Evening star., 1937-01-14
M'CARRAN OFFERS
BILL TO READJUST
| FEDERAL SALARIES
Raise for All Under $500
Provides Minimum Wage
of 1900.
CLASSIFICATION ACT
EXTENSION INCLUDED
System of Periodical Increases Is
Also Proposed-Rating Method
Repeal Is Urged.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY,

Pay increases for all Government
employees receiving less than $500 per
year, new method of handling eff
cheney ratings, and extension of the
classification act 10 the field service
and the new agencies are the high
lights Of comprehensive salary ad-
JuStment bill introduced today by Sen
ator McCarran, Democrat, of Nevada.
In addition TO fixing 81 500 mini
mum wage for all full-time adult en-
ployes, it provides for a system of
periodical increases within the salary
ranges Of the classification act by ad-
vancing the employe once each year
until the maximum rate for the grade
Is reached.
The salary steps in each Of the
classification grades up to $500 are
revised in detail in the bill. While
there is no uniform percentage of in
crease, 1t is estimated the average
would be about $3.50 year.
Repeals Rating Method.
The measure repeals the present
method of handling efficiency ratings
of employees, which McCarran called
unfair" In its place the bill author
ICES the classifying agency to ascer-
tain in consultation with the depart
ment heads to what extent it is prac-
ticable to determine efficiency rating,
and may authorize the use Of such
ratings subject to the approval Of the
President. Any ratings SO used, how
ever, would have to be open to in
spection by the employe.
In support of early action on the
bill, McCarran declared that the Fed
eral Government, as the largest en-
ployer in the country, should en-
courage private industry to establish
better wage levels by bringing its own
| full-time workers up to a basis Of
equity and decency, where the Amer
ican standard of living can be main
tanned"
McCarran also asserted that the cost
Of living has been turning upward
during the past three years. He said
he is not unmindful of those in the
salary level above $500. but that
necessity and humanity makes raise
| in the lower brackets imperative.
McCarran Explains Bill.
In explaining his bill, Senator Nc
Carran said:
Section l OF the bill which ! am
| introducing provides that the provi-
sions of the classification act of 1928
as amended shall be extended to in
clude field services, with such eXcep-
tions as are noted elsewhere in the
bill.
Section makes certain that this
bill shall not apply to those Offices or
positions already excluded from the
classification act of the District of
Columbia. such as apprentices, help
ers or journeymen in the recognized
trades and crafts and foreign service
officers who are already classified by
the Rogers act.
Section 3 provides that where
positions are found in the field SER
vices that are not fairly like positions
under the present act within the Dis
trict of Columbia, that the claSsiflca-
tion agency is empowered to set up
additional services and grades to fit
the new type Of position. This section.
however. must have presidential ap-
proval and shall be reported to Con-
gress as soon as practicable.
Section gives the classification
agency authority to exclude certain
positions from the classification act,
such as work jointly financed by the
United States and another govern
mental unit, local or State; positions
filled by inmates of institutions, such
as soldiers homes; positions without
the continental limits of the United
(See PAY, Page A-2)