be made al
the next session Of Congress for per-
nsanent revision Of the salary schedules.
Experience has been that such tenn
porsrv" measures are likely to remain
operative for a considerable length OF
time, and that the results OF surveys are
slow in becoming effective.
This bill does give relief to a large
number of the lower paid Government
workers, It is TO that extent salts
factory measure, whether temporary OF
permanent. II does not give adequate
relief to those In the middle grades OF
the service, however. and it actually
works injury to the higher grades, which
are IN as urgent need Of relief as are
the Others.
One of the most serious conditions in
the Government service in respect TO
COMPENSATION exists in the pay scale OF
the higher positions, those Of a technical
and professional character. The range
of pay In those divisions is such as tc
make il dificult for the Government to
retain workers of ability, and especially
difficult to replace them with new ap-
pointments when. discouraged by their
poor prospects or tempted by more gen.
erous opportunities, they resign fcr prl-
vate employment. In the Bureau oil
Standards, the Department of Agrieul-
ta,re anG such smaller organizations as
the Public Library. this condition mill
tstes seriously against the maintenance
Of efficient forces.
Under the temporary arrangement
proposed by the House committee on
civil service the maximum and the min
s,r1uun scales Of these higher paio work
ers of the technical, scientific and pro-
fesxioaal groups are both reduced. The
effect of such reductions will. IL the bill
Is enacted into Law. be TO lessen the
total Of appropriations from the point
involved IN the original WEIGH measure
but AT the same time It will, for a..
least one year, and perhaps for longer
for Government surveys are not assair-
edly completed within time limits and
legislation based upon them is not
pYonpt-actually cause material loss
OF pay to these highly competent and
essential workers.
For the employees Of the Government
Ia the lower and middle ranges Of pay
there Is the keenest sympathy. They
should be given immediate and material
relief In the manner proposed by the
WEIGH bill, or a substitute for ii which
carries out its essential features, II it
h the opinion Of Congress that the
proposed scale Is nes the most equitable
measure to serve as permanent or
long enduring basis Of Government
compensation, and that further intor-
nation is required before such law is
enacted. then by all means LET the tenn
porsFy scale. adopted pending inquiry,
b. such as 10 yield relief TO al and not
irnpooe hardship upon an already IN
derpai1 branch Of the public service.