Evening star., 1948-07-04
The Federal Spotlight
Truman Signs u. S. Pay Bill,
Calls Part of 1t Ridiculous

the Congress pass legislation which
will set Federal pay scales at the
proper levels for all employees, in
cluding members of the Cabinet and
the heads of the independent agen-
cies, as well as persons who are
occupying key positions in the pro-
fessional, scientific and technical
fields, and modernize and simplify
the Classification Act of 1923, and
once again provide a proper re-
lationship between jobs.
1T is clear that the Government
can never compete on dollar-for-
dollar basis with business and in
dustry, particularly in the upper
salary brackets. Government can
compete with business and industry
however, when it comes to dealing
with its employees in a fair and
equitable manner on salary matters:
II it has this kind of a reputation,
the satisfaction which comes to
Government employees because of
the knowledge that they are serv-
ing their fellow human beings will
serve to attract and retain in the
public service the f1rst-rate men
and women we so greatly need"
Rees Issues Statement.
Representative Rees said he was
pleased that President Truman had
signed the pay legislation. His
statement follows:
Il am pleased to learn that the
President has approved legislation
which provides permanent salary in
creases for classified Federal en-
ployes and postal workers. These
increases are primarily designed to
offset the increased cost Of living
which Federal employees have expe-
rienced since the last salary ad-
vancement in l945 and 1946 This
legislation includes postal rate and
fee revisions which will increase the
revenue of the Government by
$l25 900 900 and Offset considerable
share Of the cost.
while the legislation was under
consideration, it became clear that
extensive revisions were necessary in
the Federal classification and salary
laws for the reason that as presently
administered, these laws contribute
to needless Government expendi-
lures for personnel and excessive
Federal employment. For the past
several years, I have urged the exec
utive branch to study this problem
and make appropriate recommends
tions to Congress which would elm
mate salary inequities and unfair
classification practices.
Between now and January, l949,
the House Committee on Postoffice
and Civil Service will study these
matters so that recommendations
may be made to the next Congress
with respect to revisions Of classifi-
cation of salary laws. On the basis
of this study, our committee can
recommend legislation which will
eliminate waste and needless per-
sonnel and save the Federal Gov
ernment an estimated $500, 0,000, ,000."
X y X
WAGE BOARD WORKERS OUT
The thousands of Army and Navy
wage board employees are not in
cluded in Act. However, Army and
Navy omcials are conducting wage
surveys with a view to increasing
the salaries. These employees SAL
aries are fixed by wage boards.
LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL
All legislative and judicial classi-
fed employees are included in the
Act and will receive their $3.50 pay
boosts.
(Be sure to listen in at BIS
pm. today ouer WMAL, The Star
Station, TOR Joseph Young's
broadcast uerston OF the Federal
Spotlight, featuring additional
ncDs OF Government affairs and
personu1ities.)