Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-25
Reasons for Opposing
Lehlbach Salary Bill
To the Editor Of The Star:


Will you kindly make 1t plain to the
public that Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Wor-
rell, president of the League of Ameri-
can Civil Service. would be backing the
Lehlbach bill just as much as she is
opposing 1t II it were bill of any ad-
vantage to Government employees, but
under its provisions as now written
there is no reason to suppose that any
employe would receive an increase,
while there is every reason to believe
that they might be reduced and we do
not wish to take the same chance we
took when we failed to oppose the WEIGH
bill. If the president of the National
Federation of Federal Employees had
not opposed the Brookhart amendment
of the WEIGH bill as it passed the SEN
ate last year with its seven steps. which
is the same as the present Brookhart
bill, all this trouble about the low-paid
Government employees receiving only
$50 instead of Sl20 would have been
avoided
In the hearing on the Lehlbach bill
before the House civil service committee.
in discussing this same Brookhart bill
MIR. Luther Steward stated that it pro-
vlded "a uniform provision for an in
crease OF two rates to each employe al
| located in the various rates in the vari-
GUS grades. Because of its simplicity
1t would sem difficult for any misinter-
probation of congressional intent. We
feel that this provision should be in
cluded in the legislation" (the Lehl-
bach bilD.
Mr.. Woodrum-You mean that you
indorse this bill?
Mr.. SteWard-Yes.
Mr. Jeffers-In other words. the
Brookhart-Celler bill would give us
what We would have had If we had had
the Senate rate in the final passage of
the WEIGH act last Spring?
Mr. Steward-Yes.
Mr.. Jeffers-Is is not practically a
fact that the main reason why there
was opportunity for all the misinter-
probation and maladministration of the
| so-called WEIGH act was that there were
number of steps. different number
of steps in the old classification law
than in ours? (The WEIGH act with
only five steps,.
Mr.. Steward-That is one thing that
made it possible to have a conflict of
construction.
Mr.. Woodrum-Why did we not get
these rates? That is a very interest
ing inquiry there. Was it the fault of
Congress? To which Mr.. Steward re-
piled that he had his own theory" He
could have said, and told the truth, that
| it was because he called on President
Coolidge and informed him that his or
ganization was in favor of the WEIGH
bill as it passed the House with only
five steps," and opposed this same Brook
hart amendment with its seven steps
and particularly requested the President
to so inform Mr.. Lehlbach. He bitter
ly fought the seven-step Brookhart bill
which compelled the Senate conferees to
drop one of the seven steps. He is
now fighting to pass the Lehlbach bill
which, as now written, is no guarantee
of any promotion for the lower-paid
employees.
If Mr.. Lehlbach or Mr. Steward will
introduce bill that is of material
benefit to Government employees they
will have no more loyal supporter than
myself. If those who differ with me
will read the report of the hearings
they will understand the matter better,
also Mr.. Bachman's minority report.
MARGARET HOPKINS WORRELL,
President, League of the American
Civil Service.