Evening star., 1943-01-29
Farley Agrees
On Basis for
Higher U. 5. Pay
Mead Plans to Offer
Bill Next Week to
Replace Present Law
BY J. A. OIEARY.

Five basic features of a new
Government pay bill to replace
the present temporary law on
April 80 were agreed on tenta-
lively today at a conference of
members Of Congress and Fed
eral personnel officers.
The five points are:
l. For most departmental workers,
a 80 per cent increase for a 48-hour
week and IS per cent raise for a
44-hour week, above salaries as of
November. The present temporary
act gives those on a 48-hour week
21.6 per cent raise and those on a
44hour week, 10 per cent.
2. For those whose hours cannot
be computed on an overtime basis,
including employees in the legislative
and judicial branches, increase the
fiat percentage raise from 10 per
cent in the present law to IS per
cent.
g. Cut out the limitation in the
present law against any increase
that would run salary above IS 900.
4. Exclude from the bill heads of
departments, cabinet officers and
members of Congress.
5. Fix the wartime pay Of postal
workers in separate legislation, be-
cause of unusual problems in COM
putting overtime, since the pay of
many Of these employees is based on
mileage, postal receipts and other
factors not measurable by hours.
Senator Mead, Democrat, of New
York, who called the conference,
said he will introduce a bill along
these lines next week, after which
it will be considered by a subcom-
mittee and then by the entire Civil
Service Committee.
Chairman Ramspeck of the House
Civil Service Committee attended
the conference, along with officials
Of the Civil Service Commission.
Senator Mead emphasized that the
f1nal decision on the scope of the bill
will be made by the House and Sen
ate Civil Service Committees, but
said the general outline represented
what might be called the unani-
nous opinion" Of those present.
For the great majority of employe.
the bin will be essentially an over
time pay proposal. The percentage
of increase for those who have beer
put on 48-hour week will be 80 in
stead OF 216, he said, because over
time would be computed on a 260.
day work year, whereas the present
temporary law computes it on a 800
day work year.
The present plan is to have the
new bill remain in effect only until
the end of the war. -
10 Per Cent Basic Increase.
Senator Mead explained that
while the departmental employees
working 48 hours get 30 per cent al
against Is per cent for those no,
subject to overtime, the first group
Is working 20 per cent longer week
For that reason, he argued, only 1C
of the 30 per cent figure represents
basic increase.
Although the limitation against
any raise above S. 900 is being re-
moved, Senator Mead said all over
time increases would continue to be
computed only on the first $4,000 oi
salary.
The 5000 ceiling is to be dropped
he said, because it has resulted ir
inequities among employees in the
salary range between 81 800 and S.
200 year.
Under the temporary law the EN-.
ploye getting $4,000 year could be
given overtime pay up to 5000
while an employe getting 5000 coult
get no increase Senator Mead said
that coupling wartime income taxes
with the 5000 ceiling had the effect
in some cases of bringing the net
salary Of the man in the higher
bracket below that Of subordinate