Evening star., 1945-06-22
|ConfereesAgree
On Bill Raisiinq
Federal Wages
Two Major Changes
Will Affect Pay
Of 1,400, 900

House and Senate conferees
today reached a final agreement
on the Federal pay bill and will
submit it to both houses for rati-
hcation early next week.
The bill makes these two major
changes in the compensation of
about 100000 Government en-
ployes:
l. Provides percentage increases
in basic pay averaging 159 per cent,
ranging from 20 per cent to per
cent, depending on the total wage.
2. Changes the rate of overtime
for work in excess of 40 hours from
time-and-one-twelfth to full time
and-one-half, computed on the first
$3.50 of salary.
Last-Minute Adjustments.
The conferees settled their biggest
difference last night, when the SEN
ate managers accepted the House
provision for the higher overtime
rate Several last-minute adjust
ments were made this morning, how
ever, including the following:
An agreement providing for 26 pay
periods a year instead of "a, start
ing October l. The increases, both
basic and overtime, however, would
take effect July l. The change in
number OF pay days will not affect
compensation but merely standard
ize payroll procedure.
An agreement shortening the
periods for within-grade promotions
from each 18 or 80 months to each
IL or l8 months, depending on the
size OF the stepups. 1t was agreed
also that an efficiency rating Of
good or better" would be sufficient
to entitle an employe to STEP
ups beyond the middle of the grade.
Under the present law an employe
must be rated very good" to 60
above the middle of his grade.
Protection for Low-paid.
Another last-minute decision pro-
vides that employees now drawing a
fiat $500 in lieu of pay for overtime
will continue to get the fiat sum if
they are earning 81 800 OF less. 1t was
explained that 81 200 employe, now
getting this fiat increase to $500,
would have sustained a pay cut OF
$50 a year if he had received the
new basic increase instead.
The new basic increases start at
20 per cent on the first $1,000; 10
per cent on the next 50 400, and 5
per cent on the portion above $4,000.
The conference report will be
acted on first in the House, prob
ably Monday. The question OF
when employees will go back to a
4o-hour work week regularly will
depend on where they work. Presi-
dent Truman has advised Chair
man Ramspeck of the House Civil
IService Committee the longer work
week will be discontinued in nom
critical labor areas as the war stu
alton permits.
Other Amendments.
In addition to the overtime rate,
the conferees yesterday agreed to
recommend acceptance of the House
provision that the raises and over
time shall not serve to boost paw
levels above $4,000 a year, but an
amendment was recommended.
On motion by Representative
Randolph, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia, the committee agreed this
provision should be modified so that
it would not cause a reduction in
pay for any employe now in the
service. In other words, any one
now receiving more than $4,000
year by reason of present pay and
overtime would not take a cutback
by reason of passage of the pay
boost bill. But others, now under
the $4,000 line, would not be able
to 60 above that mark because of
the higher basic and overtime rates.
Mr.. Randolph said he fought for
the provision on the ground it would
be unfair to career men in kew
administrative jobs to take a paw
cut. He mentioned ]. Edgar Hoover,
director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, as one example.