Evening star., 1931-12-13
Quack Remedies.


sion Of Congress has produced two of
the anticipated moves in the direction
Of slsShing Federal employees salaries
q proposal based on some inane idea
that such a policy would in some un-
accountable way help the business stu
alton.
One proposal is for blanket salary
reduction Of ten per cent, applying to all
who are not protected by statutory law
against immediate reductions in pay.
The other is for graded reduction, be-
ginning at twenty-five per cent and de-
oressing with the lower salaries, some
of the salaries, at the bottom of the
list escaping untouched.
Everybody has recognized as one Of
the Inconsistencies of the present de-
preston the fact that while revival
Of business generally depends in large
measure upon an increased ability TO
buy, the buying power has been hit by
wage reductions and lay-offs. One Of
the important policies advocated by the
wages and salaries in order to prevent
further inroads on this buying power.
In his message to Congress the Presi-
dent mentioned as one OF the few en-
the depression that "a large ma
jority (of our industries) have main
tanned wages at as high levels as
the safe conduct of their business would
permit. This course has saved us from
industrial conflict and disorder which
have characterized all previous depres-
sions."
1t is impossible to estimate the un-
fortunate effect on business throughout
the country by adoption, on the part Of
the Nations largest employer, of a pol
icy Of wage reductions. The effect, of
course, would not be confined to "the
favored class" so characterized by the
author Of one of the salary-reduction
bills. 1t would be felt in every industry
in the land. This favored class" is
made up Of the army of Federal work
ers, many Of whom now enjoy barely
living wage, whose slight increases in
salary have been won by long, tedious
and uphill fight. Some Of them may
now enjoy salary that is relatively
high. Many Of them are in an admit
tedly better condition, because Of the
comparative security OF their positions.
than some of their fellow citizens in |
private employment. But this is true
for the moment only Unless one is
willing TO accept the view that the |
country has gone permanently to the |
dogs and there is no hope for a revival |
OF business, the Federal employees will, |
within the course of a short time, re-
turn TO a status that is proportionately |
low in the general salary scale. That i
was their status during the peak years
Of fat prosperity. No effort was
made then TO raise their pay TO the
standards that national affiuence might
have demanded. To reduce salaries
now would be as unfair as it would be
disastrous.
In Washington, according TO one re-
cent estimate, there are 79,I37 employees
on the rolls of the Federal Government
drawing total annual salary Of $l74.-
S35,0 900. The average salary in the classi- |
fed service is s2,l0S. Forty six thousand, /
six hundred and sixty ofThese workers. or
more than half, are dependent upon SAL
aries of less than So 900 a year. Those
who draw more than $4,000 number less
than twelve thousand, and included in |
this group are the members of Congress, |
the members Of the cabinet, high rank |
ing officers Of the Army and Navy and |
over nine thousand others whose pay
ranges between three and five thousand |
dollars year. A cut Of ten per cent in |
all salaries OF all Government employees |
IN shington-something that could |
not be done Immediately because of lin
itations imposed by the Constitution as
well AS by law-would effect a saving of
something in excess of 1000 600 a
year. And this saving would be viewed |
IN relation to budget calling for the /,
expenditure of $3,942, ,754,6 ,6l4 for 1888.
1t is not worth it, The present situa- |
ton demands the careful thought of
statesmen and action based on mature
elaboration, Qusck remedies are to be
Stunned. The patient should be cured,
not killed.
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