The Washington times., 1937-01-12
ONNENDS NEW CIVIL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION
RAISES IN PAY
FOR CABINET
PROPOSED

Charging ClaC Tie SOVc14llCAUS .
inclination to confuse parsimony
with economy" has resulted in the
loss of able executives who have
preferred lucrative posts in pri-
vate business, the Presidents Com
mittee on Administrative Manage
ment today recommended an in
crease in the compensation Of
Cabinet officers and their as
sistants and career officials" in
the higher civil service positions.
Extension Of the classification act
to the field service, to exempted
positions in the department serv.
ice and in some Of the Govern
ment corporations was also rec.
commended.
Report in Part
The report, as transmitted by
the President, is in part as fol-
lows:
Salaries in high governmental
positions are of great Importance
in a democracy. The United States
Government offers rates Of pay to
it's responsible political officers Of
Cabinet and sub-Cabinet grade
which are penuriouS by any realiS-
tic standard of comparison. They
are palpably absurd when viewed
in the light Of the responsibilities
that most Of the higher positions
entail, the insecurity Of tenure
necessarily associated with a po-
litical post, and the strain Of pub
lie service on conscientious incun-
bentS. They are required to sever
their business relations, transfer
their homes to Washington, and
devote their full time to their day.
today administrative duties. Of
ficialS of Cabinet rank-the heads
of our great departments and the
Presidents immediate advisers
receive $4,000 per annum; under
secretaries receive $4,000; assist
ant secretaries, $4,000 to $4,000.
Heads of independent establish
mentS in the field Of lending, re-
lief, and public works, where bill
lions of dollars are handled and
all the intricate welfare, political,
and business problems of modern
life are encountered, receive not
over $4,000. Wanted, a $25, 1000
man for $4,000 a year" was the
recent statement of the Secretary
of the Treasury in describing the
difficulties Of finding qualified
UnderSecretary. The salary for
this responsible position is less
than many relatively small banks
pay their vice presidents. It is
small wonder, then, that except in
time Of war or other emergency,
when men are fired by zeal for
public service, the wealthy must
be asked to fill most Of the respon-
sible political positions.
Career Service
The career service is hampered
by even less adequate levels Of
compensation. Under the CLASH
ficaCion Act of 1923 salaries for
heads of the largest bureaus range
from $4,000 to $4,000. In a few
exceptional cases the salary is
fixed by law at $4,000, but this is
the ceiling to which career men
may aspire. Heads of other major
bureaus receive $500 to $500,
and so on down the line.
Salary limitations of this kind
in the higher grades must be lifted
or they will defeat the develop
ment of career service. The
most promising and gifted people
often do not apply for competitive
entrance into the service because
the top salaries are too low. At
this moment some of the ablest
men are leaving the service, as op-
portunitieS open up outside the
Government, because Of the limita-
tionS of compensation at the top.
Government employees should be
relieved of financial anxiety and
temptation. They should not be
given salaries for responsible
work so low that they are tempted
to cater to special interests which
hold out hopes Of remunerative
private employment. Though
prestige and recognition are and
should be marked incentives to
those in the public service, there
must also be an adequate salary
as a foundation and tangible mark
of public respect.
Low Compensation
Low compensation has q further
bad effect on the service: It en-
courages the appointment of per
sons not really qualified, because
the concept of the work itself is
adversely influenced by the low
salary scale.
The Federal service in its higher
posts now offers considerably less
lucrative rewards than other voca
tionS Of comparable responsibility
Many of the larger States and
cities pay more to their governors
mayors and city managers, anc
department heads. The large la
Dor unions and cooperativeS pay
more for their chief executives
Heads Of colleges, universities, anc
private welfare organizations re
ceive more. Research jobs in in
duStry and private institutes com
penSate better by far than do thu
outstanding technical assignment
in the Government.
The professions Of eng1neerlnl
and medicine offer the chance TO,
higher remuneration for top men
It is common for q Government