Evening star., 1932-12-07

salaries IN the GOVeTnmeuI SERVICE
should be studied thoroughly and read
justed from the standpoint Of services
rendered rather than fiat percentage
reduction on all, Senator Carey, Re
publican, of Wyoming, declared today.
Senator Carey said he thought the
low salaried employees already have
taken as much of q cut as they can
stand. At the same time, he. said.
there are inequities in salaries, par
ticularly as between, bureau chiefs and
different departments.
Meanwhile, the special Senate Econ
omy Committee was endeavoring to con-
clude the hearing of witnesses urging
repeal of or changes in the existing
economy law, which established the
furlough plan amounting to an 81s per
cent pay cut this year. The Presi-
dents message yesterday recommended
continuation Of the. furlough plan to-
gether with an IL per cent cut on that
part Of salary in excess of 81, ,0e0.
Group Heads Heard.
Witnesses heard by the Economy
Committee today included w. G. ARM
strong, president Of the National Rural
Letter Carriers Association; Raymond
j. Roche of the Washington Printing
Pressmen's Union, and John P. Frey
of the metal trades department of the
A. F. of L. Two other witnesses ap-
pearing as individuals were Edwin
Evans and Alfred D. Calvert.
Senator Dickinson, Republican, OF
Iowa, who conducted the hearing, asked
Mr.. Roche If he would favor doing away
with the furlough plan and establish
ing straight pay cut. Mr.. Roche in
dicated he thought there would be op-
position to continuing Government
salary reductions, but he thought the
straight pay cut would be preferable If
it covered five-day week and restored
some of the annual leave. He spoke on
behalf Of Government Printing Ofice
employees.
Urges Graduated Scale.
Mr.. Frey argued the action of the
Government on pay reductions is re-
ficcted in private industry and that the
present economic situation will not be
remedied until statesmen and econ
on1ists look upon the workers as con-
sumers as well as producers.
Mr.. Evans suggested to the commit
tee graduated scale of salary reduc-
tions as follows: A so per cent cut for
all officials receiving $4,000 or more,
35 per cent cut between $4,000 and
5000, 25 per cent from $4,000 to S4,999
and 10 per cent from $1,000 to $2,999,
except that where an employe is mar
would be no reduction If the salary does
not exceed $4,000.
Would Repeal Act.
Late yesterday Senator McKellar of
Tennessee one of the Democratic mem
bers Of the Economy Committee, intro
duced a bill in the Senate to repeal
the classification act, under which SAL
aries and promotions of Government
employees have been standardized since
1928. This law established a definite
salary range for each type of position
In the classified service. These rates of
pay have been temporarily upset this
year by the operation of the 81s per
cent reduction through the furlough
plan.
The McKellar bill, however, would
repeal the entire classification act and
provide that the compensation for posi-
tionS regulated by the classification law
would be whatever rates are in force
at the time his bill becomes effective, #
it passes.
At the same time Senator King, DEM
ocrat, Of Utah, presented a bill to pre-
vent the covering into the classified
Civil Service of any position or employe
not included in that status, or the ap-
pointment to the classified service of
any employe without examination, un-
less Congress specifically authorizes it.
The bill also states that the Civil Serv-
ice laws shall not apply to positions
covered into the classified service since
March, 1929.
Other bills introduced yesterday by
Senator McKellar had the following OBJ
jectives: To abolish the Bureau of
Efficiency, the Council of National De-
fense, the War Finance Corporation
and the National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics.