Evening star., 1954-01-12
DC. 10 Boost
Enlp|oye Food,
Quarters Cost
Lowe Would Close
Subsistence Cop
To Fair Level
By John w. Stepp

The food and quarters prices
District government employees
have paid for years soon will
be substantially increased" un-
der a reorganization study now
nearing completion.
Government reorganizers were
close-lipped today over the ex-
tent to which these subsistence
payments would be raised. But
speaking generally, General Ad-
ministration Director Schuyler
Lowe said an annual saving of
least SITS 900 could be realized.
The idea. Mr.. Lowe said, is to
bring subsistence payments up to
a fair level" While the wages
of such as health, welfare and
corrections employees have in
creased progressively in recent
years. their food and quarters
fees have failed to keep pace.
Mr.. Lowe explained.
Consequently, he said, the goal
is to bring these payments I'D
to a fair level" in proportion
to the general cost of living in
crease.
About $500 employees would be
affected by the subsistence in
crease. OF this number, 600 pay
only for quarters.
Among the l,5OO are about
$50 medical internes, student
nurses and resident physicians
In the District public hospitals
who would also be affected
since their earnings are so
meager. however. they would re-
celve pay increases to offset the
higher subsistence costs, it was
learned.
Drafted for Hearings.
Mr., Lowe. as ultimate head of
the reorganizationS effort. said
he hopes to have the subsistence
recommendations" ready before
the fiscal 1855 budget reaches
the hearing stage before Con-
greSS.
This is an objective. like most
others in the reorganization pro-
gram, that has not yet been
realized.
But Mr.. Lowe cautioned
against over-expectancy during
the House hearings on the Dis
trict budget last May.
Mr.. Lowe declared then that
"the real economies will not
begin to show up until the Sec
ond half of the fiscal year 1854"
the current fiscal year ending
June 80.
The administrative official said
the same thing today: "It is too
soon to expect any dollar savings
in the reorganization program"
Saving a Side Issue.
Mr.. Lowe. who was hired new
to the job of municipal admins
tration in the latter part Of
1852, pointed out today that the
government changes in the Dis
trict today are an "administra-
tive reorganization"
THE principal benefit under
this kind Of reorganization is
increased efficiency, rather than
financial savings" he said. II
money is saved along the way,
he implied. it would be pure
gravy to the District govern
ment.
In a chart prepared recentlv
by the management Office. which
is directly responsible for re-
organization, more than 50 mil
lion actual money savings were
hoped for, if not definitely pre-
dicted. But more has been real
lied to date.
listed for Savings.
Among these projected saw
ngs were:
/. From 100000 to $500, 900
in the licensing and inspections
reShuf1e. This was to have been
realized in the transfer from the
inspections departments to the
fire department the functions
OF fire safety inspections. the
relieving of 80 Metropolitan po-
licemen from the duties of
license inspection and the end
ing of duplication of inspection
services among the various Dis
trict agencies.
2. From $130,OO0 to 81 million
by better ascertainment" Of the
liability of relatives for the cost
of inmates of St. EliZabeths Hos
pital.
3. Upwards of $275, 900, as a
result Of revising the billing pro-
cedure to collect something ap-
preaching the maximum amount
due not OY1lv from nationts hi1f