Evening star., 1928-12-08
IS GIVEN
DATA ON PAY BILL
Confers With Steward on In.
equities in Application
of WeICh Act.

Chairman Lehlbach of the House
civil service committee is closeted this
afternoon with Luther c. Steward,
president of the National Federation of
Federal Employees, in the first important
conference to obtain information on
which to base the bill which he has
promised to introduce before the Christ
mas holidays in the interest of low
salaried Government employees to whom
it has been charged an injustice was
done under the provisions of the Welch
bill and its Interpretation.
Mr.. Lehlbach had several other con-
ferenceS today with individuals who
brought him specific information re-
garding inequities in the administration
of the classification act and the WEIGH
pay bill. He expects to call the men,
mittee into a conference early next
week. Before that meeting he will
make an intensive study on the follow
ing subjects:
How much is involved in the proposed
remedial measure to perfect the claSsi-
f1cation act as amended by the WEIGH
salary bill.
The objections to the present ad-
ministration of the WEIGH act
What suggestions are made by or
ganizationS, officials and individuals for
changes that would improve the opera
ton of this law, the morale of the per-
sonnel and the efficiency of the Gov
ernment service.
What is wanted by Government off,
cials, by members Of Congress and by
the employees.
How these complaints and suggestions
for Congress to authorize by legiSla-
ton.
Mr.. Steward took into the conference
with Mr.. Lehlbach today data pre-
pared by the National Federation re-
garding the administration of the
WEIGH act. At subsequent conferences
other phases of the problem will be
discussed.
Mr.. Steward said today that informa-
ton brought to the attention of the
national federation from numerous
sources has been that the administra-
ton of the WEIGH act has been not
only not in accordance with the intent OF
Congress, but distinctly inimical to the
employees. The data he laid before
Chairman Lehlbach was to substantiate
ILllS CIldI &c Ny oIAOWA16 okONAAN AAT
stances in various departments.
In making his survey Chairman Lehl-
bach will be aided by the printed re-
port of a special hearing held on the
subject November % before chairmen
and ranking Democrats of the various
subcommittees of the House appropria-
tions committee. This document will
be available next week.
For their guidance and in order that
the subcommittee in dealing with per-
sonnel questions might have the proper
background showing the effects of the
Welch bill in operation, Chairman An
thony of the House appropriations COM
mittee arranged this special hearing
at which the Personnel Classification
Board was called upon to testify. These
witnesses included Carlos G. Van Leer,
alternate for the director of the Bureau
of the Budget; Guy Moffett, alternate
for the Civil Service Commission, and
Victor G. Croissant, alternate for the
director of the Bureau of Efficiency
The operation of the Welch pay bill
as affecting the work of the various de-
partments and the administration of it
was thoroughly discussed in this hear
ing, which has not yet come from the
public printer.