Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-15
COOLIDGE OPPOSES
SALARY INCREASES
FOR i. S. WORKERS
Also Against Legislation Fur
ther LiberaIizing Retire.
ment Act at This Time.
SEES NO INJUSTICE IN
WEIGH LAW APPLICATION
Promises Careful Consideration,
However, if Any Discrimina-
tions Are Reported.

President Coolidge today made it very
clear that he would not give his consent
to any bill that called for sweeping
pay increase for Federal employees. and
indicated that he is not in favor of
legislation at this time further liberaliz-
ing the retirement act. At the same
time he denied that he had committed
himself in favor of legislation provid-
ing wage boost for the lower-paid
employees.
If there is any injustice as result OF
the WEIGH act the President would be
glad to give it his careful considera-
ton, but from the information he has
received he doubts very much If there
is anything bordering on injustice in
the application of increased salaries
provided by the WEIGH act.
If there are inequalities, as has been
charged by those sponsoring further pay
increases, the President would be glad
to see these corrected and if the cost
to the Government is to be what he
considers trivial he probably would be
guided by what Congress wants. But,
if the proposal is to call for sweeping
increases. he made it unn1lstakably
plain that he would withhold his ap-
proval.
The President was represented as
being of the opinion that if those who
framed the Welch act had listened to
the advice of administration authori-
ties, they would have enacted bill that
would not have resulted in charges OF
injustice and inequality.
Says Advice Not Needed.
The President regrets that the
trainers of the WEIGH act did not heed
the advice given them. While touch
ing on this subject today, the President
was represented as recalling that when
he gave his consent to the Welch act
he was assured that it would not cost
more than S14,O00,000, but when it was
presented to him for his signature ne
found that the increases called for an
outlay of more than $23,000,0O0.
The President was represented as OPP
posed to the proposal to further LIBERAL
ize the retirement act. which, among
other things, calls for increasing the
maximum pension to Sl,2OO annuaAy.
He is of the opinion that the recent
act further liberalizing the retirement
should be given further trial before
considering additional liberalization.
Personally. the President considered
the first liberalization of the retirement
act as being liberal in its provisions ano
as adequately answering the purpose lot
which it was enacted, and 1T was foT
these reasons that he signed the Dill
He made it very clear that he does moi
think the time has come for the retire.
n1ent nav to be further increased, OF
that other provisions should be made
more liberal.
His Attitude Tentative"
The attitude of the President as ex-
pressed regarding the proposed correc-
ton of inequalities in the Welch Dill
and the Dale bill to further liberallze
the retirement act. was explained In the
Presidents behalf as being of tenta-
tive nature. In other words, the Pres
ident has let it be known just how
he feels regarding these two proposals
on behalf of the Federal employees, and
which call for additional outlays OF
public moneys
The President, however, reserves the
right to withhold definite decision un-
til the time comes when he is called
upon to act. He has let 1t be known
that he vial decide after considering the
merits involved. But of the two pro-
SAADSN
with whom he discussed them, that the
Dale bill for the liberalization of the re-
trement act has less chance of receiving
his approval than the proposals to cor
rect the WEIGH pay act if the latter dc
not amount to too much of an expendl-
ture on the part of the Government.
In a humorous vein, the President
was represented as being of the opin.
ion that the way in which to make cor
rections in the pay bill so as to take
care Of loWer-paids employees is to reduc;
the pay of those VINO are getting toe
much, and to give it tc those who arr
not getting enough. He continued II
this joking reference by observing tha
the usual course, however, is to work II
the other direction.
Endorses Senate Plan.
Indorsing the Senate plan for cor
recting inequality in Government sal
aries and taking positive stand agains
conferring power upon the Personne
Classification Board to review existing
allocations upon its own motion, Con
troller General McCarl wrote to Senate
Brookhart, Republican, of Iowa, ex
rlaining his views on the salary situa
ton.
The letter of the controller general
Of particular interest, cince it was hi
cffice that was called upon last Summe
to advise department heads as to tn
methods they should follow in puttin
the Welch law into effect. Referrin
to the need for amending the Welc
law. the controller general stated:
ITO care for inequalities in salar
adjustments of employees in the lowe
grades, due to the insufficiency OF tn
Welch act. it seems to me, the pla
proposed by your bill the Brookhal
measure) is preferable, and the Cor
gress feeling the Treasury can SO RI
spond, / am in hopes the measure ma
have early favorable consideration
There has been nothing to indicate ths
the Congress considered the WEIGH al
as affording complete relief. and, {
course. no proper Interpretation of i
provisions could provide the result
hoped for by some of its sponsors"
The McCarl letter was In reply to
request from Senator Brookhart askir
whether the rulings of the controll'
general had curtailed the authority
the Classification Board. At recei
hearing before the Senate civil servit
committee testimony was given to ii
effect that the powers Of the board hs
heen so curtailed, leaving it withol
mower to review or reallocate positiC
except upon the recommendation OF
department head or an appeal by IL
employe.
Replying to Senator Brookhart: M
Carl said his Interpretation OF u
Welch act in no way curtalled u
duties or jurisdiction of the Classics
ton Board.
He quoted from his ruling of la
June in which he held, in substanc
that the Classification Board had i
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