Evening star., 1955-01-11
President Asks Raise
And Health Plan for
Federal Workers
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the new session began has In
dicated the lawmakers are re-
ceptive to the idea Of q pay
boost for Government workers
but still are reluctant to raise
postal rates.
The President pointed out to-
day that Post ONCE Department
deficits since World War II
have reached the staggering
total Of more than 81 billion,
with a 1899 million deficit last
year.
Declaring that it Is neither
good business nor good govern
nient to continue making up this
deficit from general tax reve-
nues. the President said he is
convinced that 1.-THE American
people will understand, appre-
ciate, respect and support con-
gressional action to provide for
a long overdue rate increase on
letter mail which win go far to-
ward balancing the postal
budget"
Other Glasses Affected.
Mr.. Eisenhower said rates on
second and third class mail also
should be increased so that users
of them pay a proportionately
fair share Of postal revenues.
The President put great en-
phasis on his recommendation
to create an independent COM
mission to set future postal rate
adjustments under broad policy
guidance of Congress" He said
this would enable the Post Of
flee to keep its prices sufficiently
flexible to reflect changes IN
costs and developing needs.
Unlike his recommendations
for increasing the pay Of postal
workers, the Presidents pro-
posals for boosting salaries of
classified and other Government
employees were not linked to any
specific revenue measures.
Among classified Civil Service
workers, the lowest pay boost
would be from $2,552 a year to
$2,625 for certain crafts, watch
men and cleaners. The biggest
rise, from a percentage stand
point, would be in grade is
workers, lifting them from a
minimum Of $4,000 a year to
$11.600. There would be no
increase in the present top pay
of $14,800.
The proposals we're confined
In two messages, one on en-
ployes outside the postal serv-
ice, and another on postal pay
and rates.
Emphasis on Differential.
The President explained that
his recommendations for the
general pay raises put emphasis
upon a greater and, more mean
tngful differential between pay
scales of successive grades" He
explained that generally pay
rates in the lower grades now
are fairly well In line with those
prevailing outside Government,
while rates in the middle and
upper grades "have Jagged be-
hind.
Still. he said, 45.5 per cent Of
the proposed increases would 60
to the lowest i've grades, with
only 4.5 per cent being apnlied to
the highest five grades in the
classified pay scale. Grade IL
employees would get no raise at
all.
Officials estimated that slight
ly less than / million Federal
workers would be affected by
the proposed classified increases,
more than 100000 by the postal
wage boost, and about 2 million
by the group health insurance
plan. .
Senator Carlson and Repre-
sentative Reese, Kansas Repub-
licans who headed the Civil
Service and Postal Committees
of the House and Senate during
the last Congress, were among
Republican congressional leaders
comforting with the President
this morning.
There was some discussion OF
the pay raise proposals, but none
Of the postage rate increase rec
concentrations. In that meeting,
reporters were told.
In his message on postal pay
and rate increases, the President
said the Postmaster General will
submit to Congress details Of a
new salary plan designed to pro
vide for a more proper and effec-
tive relationship between pay
and work performed"
He said this would eliminate
inequities Of the present inflex-
ible system which requires as
signment Of all postal employees
to a limited number Of job titles,
In many cases having no relation
to the work actually performed.
He added that it would give
LOST.