Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-27
House Provision Which Would
Have Cut Pay Is Elm
mated.
BR00KHART WILL FIGHT
FOR SALARY INCREASES
Federation of Federal Employees
Makes Last-Minute Appeal for
Support of Amendment.

The second deficiency appropriation
bill was ready to be taken up in the
Senate late today or tomorrow. with
the House provision eliminated which
would have led to reduction in pay
for hundreds of Government employees
In the higher grades.
Senator BroOkhart. Republican. of
iowa. announced today that when the
deficiency bill is taken up he will make
every effort to have the Senate adopt
his amendment TO grant an additional
salary increase to the many employees
in the lower grades, who were advanced
only one salary step under the WEIGH
law last Summer
The National Federation of Federal
Employees today made an appeal to
members of the Senate to support the
tBrookaart amendment. which seeks to
iron out inequalities resulting from the
WEIGH law. In letter to members of
the Senate Luther c. Steward. presi-
dent. and Gertrude McNally. secretary
treasurer of the national federation,
said.
This may be the only opportunity
Senators will have at this session to
right the lnequities in the adminiStra-
ton OF the WEIGH act and on behalf of
the National Federation of Federal EN-
ployes, and at the urgent request of
Federal employees in your State. we
urge you to support the Brookllart
amendment. which will help the low
paid employees without taking anything
away from those in the higher salary
ranges"
Measure Voted Down.
The language in the House bill which
the Senate appropriations committee
voted last night to strike out would
have directed the Personnel Classical
ton Board to review the ALLEGATIONS
mace last Summer of employees in
grades 4, S, 6 and of the professional
and scientific service and in grades
ii, II. Is and IA of the clerical. ad-
mlnistrative and fiscal services. COW
ering employees whose salaries range
from $4,000 to $4,000 annually.
Inc House sought by this provision
TO meet the contention advanced in
some quarters that many of the en-
ployes In these higher grades were rated
100 nigh under the Interpretation of
the WEIGH law by the controller gen.
eral. The effect of the House language
would have been to take away from
approximately 1000 employees a part of
the INCREASE they received last Summer
Senator Brookhart Immediately pre-
spared an amendment, not only cutting
out provision for salary reductions in
the higher grades, but also providing
Tor increases for those in the lower
positions who did not get all that Con-
gress intended under the WEIGH law.
The Senate appropriations committee,
IN cutting the House provision, adopted
only half of the Brookhart amendment.
Senator Brookhart will make a mo-
iticn on the floor of the Senate to sus-
pend the rules relating TO appropriation
Oils IN order to insert the balance OF
ms amendment relating to the lower
paid positions. The substance of this
part Of the Brookhart amendment is
Hhat all employees who were moved I'D
only one step last Summer would be
given an additional step at this time.
The Brookhart amendment Is virtual
~ the same as the separate pay bill.
which now seems destined to be lest
IN the final jam. If, however, his
amendment should carry on the de-
>f1ciency bill, the question of adjusting
Government salaries world go to con-
iference with the House, and present
the only chance for action at this ses-
sion.
The Senate appropriations commit
Zee restored TO the deficiency the item
OF $4,000 TO renoyate the Government
property at Mount Weather, Va. to
make 1t Summer White House. This
item was stricken from the bill in the
House on point of order.
$4,000 Is Added.
The Senate committee also added $50. =
900 TO carry out the new law recently
enacted TO give disabled residents OF the
District of Columbia vocational training
with view to restoring them to useful
occupations Half of the appropriation
viii come from district revenues ann
half will be appropriated by the United
States through the Federal Board for
Vocational Training. Any disabled per-
son IN the District Of Columbia could
be rehaoilitated under this law.
! Another Senate amendment appropri-
iates 100000 for new buildings at wal
ter Reed Hospital. and $4,000 for a
radio communication building. at BOILING
Field
The Senate committee allowed the
Listrlct government 81 900 to draw
plans for a hospital at the Home for
Aged and Inffrm. at Blue Plains.