Evening star., 1943-03-12
D. {. Salary Bill
For 10qo Raises
Is Introduced
Legislation Makes
Workers Subject to
Federal Pay Act
By WILL P. KENNEDY.

The new District of Columbia pay
bill, providing fiat 10 per cent in
crease for all D. c. employees making
less than $4,000 a year, was intro
duced in the House today by Chair
man Mcmillan of the District sub
committee on police and firemen
legislation.
The legislation is joint resolution
which proposes to amend the Federal
emergency pay increase bill so as to
include all District of Columbia en-
ployes who Go not come under the
Classification Act.
The District Committee is being
polled today and Chairman Randolph
expects to be prepared Immediately
to report the bill favorably, although
his report may be held up until
Monday.
Explains Situation.
Chairman Randolph explained to-
day that The joint resolution of
December %, 1912, extends its bene-
fits only to those employees of the
District of Columbia municipal gov
ernment who occupy positions sub
lect to the Classification Act of
1923 as amended There are ex-
cluded from its benefits many en-
ployes of the District, such as DO
licemen, firemen. teachers and en-
ployes whose salaries are fixed by
law and employees whose rates of
compensation are limited by law.
The purpose of the proposed
amendment is to leave unaffected
the benefits granted by the joint
resolution to District of Columbia
employees who occupy positions sub
Ject to the Classification Act of 1923
and to grant retroactive to Deem
ber l. 1912, an increase of 10 per
cent to the other employees of the
District, subject to the limitations
contained in the joint resolution"
Considered More Equitable.
Chairman Mcmillan and his sub
committee considered the fiat per-
centage increase for all District en-
ployes more equitable than the Bur-
ton bill passed by the Senate nearly
two weeks ago. They explain that it
is SO drafted that on April 80 it can
be fitted in with the Federal salary
adjustment measure so that the Dis
trict workers will get the same bene-
fits as Federal employees. The new
Federal pay bill is to become oper-
ative on April 30.
Chairman McMillan emphasized
that the new bill was drafted so as
to take special care of those in the
low-salary list, many of whom, such
as rookie policemen, are carrying
heavy responsibility during the war
emergency lin protecting life and
property in an overcrowded wartime
Capital" The rookie police and fire.
men will receivS almost double under
the new bill what they would have
under the Burton bill--a Sl90 in
crease for firSt-year men instead OF
$780,
Members of the subcommittee also
point out that the new bill aims to
include all in the District govern
ment in one general pay-increase
measure rather than to have group
after group Of workers clamorlng
to be given equitable treatment. 1t
is expected that the morale of all
will be built up py forward action
by Congress to give them just treat
ment before demands are made.
Smoothes Out Distinctions.
They call attention also that it
smoothes out distinctions between
by the Senate gave the police and
firemen increases of Sl00 to $500
while the school teachers were
granted 10 per cent increase. BY
setting limit Of $4,000, the new
bill, Mr.. Mcmillan explained, shuts
off criticism that the higher -salaried
employees were being given an ad-
vantage. The first-year policemen
are to get an increase of $40, while
the veteran policemen receiving
S2,400 will receive S240 instead of
$500 as proposed in the Burton bill.
The Burton proposal for police
and firemen would have granted the
increase for the duration, while the
new bill runs to April 80 with the
intention of including all District
employees with Federal workers in
the new legislation to become effec-
tive on that date
The new District bill also parallels
the Federal bill in setting the same
ceiling on salary increases. The 10
per cent increase cannot be figured
on any salary in excess of $4,000
and no increase can be included in
MN L. in nvcncc cf e. nnn