Evening star., 1941-05-08
Stagger' Plan
For u. 5. Pay
Wins Interest
Budget Bureau and
Merchants Consider
Possibilities in D. G.

The Budget Bureau is "interested".
In the possibilities of staggering the
s32 100000 monthly Federal pay roll,-
it was disclosed today. =
While it was established that
nothing in the nature of a definite
program has been drawn up or even
comprehensive study undertaken,
bureau officials, it was learned, are
not overlooking the possibilities Of
such a program.
Since the recent staggering of hours
of operation of the various Govern
ment departments. the suggestion Of
staggered Government pay days has
been raised unofficially in several
quarters as a means of eliminating -
the peak" demands on Washing--
ton business establishments on two
days a month, and spreading this
demand over the entire month.
Reaction Favorable.
The Merchants and Manufacture :
ers' Association has canvassed its re-
tail members informally on the sug.
geStion, according to E. M. Shaw,
secretary, and the response has been
very favorable" No action has
been taken by the Board of Trade
on the matter, but William H. Press.
secretary of the board. said he would
be inclined to favor the proposal.
District traffic officials also are
interested in the matter from the
angle of the concentration of traffic
in downtown districts on Govern
ment pay days, but Traffic Director
William A. Van Duzer said only in
formal discussions with District
business men have yet taken place
Among the suggestions being men,
toned in business circles, it was
learned, was the possibility of hav-
ing Government department paid
off each day of the month, or so ar
ranging the distribution so that
every day would be pay day. An
other was to have four rather than
two pay days month.
The suggestions, however. have
not vet been turned over 70 the
Budget Bureau, it was learned.
Figures on pay rolls computed as
of February by the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association reveal a
private enterprise pay roll of some
thing over S22 100000 and a Federal
pay roll of nearly S32 900 900 a
month. The Federal figure includes
the administrative officers of the
Government, the legislative salaries,
judicial salaries, the District gov
ernment salaries and the military
salaries.
Causes Peak in Help.
Mr.. Shaw pointed out that ham
ding the vast Federal pay roll to-
gether with such private pay rolls
as are met on the fifteenth and the
last day of the month forces manv
stores to take on extra temporary
help to meet the demand. He
added that stores were finding it
difficult to obtain such temporary
assistance due to the demands of
the Government, which has in.
creased the number of jobs. Were
the demand to be staggered. he said.
employment might be stabilized a
bit The two Government pay days
month also force many stores to
keep large amounts of money on
hand to cash Government checks,
1t was stated
Some objections have been raised
to the plan, however. according to
Mr.. Press. He said his discussions
with some businessmen brought up
the point that much of Washing
tons credit structure-especia in
the landlord-tenant relationship
is geared to middle and end of the
month payments 1t was also sue-
gested that the change might work
hardship on some Of the Govern
ment employees on low salaries who
operate up to the last penny on pay
days and have no cushion in the
form of bank accounts to tide them
over change.