Evening star., 1935-04-14
CIVIL SERVICE UNIT
HEARS PAY TALK
Canadian Says Government
Wages Should Equal Pri-
vate Industry's.

Government salaries, whether mu-
ricinal. State or Federal, should ap-
nroximate the level of those in prl-
vate industry, c. v. Putnam, chief OF
the organization branch of the Canad-
ian Civil Service Commission, yester-
dav told the Sixth Eastern States Re-
Sional Conference of the Civil Serv-
ice Assembly.
Putnam was the last speaker on the
tvo-day program at the Raleigh Ho-
tel. which brought together members
of national and State civil service
commissions, and representatives OF
ORGANIZATIONS interested in the extern
sion of the merit system.
Earlier in the day the assembly nao
heard Miss Katherine Frederic OF the
National League of Women Voters de-
clare that the marital status law,
which forces the dismissal OF either
husband or wife in necessary reduc-
tions of the Federal force, operated
80 per cent of the time to oust small
Salaried workers.
Merit System Upheld.
There is nothing so important to
the Federal employe at the present
time as preservation and extension OF
the merit system in the Federal serV-
ice. the assembly was told by Luther
C, Steward, president of the National
Federation of Federal Employees.
Organizations of Federal employees
he declared, will continue their con-
slant, persistent fight in protection
and extension of the merit system un-
til the situation in that respect Is
much more satisfactory than 1t is at
present"
Saying he wished he could share the
optimism held by some others, he as
serted there are too many people
with political picks undermining the
merit system in the Federal service foi
me to be oblivious to present dangers
Awaiting Reforms.
1--WE are not too pessimiStic by any
means. We are still waiting with
pleasurable anticipation the carrying
out of the earlier promise of Presi'
dent Roosevelt as a militant civit
service reformer."
Another address was made by Oliver
c. Short, executive assistant to tht
director of the census.
In the long view" Putnam said
''in studying economics relative tC
wage and salary levels, public service
employment must be grouped with
private employment as, in the eco
nomics of society, they have the same
effect.
Government activities are in the
main not profit-making enterprises
and as such, do not afford mean!
of evaluating the relative claims o.
ownership and worker to share II
the profits of production. Neverthe
less, wages or salaries paid Govern
ment employees have the same eco
nomic and social effect, in that the!
ere spent in the same way as tht
taxpayers wages or salary"
Sees Three Problems.
tions or problems to be met in solving
Government wages or salary fates."
First, he said, they must be eco.
nomically sound: again, "the STATE
must not take unfair advantage o.
the weaknesses of its workers" anc
finally, "the state must endeavor tt
resolve the apparent anomaly or in.
compatibility of the collective bargain
with the prerogative of the state"
Putnam later was elected chairman
of the regional conference. Chosen al
the same time were James Hurley
commissioner of the Massachusetts,
State Civil Service Commission, vice
chairman, and c. L. Campbell, prin-
cipal examiner of the New York State
Civil Service Commission, secretary
treasurer.