Evening star., 1937-01-13
Reorganization Message Is
Held Likely to Give Pro.
gram Impetus.
PRESIDENT PROPOSES
KEY POST INCREASES
McCarran Says He Will Seek to
Extend Benefits to Lower
Wage Brackets.
BY 7, A, O'LEARY.

|
raise the pay of Government workers
in the lower brackets was given i'm
petus today by the recommendation
| in the report of the Presidents Reor-
ganization Committee for higher SAL
aries in key positions further up on
the ladder of Government service.
The recommendation in the Presi-
dents message for extension of the
merit system also gave new hope to-
day to Senators who have been ad-
vocating legislation for several years
that would apply the civil service laws
more generally throughout the service.
After reading that part Of the re-
organization message in which in
creased salaries were suggested for
key posts, in order that the Govern
ment may attract and hold career
service men and women, Senator Pat
McCarran, Democrat, of Nevada, said:
Il am going to try to supplement
the message by taking care of those
who need it. Raising top salaries
perhaps is commendable, but raising
the toilers in the lower brackets who
are eking out an existence is the
essential thing. am glad to have the
President emphasize increases in
salaries for the positions referred to
In the message, because it emphasizes
the need for increasing the pay Of
other workers.
Sees GO Ahead" Signal.
II think the Presidents message is
to be construed as a signal to 60
ahead with the policy I have already
undertaken in regard to Federal en-
ployes. I think the whole program
is word of encouragement to private
industry to give employees and wage
workers of America more of the
fruits of their toll in the way of in.
creased wages"
While discussion of salaries in the
reorganization report was confined to
the higher key positions, McCarran
has been gathering material on which
to draft bill for better pay scale
in the lower grades, not exceeding
$4,000 a year.
In his comment on the reorgani-
zation plan, Senator Robinson of
Arkansas, majority leader of the Sem
ate, touched briefly on the salary ques-
ton. as follows:
Certainly it seems inopportune to
couple with this legislation provisions
materially increasing a large number
/ OF salaries drawn by existing officers.
If salary increases are to be made,
think those who now receive less
than living salary are entitled to
first consideration
Cabinet Pay Boost Opposed.
Without indicating what his atti.
tude would be toward a pay bill for
the lower brackets, Senator Byrd,
Democrat, of Virginia. chairman of the
Select Senate Committee on Reorgani-
zation, made this comment: II cam
not agree with the recommendation
to increase cabinet salaries to $4,000
and sub-cabinet posts up to $4,000"
Senator Capper, Republican, of Kan.
sas declared his primary concern
would be to work for better pay sched-
uleS for the lower grades.
Chairman Bulow of the Senate Civil
Service Committee declared the Pres
ident's references to extension of the
merit system undoubtedly would focus
congressional attention on the bills
on that subject already awaiting the
attention of his committee, and on
which he expects to hold hearings
soon.
One of these civil service extension
measures is sponsored by Senator
Logan, Democrat. of Kentucky, who
made this comment on the indorse-
ment given the merit system in the
message:
Il agree with it 100 per cent. That
is what I have been contending for
right along, as shown by the bill I
have introduced on the subject.
presume there will be no difficulty
in getting action on the question now"
Civil Service Question.
There are some members of the
Senate, however, including Senators
Vandenberg, Republican, of Michigan,
and Bryd. who believe Congress first
should determine which existing agen-
cies are to be permanent and which
temporary before extending the civil
service. In other words, they do not
favor placing employees under the civil
service unless the agency is perma-
nent. They both agree, also, that
Congress should consider requiring a
competitive rather than a non-com-
petitive examination when positions
outside the civil service are to be
placed within the system.
Senator McCarran's contention that
the low-salaried Federal workers
should be considered was echoed in a
statement issued last night by Luther
c. Steward, president of the National
Federation of Federal Employees, who
said in part:
With the recommendation that ad-
miniStrative salaries be revised up.
ward, the National Federation Of Fed
eral Employees is in thorough and
hearty agreement. However, we feel
strongly that upward revision of pay
schedules is even more essential in
the lower brackets, and that the ends
of efficiency. economy and fairness
are not served by maintenance of cur
rent rates under which thousands Of
men and women in the Federal serv-
ice are being sharply underpaid."