Evening star., 1945-11-07
U. 5. Pay Raise
Urged 10 Keep
key Men on Job
Top Officials Appeal
For Legislation to
Increase SoIuries
BY JOSEPH YOUNG.

by JOSEPH YOUNG.
Government efficiency has been
seriously hampered by the loss of
key men in top Federal jobs who
left to accept higher-paying posi-
tions in private industry, high ad-
ministration officials told the Sem
ate Civil Service Committee today
IN urging substantial wage boosts
for top Government officials.
Attorney General Clark, Secretary
OF Agriculture Anderson and Mai.
Gen. Philip B. Fleming, Federal
works administrator, told the COM
mittee of the difficulties their agen-
cies encounter in obtaining and
keeping top-flight men at the pres
ent Federal pay scale.
The three officials urged that
Congress pass legislation recon-
mended by President Truman which
would grant $4,000 annual salary
increases to members of Congress,
Federal judges, cabinet officers and
agency heads, as we'll as granting
substantial increases to other pro-
fessional men in the Government.
They also indorsed a 20 per cent
wage increase for all Government
employees.
Must Train Requirements.
Summing up the case for his coll
leagues, Gen. Fleming said: Month
by month, almost week by week,
good men, almost irreplaceable men,
drift away TO enter private busi-
ness. We have to promote and train
their subordinates to take their
places-only to see them, in turn,
lured away by greater rewards.
I'VE are unable to attract to Gov
eminent the cream of the college
graduating classes. Private business,
which is more muniflcent in such
matters, lure away the better-tr trained
engineers, lawyers, economists and
administrators.
With few exceptions-for there
are always exceptions, it is the man
in the lower half of his graduating
class who turns to Government for
his employment. But in time, he
too, perhaps with growing family
to support, bankers for greener pas
lures which promise more than the
annual raise of dollar or two a
week, which is all he can hope for
in succeeding years if he remains
in the public's service"
Secretary Anderson declared he
was losing many able assistants to
private industry, men for whom
I'd give my right arm if I could
retain them"
Calls for Living Wage.
Mr.. Anderson said he was not
suggesting that Government SAL
aries be on the same levels as that
of private industry, but only that
wages be raised to enable a man
to maintain his financial obliga-
tons.
The happiness and health of our
country are threatened when
man who is specialist in a vital
field dealing with food has to give
up his job because of financial
reasons and accept employment in
private industry" he said.
Mr.. Anderson added that manv
Government officials would like to
stay in Federal service for patriotic
reasons, but find it financially i'm
possible to do so. Many employees
have left the Agriculture Depart
ment to accept salaries at twice the
rate they were getting in Govern
ment service, he added.
Mr.. Clark urged that salaries of
Federal judges and United States
attorneys and their assistants be in
creased substantially.
Only today, before left the Office
to appear before you," Mr.. Clark
said. Il had an interview with a
man who was offered a Federal
judgeship but declined because of
the salary it paid. He would like to
take the job but it would be finan-
cially impossible for him to do so,
since he makes five times that
amount in private law practice"
Many Practice on Side.
Mr.. Clark said salaries of Fed
SAoA JaA6So o2Aod2o bC 4llSlNdSCu Nv
$4,000 annually. The present pay
scale for judges in Federal courts is
$4,000 year and $4,000 annually
for jurists sitting in Circuit Court
of Appeals.
The Attorney General called the
salaries of United States attorneys
and their assistants "miserably low"
Some assistant United States attor-
neys make as little as $4,000 a year,
and many are obliged to carry on
private law practices on the side, he
said.
do you think a law should be
passed to prevent this?" Senator
LANCER, Republican, of North Dakota
asked.
THAT isn't necessary" replied Mr..
Clark. II already have issued an
order to this effect, but haven't
got the heart to enforce it because
I know too well that they are doing
it only to enable them to meet their
living expenses"