Evening star., 1948-08-25

views on the pending legislation.
Gov. Dewey already has de-
clared he favors upward salary re-
visions for top Federal officials and
junking of the present $4,000
Government pay ceiling.
Should Mr.. Dewey win in No.
vember, Senator Flanders anu his
aides are confident Congress will
approve the legislation quickly
And they feel that even in the
event of a Democratic victory, the
measure has an excellent chance
of passage. President Truman con-
sistently has urged Congress to
raise the pay of top-ievel officials.
The present pay scale is very
much outmoded. and Senator
Flanders and other of the bills
supporters point out that it is now
very difficulty for the Government
to attract and retain top flight per-
sonnel with the present pay ceiling.
In addition, the recent $3.50 pay
Increase given to rank-and- file Fed
eral workers, but denied to agency
neads, finds the Government in
the ludicrous position of having
some subordinates making more
money than their bosses
The new bill also is expected to
raise the vice presidential salary.
which is now $4,000 a year. Those
drawing up the bill have in mind
the fact that Gov. Warren of Cali
fornla, the Republican vice presi-
Dental candidate, now makes S25 900
year as CALIFORNIA; S chief execu-
/ tive.
Meanwhile, the House and Sen
ate Civil Service Committees are
going ahead with their work in
drafting Redistribution Act changes
for Government workers generally
changes which would result In
about 500 a year pay boosts for
most rank and filers. However, most
of the various Government workers
unions already are mapping plans
to ask that another cost t-of living
pay boost be incorporated in the
Classification Act revisions.
In all likelihood, the Flanders
top-bracket salary measure will be
handled as separate bill, apart
from the general Redistribution
Act revision measure.
/ y 4 Y
FAMILY SKELETON-Civi Serv-
ice Commissioner Frances Perkins
got roar of laughter at the Arthur
S. Flemming dinner the other night,
when she quipped:
Here in the Civil Service Com
! mission everybody knows where
they're going few of them
are going in the same direction"
It's suspected, however, that Miss
!; Perkins was speaking somewhat
with tongue in cheek. Although she
and some of her colleagues have had
serious difference of opinions on oc-
casions, on the whole there has been
more unity than discord in the
commission.
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION Lat
est word is that the Civil Service
Commission will complete, within 80
days, its task of selecting the seven
man panel to compose the Govern
ments fair employment board.
The board will have the final au-
thority in dealing with cases of
alleged discrimination in Federal
agencies against employees or job
applicants because of their race,
color or creed.
incidentally. you can discount re-
ports that the commission Is hav-
ing trouble finding persons to serve
on the board. Commission officials
disclose that everything is moving
along all right The board members
will be outsiders, with chance that
several of them will be retired Gov
ernment employees. All members
chosen are expected to have dis
tineuished records in the various
fields from which they are chosen.
BLUES-Interior Department off,
Gals are singing the blues these
days
1t seems that each year Congress
gives them enough money to attend
, the various scientific and conserva
ton conventions that are in In
terior'S line of work.
But this year, Congress inserted
a most unusual provision. whereby
the money allotted for this fund
may be used by Congress, if it de-
| cldes to investigate any of Interiors
: activities. Which leaves Interior Of
flcials up in the air as TO whether
they'll actually have eny money
for convention purposes.
n WON'T BE LONG-The long
awaited examination for permanent
/, secretarial jobs in the Government
q will be announced within the nex'
two weeks by the Civil Service Com.
mission.
Thousands of girls are expected
to compete for the jobs, including
many who now hold war-service ap.
pointments in these secretarial po.