Evening star., 1945-06-12
unexpected
1oAct Today on
Federal Pay Bill
Measure Is Likely
To Go to Conference
Before Passage
BY DON S. WARREN.

House passage OF the Federal
workers pay raise bill now is ex-
pected this afternoon, contingent
on the time needed to dispose OF
the poll tax repeal bill, which has
the right of way.
The prospect was for passage in
q form somewhat different from the
Senate bill, so that the measure
would 60 to conference between the
two Houses before being dispatched
to the White House for signature
Three hours of general debate on
the pay bill yesterday in the House
produced fireworks only over the
refusal of the Civil Service com-
mittee to file with the House at this
time a partial report by its investi-
eating staff. This deals with "ex-
cessive" advancements in pay re-
portedly granted to some Federal
workers under wartime treatment
Of the classification pay system.
Ramspeck Beats OF Attacks.
Representative Ramspeck, Demo-
crat, of Georgia, committee chair
man, fought OF attacks on this
point by Representative Rankin,
Democrat, Of Mississippi, and Rees,
Republican, of Kansas, among
others, by insisting the investigation
has not been concluded and that
facts" contained in the partial re-
port had been fatty denied by
spokesmen for the Civil Service
Commission. He stressed also this
probe of operation of the classifica-
tion system had nothing to do with
the simple justice" of the pending
pay raise.
Representative Randolph, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia. next ranking
ma ajority member of the committee
reminded the House that the COM
mittee itself had initiated the move
to probe into "deflciencies" of the
application of civil service laws. He
added that recommendations flow-
ing from the committee in the past
had resulted in huge economies in
Government operations.
Mr.. Randolph said he believed the
Federal payroll was swollen" and
that tens of thousands" of en-
ployes could be dropped without af-
fecting efficiency. He suggested the
appropriations committees might
look into this, but added he was
profoundly weary" of hearing criti-
cisms of the work being done by
Federal workers.
Byrd Voted for Raise.
On this point Mr. Kamspeck said
that while it had been recalled Sem
ator Byrd, Democrat. of Virginia
had demanded reductions in the
number of Federal employees, the
Virginia Senator had voted for the
pay raise bill.
Mr.. Rankin suggested that the bill
be sent back to the committee Ito
give it chance to get rid of dis
crepancies" noted in the investiga-
ton report. The Government, he
said, lis drifting toward a most
deadly bureaucracy"
Mr.. Rees said this was no time to
adopt a permanent basic pay raise
for the Federal workers because the
cost of living had not settled"
Mr.. Ramspeck replied that the bill
granted nothing to the classified,
legislative and judicial workers not
already attained by other workers.
Representative Jackson, Demo-
crat, Of Washington, who headed the
subcommittee which brought out the
bill, emphasized that employees in
the arsenals and navy yards already
have had pay raises up to the Is per
cent Little Steel formula limit and
that this bill eliminates discrimina-
tions against the classified workers
in computing overtime pay.
Others supporting the bill includ-
ed Representatives Sasscer, Demo-
crat. OF Maryland, and Fulton, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania.