Evening star., 1945-11-02
Truman Backs Federal Pay Boost
Of 20 Pct> $4,000 Raise For
Top Officials, FIemming Reveals
Hearing Is Told
u. S. Must Match
Business Wages
BY JOSEPH YOUNG.

President Truman favorS a fiat
20 per cent wage increase for
Federal employees and a general
$4,000 annual salary raise for
top Government officials, includ-
ing members of Congress, cabi-
net officers, agency heads and
Federal judges, the Senate Civil
Service Committee was told to-
day by Civil Service Commits
sioner Arthur S. Flemming.
Under the plan the pay of mem
bers of Congress could be boosted to
$4,000 a year and the salaries of
cabinet members to $25, 1000. Men,
bers of Congress now receive $4,000
and cabinet members $4,000.
Mr.. Flemming, testifying on the
Federal pay bill, told the commit
tee he was authorized to state"
that such increases would be "in
conformity with the program of the
President"
The Civil Service Commission
said the Presidents position 'is a
challenge to all of us who are con-
nected with the Government to
raise our sights in terms sof the
things that need to be done in order
to make the United States Govern
ment stand out as one of the most
progressive employers in the Nation,
and thus attract to its service and
hold in its service persons of out
standing qualifications"
Wants Equality With Business.
Mr.. Flemming asserted that the
wage boosts were needed to meet
the increased cost of living since
1941 and to bring Federal employees
ito plane of equality with en-
ployes in private business"
The low salary ceiling which is in
effect in the executive branch of
the Government leads to the follow
ing results, Mr.. Flenming said:
/. Discourages highly competent
persons from entering Government
service.
2. Deprives the Government of the
services of some of its employees who
leave to take jobs paying higher
wages in private industry.
3. Creates unfairness to workers
who remain in Federal service be-
cause of their conviction that Gov
ernment work provides them bet
ter opportunity for patriotic service
than any other field.
Sees Time for Action.
~This is matter about which we
have talked for years. MIR. Flem-
ming said. "It is time to act"
Appearing as the first witness on
the bill, Mr.. Flemming spoke be-
fore a crowded hearing room. The
hearing was attended by some men,
bers of Congress outside the COM
mittee who were anxious to near
MIR. Truman's position on wage in
creases for Federal workers because
of the significance it may have on
the national wage picture.
Turning to the top positions In
the Government, Mr.. Flemming
said the President was desirous of
boosting wages by $4,000 a year for
all these officials. The new scale
proposed by the administration is
as follows:
Vice President and Speaker Of the
House, $25, 900; members of Con-
gress, $4,000; Chief Justice of the
United States, 0,500; associate JUS
tices of the Supreme Court, $50 900;
Federal appellate judges, $50 500;
chief justice of District Court of
the District of Columbia, $20,5 500,
and associate District Court judges,
$4,000.
Praises for Scientific Workers.
Mr.. Flemming also called for up
ward adjustment of Government
salaries in the scientific and profess
sional field.
'In the administrative, scientific
and professional fields, the Govern
ment is being called upon to dis
charge far more important respon-
sibilities than at any other time in
our history" Mr.. Flemming said.
Certainly we shouldn't overlook any
opportunity to insure the fact that
the Governments tremendously i'm
portant responsibilities will be dis
charged by the most competent
persons we can find"
With the Presidents approval Mr..
F1emming suggested an amendment
to the bill which would provide the
$4,000 raises to those in key Gov
ernment positions.