Evening star., 1943-02-25
S266,744,OO0 Added
To Federal Costs by
Pay Bill, Young Says
George Urges Lump Sum
Ruise Instead of
Overtime for Workers

Liberalized war pay legislation
for Federal and District employees
to replace the temporary law ex-
piring April 80 would add $685.
IA, 900 to present costs, Edgar B.
Young of the Budget Bureau told
a House Civil Service Subcom-
mittee today as Congress heard
plea that Federal workers be
given a straight lump sum pay
increase to meet wartime living
costs.
The Government now is paying
out approximately s64O 100000 un-
der overtime rates. This sum
would be increased by the proposed
legislation, and the addition, Mr..
Young testifiefld, would bring the
gross total above 5000 100000. There
would be. however, some Offsets
against this figure, he added, al
though he could give no estimate as
to what this would amount to.
Mr.. Young alsotold the subcom-
mittee that there would be $4,000
new beneficiaries under the sug-
gested legislation, which removes
the ceiling OF $1,000 above which no
overtime now may be paid.
The proposal that Federal en-
ployes be given a straight lump sum
pay increase instead of applying the
time-and-a-half overtime principle
to persons on an annual salary basis
was made by Senator George, Demo-
crat, Of Georgia.
Wants Simple Bill.
There is no quarrel over the need
for increasing Government pay dur
ing the war" Senator George said.
TT should be done quickly, and I
would be willing to give substantially
the same amount of money, but
don't see why we couldn't write a
simple bill granting it as straight
increase"
Senator George made his plea as
Senate Civil Service subcommittee
began hearing the Government Off
Gals repeat testimony they gave to
House committee yesterday in
favor OF the overtime principle for
all except the legislative, judicial
and postal establishments.
The legislation on which the
House subcommittee is holding hear
ings provides for time and one-half
for hours over 40 and the increase in
cost is based on the continuation of
the 48-hour work week in a 260-day
work year.
At present the work year is fig
ured at $50 days. Judicial and legis-
lative employees and others not eligi-
BILE for overtime, would receive a Is
per cent fiat raise. Classified dis
trict employees are covered by the
overtime provision, although their
work week is only A hours.
Meets Most of Objectives.
Mr.. Young told the subcommittee
that the principles of the tempo
rary pay bill which are being carried
into the new legislation, had met
most of the objectives. These he
listed as offsetting increased living
costs; easing the manpower situa-
ton and bringing about uniform
treatment in the matter of granting
overtime pay to all Government
workers for excess hours.
Mr.. Young also expressed dis
agreement with pending legislation
to give postal employees a $500 bonus,
following the lead of William II.
McReynolds. administrative assist
ant to the President. and Arthur S.
Flemming of the Civil Service Com
mission who told the subcommittee
yesterday that postal workers should
get the same treatment as other per-
sonnel, instead of having their own
individual legislation.
Chairman Randolph asked Mr..
Young what the 48-hour work week
established in December had &C
complished in reducing manpower
needs. but the witness said he could
give nothing concrete yet.
That question is going to be very