St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-03-08

wage scales of federal employees,
with a few exceptions, are obso-
lete and inadequate, particularly
those of the federal judiciary.
At the same time he recommend
ed a salary of $4,000 a year for
members of Congress, Mr.. Truman
also recommended the repeal of the
provision now applicable to the
House of Representatives for an
additional expense allowance.
In accordance with the Presi-
dents program, the salary Of Judge
Irwin C. Mollison of the United
States Customs Court would be
doubled from $4,000 to $4,000 a
year, if Congress approves the
recommendation of Arthur S. Flem-
ming, a member of the Civil Serv-
ice Commission.
But Judge Herman E. Moore OF
the United States Court for the
Virgin Islands would not benefit
under the salary schedule proposed
by Mr.. Flemming for United States
Judges. Mr.. Flemming recon-
mended a salary of $4,000 a year
for each Judge of district courts,
including the associate justices of
the District Court of the United
States for the District of Columbia,
and the judges in Puerto Rico,
Hawaii, and Alaska exercising fed
eral jurisdiction, and each judge of
the United States Customs Court.
According to Mr.. Flemming, the
revision he recommended in the
salary scales for judges would re-
suit in the maintenance Of the
same dollar relationship between
the salaries of judges and the sal
aries of members of Congress. But
why the omission of the judgeship
of the Virgin Islands?
Raphael O'Hara Lanier receives
$4,000 a year as Minister to Lii
IBERIA. The pay of Judge Almond
W. Scott of the Municipal Court Of
the District of Columbia is $3.50
a year. The Rev. Marshall L.
Shepard, Recorder of Deeds of the
District of Columbia, also receives
$3.50 a year. Dean William H.
HASTE will receive a salary of
$3.50 a year after he is confirmed
by the Senate and takes the oath
of office as governor of the Virgin
Islands.
All of these jobs represent mere
crumbs from a heavily-laden pat
ronage table. The right to hold
office is a prerogative of citizen
ship. But the appointment of col
ored people to office has not been
made in proportion to their ad-
vancement, their Importance as
political factor, and the increase
in bureaucracy.
AS a matter of fact, in offices
requiring Senate confirmation
ground has been lost since the Taft
Administration. In the lower and
middle brackets, in relative num-
bers, there also was a decrease in
clerical jobs held by colored per-
sons between the Taft Administra-
ton and the outbreak of World
War ii. The requirement of photo
graphs of applicants for civil ser
vice jobs and the discretion allowed
appointing officers to choose one
of three persons certified for a job
accounted for this decline.
President Truman made a good
beginning in the right direction by
his naming of Judge Mollison to
the United States Customs Court
and of Dean HASTE to the COVER
norship of the Virgin Islands. But
with 100000 civilian employees on
the Federal payroll, and with col
ored voters in Atlanta (Georgia)
deciding a Congressional election,
it's time for greater recognition to
be extended colored people in the
handing out of patronage and for
colored civil service applicants to
be chosen on the basis of merit
and not turned down because of
race or color.
Opinions Count!
49,. a. A. Dl..