Evening star., 1943-03-16
21.6 Pct. Raise
Stays in New
U. 5. Pay Bill
Committee Reodies
Permanent Measure
For Senote Action
BY ]. A. FOX.

ooNCliiiiicii1 ciupiOStS, IO replace
the temporary measure expiring
April 80, today was headed for the
Senate with the approval of the
Senate Civil Service Committee,
which decided on it's provisions in
four-hour session yesterday.
The most important feature Of
the measure is its retention of the
present overtime scale prevailing in
the classified service of Federal
and District governments, which
amounts to an increase of approx
mately 2l.6 per cent over base rates
for 48-hour week.
The committee. however, dis
carded the provision under which
employees whose work does not lend
itself to an overtime schedule have
been getting a fiat 10 per cent
increase. 1t substituted a fiat raise
OF 5000. Legislative and judicial
personnel are affected by this
change, as are some workers in the
executive agencies.
One new feature establishes a
$500 minimum for overtime pay
ments. This will benefit employees
below the sl,4O0.
Ceiling Abolished.
The committee did away with the
ceiling Of the temporary law which
deprives upper-bracket employees Of
benefits by limiting to 5000 the
total those subject to the law may
receive in both straight pay and
overtime. The principle of calcu-
lating overtime on the first $4,000
OF salary, was retained, however.
The entire membership of the
committee, with the exception of
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat, of
Tennessee. who is i'll. participated
in the lengthy session. The form
in which the bill emerged was
viewed in some quarters as a COM
promise between proponents of a
fat bonus arrangement, such as
prevailed in the World War, and
others on the committee who
wanted the overtime law continued
with liberalized provisions.
AS introduced by Senator Mead,
Democrat, of New York the new
bill would have raised the overtime
rate to 80 per cent by calculating
the work year at 260 days. The
present base of $50 was continued,
however. This makes the overtime
rate actually time and one quarter
after 40 hours, although nominally.
the rate is time and one-han.
Penalties Discrimination.
The full committee struck out q
provision, inserted by a subcom-
mittee, which would have granted
overtime only for time actually
worked" BY reason Of the Con-
troller Generals decisions, the over
time now paid is considered part OF
the base scale. AS a result, en-
ployes receive some benefit even
though they may work only part
OF week.
An amendment sponsored by Sem
ator LANCER, Republican. of North
Dakota would deny benefits of the
bill to the member of any union
practicing racial discrimination. The
amendment was the outgrowth Of
charges by Edgar G. Brown, head
OF the colored United Government
Employees, who told the committee
| that the skilled trades unions of
the American Federation of Labor
Disseminated against members Of
his race.
The committee also moved to give
Congress a closer check on employ
ment by adopting an amendment
requiring agencies to file reports
quarterly with the Budget Bureau
and Congress justifying the size
OF their stats. This carries fur
ther the principle of the present
bill requiring such a report to the
Budget Bureau. The bureau now
is studying the returns from some
b0 agencies which were called upon
to say if they could cut of any en-
ployes or do away with functions
as a wartime move. This amend
ment was sponsored by Senator
BYRD, Democrat, of Virginia, an ar
dent economy advocate, and Sena.
| tor LANCER.
Present Law Revised.
In addition to changing the pay
basis for the non-overtime group,
the committee also made revisions
to improve the present law as ap-
plled to certain units. Employees
of the Library of Congress and Bot
anic Gardens will go on an over
time instead OF fat-increase basis.
overtime rates also will apply to
employees of the architect of the
Capitol who work 48 hours, The
| Civil Service Commission was given
authority to revise pay rates for
skilled tradesmen in the War and
Navy Departments when they are
promoted to supervisory positions.
Under the existing system, the COM
mlttee was told, these men take
advancement at sacrifice in SAL
airy becauseaof the Classification Act,
In finally deciding on the bill, the
committee brought in for consulta-
tlon Commissioner Arthur S. Flem-
ming of the Civil Service Commits
sion; 1smar Baruch, chief of the
classification division of the COM
mission, and Edgar B. Young of the
Budget Bureau.
Postal employees who are included
IN the temporary law are excepted
from the new bill at their own re-
quest. They get overtime under
basic law at straight-time rates.
Other excepted classes include per
diem and per hour employees whose
wages are fixed by board or other
authorities, elected officials and
heads Of establishments.
The House Civil Service Commit
tee also has pay legislation under
consideration, but no decision has
been reached as to its likely form.