Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
Police, Firennenl;,
Teachers Added
In Pay Bill
Senote Nay Get
Measure Benefitinq
U. S. Workers Today
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

ny - ~ " AG<At4
The Senate District Commit.
tee today voted to include Dis
trict policemen, firemen and
school teachers in the temporary
wartime Government pay bill,
due to be reported to the Senate
this afternoon or tomorrow BY
the Civil Service Committee.
Other municipal employees, SUBJ
ject to the Classification Act, al.
ready were In the bill, under which
the following pay increases would
be granted for the next six months.
A 20 per cent increase on all SAL
aries up to including $2,100.
A Is per cent increase on salaries
above $2,100, with q proviso that
persons now receiving more than
$1,000 would get the Is per cent only
on the first $4,000.
No Increase ut 5000.
No increase would be granted In
salaries Of 5000 or more, and per-
sons near the top OF the $4,000
bracket could not be given all Of
their is per cent increase If 1t would
run them over 5000. For example,
If person is now receiving $4,000,
the full Is per cent on his first $4,000
would be $435. Committee members
said in such a case the employee
could only be given a raise up to-
5000.
The increases are coupled with
establishment of a 48-hour week,
and the committee has agreed to
include an important amendment
being drafted by Senator Byrd.
Democrat, Of Virginia. designed to
bring about a reduction in number
of employees wherever possible. The
amendment Is based on the theory
that, with the longer work week,
fewer employees should be necessary.
The exact language of this amend.
ment was not ready early today.
Until June 30, 1913.
The pay raises will apply only
until June 80. 1913, to give the Civil
Service Committee more time TO-
work out bill to bring about more
uniformity In pay and hours
throughout the service. :.
The maximum increase In the 20
per cent salary group would be $40
on q $1,000 salary. The maximum
increase that could be granted above
$2,100 would be $435, or IS per cent
Of $4,000 even to an employee now
receiving more than $4,000. d.
Senator Burton, Republican, Of
Ohio told the District Committee
policemen and f1remen will get
slightly more by inclusion In the
general pay bill than the $500 nat
raise provided for in their pending
separate bill.
Although the $500 bill would be
permanent, whereas the higher per-
centage increase runs only until
June 80, the committee decided it
would be better to treat all employees
alike for the time being, while the
next Congress studies the whole
problem of Government pay and
hours next year.
The school teachers, who ordinar.
lily are governed by a separate pay
law, were included in the general
overtime bill, which leaders decided
last week to abandon. That bill
proposed to pay Government work.
ers generally time and one-half for
all work over 40 hours. It was
feared this would encounter oppo-
sltion from those who favor q
longer work week in industry gem
orally during the war. The new
bill. therefore, is based on tho prin-
ciple OF a straight pay increase for a
longer week.
Section Stricken Out.
The Civil Service Committee
struck out yesterday the section that
would have enabled the Civil Serv-
ice Commission to make pay adj
justments where necessary to cor,
rect inequities between EMPLOYEES
now receiving different pay under
the classification act and under
wage board agreements for similar
work.
The temporary percentage in.
creases will apply to all workers In
the executive, legislative and judi-
cial branches of Government, ex-
cept heads of departments, elected
omcials and those whose pay al
ways has been fixed by wage board
agreements.
An effort will be made to get the
Dill through the Senate by the end
OF this week, after which Repre-
sentative Ramspeck. Democrat, Of
Georgia will seek House action.