Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
u. s. PAY SURVEY
PARTLY REPORTED
Personnel Board Finds Some
Employees Receive Less
Than Civilians.

The Government pay scale for some
employees is lower than in private en-
ployment, while for other groups the
Government scale is more liberal than
outside, according to tentative conclu-
sions submitted to the Senate late yes
terday by the Personnel Classification
Board, when it filed q partial report of
its comprehensive survey of the field
services of the Government.
The board emphasized that its survey
is by no means completed, and that the
comments presented under the heading
of tentative conclusions" are In the
nature of observations as the work
progresses, to be followed by final
recommendation when the survey Il
finished The tentative conclusions re-
lating to comparative pay scales in and
out Of the Government service follow:
'The Government pay scale, repre-
sented by the classification act Of 1928
and amendments, for the positions in
the custodial service, is generally some
what lower than the average pay for
similar non government positions.
For positions in the other services
the Government pey scale below the
$4,000 level Is more liberal than the
average pay for similar non government
positions, and for those above the $4,000
level it is less liberal.
Pay In Certain Positions.
For certain kinds of professional and
scientific positions the Government pay
scale Is more liberal than the average
pay for similar positions in the larger
colleges and universities, although these
same positions command a considerably
higher rate in some of the institutions
in question.
There is a considerable number Of
employers who pay higher rates than
the Government scale even for the
lower level of positions"
Although the survey has been under
taken by the personnel board for the
main purpose of enabling Congress to
establish a classification system for the
thousands of Government field en-
ployes, it was explained last night that
these tentative conclusions regarding
pay scales and working conditions apply
to the situation in the District of Col
umbia as well. Other comments in the
list of tentative conclusions are:
The hours OF labor in the Govern
ment compare favorably with COM
mercial practice.
THE leave privileges in the Govern
ment service are generally more liberal
than outside.
government employees do not
generally provide retirement systems.
but in some cases systems even more
liberal than the Government retirement
plan are provided and in many instances
other similar advantages are provided,
such as group insurance, and co-opera-
tive Stock-purchasing plans.
THE civil service tests of fitness for
employment in the Government service
are more exacting and difficult than
entrance requirements generally for
non government employment.
Difference in Localities.
There does not appear to be justifi-
cation on the basis of comparison with
government practice for establish
ing generally different level of pay for
similar work in different localities"
In making comparisons as between
Government and private employment,
the board told Congress 1t obtained in
formation concerning the duties per-
formed and the pay received by approx
mately 100000 non-government en-
ployes. For purposes of comparison the
duties OF these employees were allocated
to the several services and grades set
up by the classification act. The de-
tailed results of this comparison are set
forth in one large section Of the report.
on the comparisons. the
report stated:
THE outstanding fact disclosed by the
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