Evening star., 1942-09-22
Overtime Bill
Would Hike PAY
.S195 10 S340
Senate Unit Told
Measure Will Meet
Presidents Program
By ]. A. FOX.

Federal employees would get
pay raises ranging from $195 to
$340 annually under legislation
proposing to extend the principle
Of overtime payments through
out the departmental service, .
Budget Bureau representative
testified today as the Senate
Civil Service Committee started
hearings on the measure.
The witness. Edward B. Young.
also said the bill is "in conformity
with the Presidents financial pro-
gram"
Senator McNary Of Oregon, the
Republican leader, and several other
Senators also appeared before the
committee to urge formal action
on the measure.
This BILL differing somewhat from
the earlier overtime bill sponsored
by the administration, would set q
basic 44-hour week in the Govern
ment, with overtime payments at
the rate of time and one-half start
ing after 40 hours.
1t also provides for bonus OF not
to exceed $500 annually for postal
field employees who could not
benefit by the overtime provision.
Such payments, Mr.. Young esti-
mated, would average $157 annually.
Average Raises Estimated.
Mr.. Young figured that overtime
payments to War and Navy en-
ployes-who are on a 48-hour week
would run to s340 annually and
that the average elsewhere would
be S195. He put the overall average
at $227.
Mr.. Young testified after Arthur
S. Flemming, civil service commits
sioner, had urged passage of the
bill, which, he said, was needed Ito
correct glaring and unfair inequali-
ties" in the pay structure.
Mr.. Flemming said the pay situa-
ton was contributing to "inordi-
nate" turnover rate here, which, he
added, Is at the rate of 83.5 per
cent. From December through July,
IN Washington, he added, there were
| $4,000 placements made, of which
117,000 were to fill vacancies in old
jobs.
Look what kind of a treadmill
we are on here in Washington"
he told the committee over which
Senator Mead Is presiding,
Admiral Fisher Backs Plan.
Rear Admiral G.. w. Fisher. d.
rector of shore establishments Of the
Navy Department, urged the COM
mittee to press the bill to an early
conclusion, explaining that "a cha
otto and very unpleasant situation
may arise if the legislation is not
enacted by october /, when existing
overtime legislation applying to
technicians in Navy and War ex-
pires.
"You are putting Congress on 4
spot in asking for legislation In
eight days, but you are in dis
tinguished company" Senator Mead
told the witness, with jocular ref
erence to the Presidents demand on
! Congress for price and wage fixing
| legislation by October l.
The Senator suggested that the
| legislation might be made retro
active 10 october /, and Admiral
Fisher agreed that would be helpful.
| Spokesmen for several postal
unions including William Horner Of
the National Federation and Post
Office Clerks and John j. Barrett OF
the United National Association Of
Post Office Clerks, urged that the
War Labor Board formula for a Is
per cent pay increase to compensate
for the living cost rise since January
l, 194l, be applied to Federal work.
ers.
Steward Gives Views.
Luther c. Steward, president Of
the National Federation Of Federal
Employees, urged, however, that gen.
eral overall pay legislation for
Government employees should not be
considered until after a national
(See PAY BILL, Page A-120