Evening star., 1942-11-10
Fowler Opposes Cost
And Discrimination in
Overtime Pay Bill
Bonus to Teachers and
Burden on D. c. Budget
Cited in Objections

SItSu III SUJSStIOIIS
Arguments against the Govern
ment overtime pay bill, to the extent
it may be applied to the District, on
the grounds that it would be dis
criminatory and add between ST.
661, 900 and $5,000,000 to the munich
pal budget, have been presented to
the Commissioners by District Bud
get Officer Walter L. Fowler.
He suggested that recommended
tions on the bill, recently reported
favorably by the Senate Civil Serv-
ice Committee, be referred to Cor
poration Counsel Richmond B.
Keech for study. The Board of
Commissioners has taken no formal
position on the question, although
one member yesterday indicated he
agreed with Mr.. Fowler.
A particular point of opposition
!, by Mr.. Fowler was that as the bill
went to the Senate it would apply a
maximum of 5000 a year bonus" to
Washington school teachers without,
he said, any increase in work hours.
He asked why there should be an
increase in pay for school teachers
without a corresponding increase in
pay for District firemen and police,
who are not covered by the bill.
During the last year, the District
heads have opposed a separate bill
boosting the pay OF f1remen and
police.
Cgtticizes DIR. Ballou.
On this point, Mr.. Fowler took a
siapat DR.. Frank w. Ballou, school
Superintendent, for having author
ized, according to Mr.. Fowler, the
representative Of the District Edu-
cation Association. Daniel B. Floyd,
to speak for him in approval OF the
bill as applied to school teachers be-
fore the question had been sub
mitted to the Commissioners.
Mr.. Fowler also recalled that the
Civil Service Commission had OBJ
jected to an earlier overtime pay
bill Is. 2674) because it granted to
postal employees IAN advantage
withheld from other groups; name
ly, that of 10 per cent additional
compensation, with no increase IN
official hours of work, and, In ad-
dition, extra pay for overtime work
when performed"
The pending bill, indorsed by the
President, the Budget Bureau and
the Civil Service Commission, calls
for payment of time and hall
overtime for classified employees fol
anv work over 40 hours a week
except that this shall not apply to
anv portion of compensation over
$4,000 per year The bill also pro-
yides for additional pay OF 10 pei
cent, not to exceed $500 per year
for school teachers and some other
brackets of workers, but not District
per diem employees, Mr.. Fowler said
Four Hours Overtime.
In discussing the bill, Mr.. Fowler
said, THE legislation is not to bt
applicable with respect to the en-
ployes of any department until it!
executive certifies to the Director o1
the Budget Bureau that it is no,
possible to reorganize such depart
ment or agency, or division thereof
or the work thereof, so as to Hml
the administrative work week OF 1t!
emploves to 40 hours, or that a re-
duction in personnel approximately
corresponding to any extension o.
hours in excess of 40 hours per weel
will be made within 80 days OF thu
date of such certification.
Mr.. Fowler said the estimated in
creased annual cost to the Distric
would be $2661 900, on the basis o
the A hour week and payment o
four hours overtime to affected EN-
ploves. plus the 10 per cent increas'
or bonus" for school teachers ant
others But, he added, the increased
cost might go to $3,200,000 if fire
men or policemen were include'
in the pay boost bill and If 1t wer
; necessary to order longer wor
> week for some agencies.
He added:
"It seems to us that S. 1865 dis
eliminates unfairly against certail
District employees. For instance
the teachers group would receiv
under this bill what amounts to
bonus, no overtime being involved
(The same is true Of other group
of employees covered by the bill, ex
, cept classified employeso However
{ policemen and firemen would receiv
{ no benefits.
There is broader discrimina
ton in the bill between classifie'
, employees and other employees VIII
, would be affected. in that the for
mer merely receive overtime com
, pensation in excess of normal wor
f hours, and the latter receive bonu
, without requirement of additions
: hours of employment. Attention
!, might be called to the fact that be
= fore the war period District EN-
ployes were on 39-hour basis, S
that even If the legislation wer
passed they would merely receiv
i, overtime compensation for four g
49, olL;&t1~o1 Rvo h4,,re ,x,o~Iv -