Evening star., 1934-06-23
McCarI Rules Increases
May Be Granted Within
Personnel Appropriations.
DECISION ENDS FIGHT
BY DISTRICT OFFICIALS
Commissioners Declare Federal
Emergency Relief Administra.
ton Favors Plan.

The long fight of District officials
to readjust the pay of employees of the
emergency relief division has culmi-
mated in victory, it was disclosed today
when a decision to the District Com
missioners was made public at the
Office of Controller General McCarl.
advising them that pay increases
could be granted to the extent that
savings are possible in the personnel
appropriation for the next fiscal year
This is in conformity with the new
economy legislation allowing admin
istrative promotions in any agency
where it is not necessary to exceed
the regular appropriations to grant
them.
Adjustments Can Be Made.
The adjustments now can be made.
according toeDistrict Auditor Daniel J.
Donovan, who explained that the re-
strlction against making adjustments
IN excess of savings within personnel
appropriations would not act to block
the changes because District relief op-
eratlonS are largely financed out of
Federal relief grants to the District.
McCarl's decision followed a letter
from the Commissioners, who asked
him to reconsider previous rulings bar
ring pay raises in the relief outfit, on
the ground they would constitute ad-
miniStrative promotions.
Scale Is Suggested.
The Commissioners said the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration itself
was thoroughly in favor of raising pay
and presented the following scale.
which it was sought to put into effect:
District supervisors to be raised
from $1,000 to S2,400 a year; case
supervisors, $500 and S1,620 to
$1,000 and $4,000: social workers in a
range from S1,014-S1 $50 to 1920
$1,000; superintendent commodities
distribution. S1,500 to $1,000; deputy
disbursing agent, $1,620 to $1,000; as
sistant accountant, S1014 to S1,620;
statistician, ST 500 to S2,1O0; superin-
tendent, mechanical service, ST. ,320 to
$1,000; secretary, $1,000 to $1,620;
stenographers and clerks. S1,014 to
S1,440; clerks. typists, addressograph
operators and telephone operators,
S9l260 To $l,260; janitors S862l6 to
$500.
Rate Adopted in 1888.
The Commissioners pointed out the
present salary schedule was adopted
in the fiscal year 1888, when they
we're limited to $35 5000 for admins
trative expenses in an appropriation
for S35O,0O0 and it was necessary to
fix rates of pay at the lowest possible
level.
At that time the organization was
viewed as purely an emergency one,
it was pointed out, but now, it was
added. emergency relief in the Dis
trict of Columbia has become major
municipal problem" and, it is added,
between S9,0O0,000 and S10,000,000 is
now being disbursed yearly.
Because of the low salaries, "glar-
ing inequalities" have been set up
and it has not been possible to re-
tain competent help in sufficient num-
ber to carry on the work; many eff
cient employees have left the service,
1t was added.
McCarl said certain situations do
not authorize or justify diSregarding
the plain terms of the law" and that,
consequently. no relief can be afford
ed during the current fiscal year.
However. he said, the salary ad-
vances may be made effective July
l to the extent that savings are
available from the appropriation.