Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-13
Federal Pay Scales
Are Inconsistent,
House Unit Is Told
Veteran Customs Men
Draw Less Thon Those
Employed Letter. Is Claim

- "
Government salary scales follow
an inconsistent pattern, the House
Civil Service Committee today was
told by witnesses appearing in be-
half Of the Budget Bureau plan to
grant periodic increases to employees
In the executive agencies.
George L. Cornell of New York,
president of the National Customs
Service Association, told the COM
mittee that in some instances GUS
toms inspectors who are getting
only $1,000 annually after II to IS
years service are working on the
borders beside immigration inspec-
tors drawing $4,000 after five years.
At the same time Peter F. Snyder,
Washington attorney representing
the Field Employees Association of
the immigration and Naturalization
Service, pointed out that clerks at
the ports start at $3.50 annually
while the minimum pay of customs
clerks is sl,700.
Representative Rees, Republican,
of Kansas suggested that the quail
ficationS for customs clerk are high
er than those for the immigration
Service, but Mr.. Snyder insisted this
Is not the case.
Says Promotion Policy Needed.
Another witness, Miss Rosemary
Davenport, Endorsed the bill on be-
half of Home Service Employees of
the State Department., for whom
she said a promotion policy was
lacking, while N. P. Alias, presi-
dent of District A of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists, ap-
peared in behalf of the shops craft
in the custodial service. These are
the workers who have charge of
machinery in public buildings, it
was explained.
While the Budget Bureau plan
would exclude employees getting
above $4,000 annually and those
whose pay is fixed by special statute,
Mr.. Conneu urged that it be ex-
tended to cover certain GUS
toms groups now paid under the
Bacharach Act. These, he pointed
out, do not enjoy automatic pro-
motions and subsequently would
continue to be subject to the same
inequities and lack of uniformity"
now prevailing unless they get relief.
The groups for which he spoke are
verif1ers, openers and packers,
guards, inspectors and station in
spectors. He pointed>out that bills
to grant them automatic promotions
have been vetoed in the past by
President Roosevelt on the ground
that it would give them advantages
not granted to other groups of
custom employees. Inasmuch as
periodic increases for all workers
are now contemplated, he continued,
this objection would appear to be
removed. There are about $500
employees in the groups for whom
Mr.. Connell appeared.
Favors Classification Act.
The promotion plan is incorpor-
ated in the bill to amend the CLASH
1cation Act and Chairman Rams
peck asked the witness if he advo-
Gated repeal OF the Bacharach Act
and the placing of the customs
groups under the Classification Act.
Mr.. Council said that he favored
that course
In support Of his argument for
automatic promotions he said that
customs officers may and fire.
quently do under normal conditions
collect more in fines and penalties
in day than would pay their salary
for one year"
He added that you can't get
good type of customs officers with
cheap pay"
Appearing for immigration and
naturalization workers who are be-
low the grade of immigration in
spector, Mr.. Snyder said that very
little money" had been made avail
able to this class for promotion. In
1899, he continued, approximately
$4,000 was made available for $50
increases for some 800 lower-grade
employees, but that before that there
were employees who had not gotten
promotions for years and years.
Feels Cause rs Just"
While Miss Davenport was testi-
flying in behalf of the Home Service
employees of the State Department,
Representative Rogers, Republican,
of Massachusetts interrupted to re-
call that a study of State Depart
ment salaries in the category showed
that they were under those for COM
parable work in the Commerce De-
partment and expressed the opinion
that the State Department workers
"had just cause"
In response to questioning by
Representative Ramspeck. Miss Day.
export said that there we're no pro-
motions in the Homes Service En-
ployes between 1880 and 1886. Be-
tween 1886 and 1888 one salary adj
vance was given, she continued
Mr.. Alias said that employees in
crafts in the custodial service were
leaving that employment for higher
paid work elsewhere.
Representative Ramspeck said that
he hopes to complete hearings on
the salary plan bill tomorrow, but
they may 90 over until next week.
If the committee reports favorably
on the proposal it will then be neces-
sary to seek funds through the
HoIIse Ar,propri tiopS Committee