Evening star., 1944-11-27
Letters to The Star
Sees Davis and Gallagher Bills
Aiding Federal Employees

recent statement by Arthur 8.
Flemming, United States Civil Service
Commissioner, has highlighted an i'm
portant measure which the Congress
will consider upon reconvening this
month. Mr.. Flemming deplored the
growing turnover among Federal Civil
Service employees as an obstacle to the
war program and urged remedial action.
But 1t is not difncult to ascertain
why q very large number of engineer
ing and scientific specialists (who con-
stitute 20 per cent of Federal employees
are deserting the service at this time.
The inequalities which exist between
positions in private industry and Gov
ernment service, in terms of salary and
tenure, are so marked as to leave no
doubt as to the causes of these separa-
tions. Almost invariably the Govern
ment pays less in basic and overtime
pay than private plant does for equal
work. To that factor is added the pos
sibility Of postwar employment offered
by the private concern. Only retrench-
expected within the Government serv-
Ice.
This situation, however, is not .
hopeless one. The Navy Department
and the Civil Service Commission both
have recognized the tnequity Of the
situation and repeatedly have sponsored
on their own initiative, In the interest
Of good administration, legislation in
tended to establish a more equitable
policy. The intent of their efforts is
contained in the Davis Bill (S-2060)
and the Gallagher Bill (HR-5l5D which
now are under consideration by the
Civil Service Committees OF both
branches of Congress.
The Civil Service Commission now
does not have authority to correct
salary inequalities, as compared to pri-
vate industry, for professional and
scientific workers. 1t does have such
power in the case Of mechanics and
laborers under It's jurisdiction. Con-
gressionAl action is necessary for the
former group because civil service pay
scales for professional and scientific
workers are established and amendable
only in such manner.
The need for corrective legislation Is
clear upon examination Of conditions OF
Federal employment for the group:
/. Pay scales for workers employed
in private industry and mechanics and
laborers employed by the Government
may be adjusted in accordance with the
rising cost Of living. No such provision,
In any form, exists to permit adjust
ment of the pay scales from those estab-
lished in 1923 for professional and tech
nical Federal workers. AS matter of
fact, they have been reduced since
then-never raised.
z. Taking the navy yards as an ex-
ample, the mechanical forces in the
yards receive wages which are equal to
those paid in private shipyards in the
same area. The reason for this Is that
there Is legislative provision for periodic
review Of their pay rates to make them
always equitable. No such rels &on ex-
lists between professional salaries for
comparable work in Government and
private shipyards.
5. Comparison of pay rates within the
same navy yards shows that positions re-
quiring no training and a minimum Of
experience, carrying no responsibilities,
receive the same as, and in some cases
greater salaries than, those paid for
technical services.
A typical analysis shows that an en-
gineering craftsman who is required to
years Of ship experience Cor more in
allied fields) aside from educational
qualifications, receives less than q Sec
ond-class laborer in the same yard.
4. As already stated, the Govern
ments professional employees are paid
considerably less than their colleagues
who perform the same work in adja-
cent privately owned plants.
The following two comparisons Of
pay scales for 53-hour week are taken
from two of the largest East Coast
shipbuildins yards located within 10
miles OF one another, one privately
owned and the other 4 Government
navy, yard:
4. A naval architect or marine en-
sineer employed by the Government
who supervises and reviews the work
Of 4 squad of 10 to Is naval architects
or marine engineers and craftsmen re-
ceives less than third-class craftsman
in the private shipyard who has no
supervisory responsibilities whatever.
b. A naval architect or marine en-
sineer employed by the Government
serving as the responsible head Of q
major section Of the hull or marine
engineering design division receives the
same rate as . second-class checker
or specialist at the private shipyard.
5. Workers in private enterprise are
covered by State unemployment insur-
ance benefits. Federal workers receive
no such benefits at the termination Of
their employment.
8. There Is no compensating prospect
Of tenure Of position for most Govern
ment employees. Two million of the
5000, ,00's Government employees are tenn
porary wa4..-'e. anpointees whose en-
ployment almost certainly will terminate
with the end Of the war. They are not
in as favorable position as regards
tenure as are all other warworkers.
Postwar expansion of private industry
will permit large numbers Of warwork-
ers to retain their jobs. Only retrench-
ment and cutbacks logically may be
expected in Government activity, par
ticularly that competing with private
enterprise.
T. In the matter Of overtime pay
scales: The Government pays one and
one-eighth the hourly rate while pri-