Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-26
ASSAILS LEF1LBACH PAY
MEASURE AS SERIOUS MISTAKE

over the protest of the head of the de-
partment or other Government estab-
lishment in which the position exists,
ana without giving any reason for its
action"
Another paragraph of the bill, Nc
Carl explained, would empower the
board to adjust the salary rates of par
ticular classes of employees within
grade, "a duty which has heretofore
been vested by law exclusively in the
administrative Office" This, he point
ed out, would have the effect in some
instances of eliminating the opportu=
nifty of advancement through the en-
tire salary range of the grade.
The practical effect of such course"
ne said. would be the establishment
OF smaller grades within the existing
grades provided by law. thereby re-
stricting the number of increases in
compensation that could be given for
efficient and faithful service" Com
plications would arise, he predicted
which would probably cause the pro-
posed law to be "impracticable" of op-
Grafton by the board. "as the average
provision appearing in the annual an
preparation acts is required to be COM
pied with by the administrative
Offices"
The provisions of the proposed bill
TO require the board to review the ac-
ton OF the administrative Offices under
the WEIGH act, in determining the proper
grades OF officers and employees in the
higher brackets. McCarl said. would
cause demotion of high paid en-
ployes.
Reduce Higher Grades.
"The practical operation" he said
would require the reduction in COM
pensation of the most valuable and
highly trained professional. scientific
and responsible administrative officers
OF the Government and, in addition.
would vest in the board authority to
so allocate many other professional and
scientific men in the intermediate
grades as to reduce their rates of COM
pensation to a figure below, that act
ually received June 80, 1924. The pro-
visions of this paragraph are manda-
tory in requiring reduction in the COM
pensation OF certain positions and
would make possible the reduction in
the compensation of all officers and
employees in the higher grades"
Speaking as an administrative officer
himself. at the head of the general ac-
counting office for nearly eight years
McCarl sharply criticized the proposed
measure from the viewpoint of all ex.
ecutive. He said he had been head %.
an establishment employing nearly
1000 capable. efficient and interested
employees" He regarded the bill as "a
serious mistake and one that would
prove most detrimental to good admin
lstrat!on i'll the departments and
establishments. so to bar the respons-
IDLE administrative head from initiating
ana effectively participating in the re-
Wardlng. by compensation adjustment,
his employees for faithful or exceptional
service rendered. or to punish employees
Tor neglect, improper or unfaithful con-
duct by placing such power so to re-
ward and punish in the hands OF an
outside agency in no way and in no
respect responsible for the administra-
ton OF departments and establishments
or the accomplishment of the duties
imposed upon them by law.
Also" he explained" it would be in
my Judgment unwiSe and unfair TO
faithful employees to render their COM
penSation status SO uncertain and sub
ject to radical change downward at the
will of an agency that can have no
such first hand and actual knowledge
Of work done and responsibility carried
by such employees as Is known to the
head of the department in which the
work is actually done, and where the
responsibility for its accomplishment
rests. To assume that the broad
powers proposed to be given by section
one of the bill will in fact and practice
be used only in full agreement with the
responsible heads of departments and
establishments, is not a sure or safe
route to such necessary end. That
right which is not given in the law
may be denied st any time-and pos
sibly when the most vital thing is in
volved.
My objection to the proposed lecis-
lation would be the same if the pro-
pOsal was to vest broad powers In a
board named by the President and con-
1igmed by the Senate"
Chairman Lehlbach of the House
civil service committee is today COM
pleting his draft of the pay relief bill
as directed by the committee following
conference with Luther c. Steward.
president of the National Federation
of Federal Employees.
Owing to the fact that the House is
not in session, MIR. Lehlbach can MT
introduce this bill today rs he intended,
but it will be introduced Monday.
Mr.. Lehlbach expects to call I'll
House civil service committee togethav
on Wednesday or Thursday to report
out this pay relief bill.
A sleeping car bus has eight berths;