Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-24


by agency wage boards.
The task force proposals, in
cidentally. regarding blue col
lar pay would not change the |
present system. The only
changes would involve techni-
cal ones, such as whether
Army-Air Force or Navy stand
ards in determining area rate
conditions would prevail.
$50
OPPOSITION AHEAD-The
modified area rate proposal for
classified employe pay cat pres
ent Congress has complete con-
troll over fixing classified en-
ploye salaries) is not q new
one. A similar plan was advo-
Gated by former Civil Service
Commission Chairman Philip
Young. but got nowhere.
The task force groups appar.
ent leaning toward the area
rate system for classified en-
ployes already has come under
fire. This criticism has sprung
up even though the plan has
not been given any formal APP
proval or submitted to the
steering committee which in
turn will submit final proposals
to the sub-cabinet committee
for final decision on what to
recommend to the President.
The criticism Of some Fed
eral personnel officials as well
as employe leaders centers
around the fact that the task
group on classified pay is DOM
mated by Government onicials
whose regular duties involving
the setting Of per diem blue
Collar pay. The argument is
that these officials naturally
would be disposed favorably
toward the area rate or wage
board concept for classified en-
ployes as well.
The main argument made
against area rate systems for
classified employees is that they
would be unrealistic and dis
criminatory in many cases.
Since white collar workers in
industry are, relatively unor-
ganized. their pay is not as
high generally as blue collar
workers. Hence. Federal class
ihed employees salaries might
tend to go downward. This
would be particularly true in
smaller cities and rural areas.
Also the argument is made
that Congress would never ap-
prove such a plan mainly be-
cause the chairmanships Of
various committees in Congress
are dominated by Southern
Democrats hailing from rural
areas-the places where their
Federal classified employe con-
stituents would be particularly
hard hit II an area rate system
went into effect.
OF course. the final decision
on what will be recommended
TO the President rests with the
sub-cabinet committee headed
by csc Chairman Harris Ellis
worth. Considerable contro-
versy among the task force and
steering groups is expected be-
fore the sub-cabinet committee
makes its Anal decisions on
what the official report will be.
Already some officials have
served notice that they want
the right to file minority re-
ports should their views not
prevail.
One proposal considered to
have q good chance of winning
final approval in the report
would raise the present sic. 900
classified pay ceiling to $40. 900.
This would not only permit the
raising Of top classified salaries,
but would also permit an up
ward adjustment all along the
line among Classification Act
salaries.
It's also believed the re-
port TO the President will urge
Recommendation to Congress
for an immediate raise in classi-
fed and postal employe sal
aries. no matter what the final
proposal will be regarding how
Federal salaries should be fixed.
It is recognized that any
proposal on changing the
method Of fixing Federal SAL
aries would be a long-range
one. since Congress would take
a long. hard look before taking
any action. II any. Therefore,
the feeling among many Fed
eral officials is that immediate
action on increasing Govern
ment pay in the interim period
is needed without delay once
Congress reconvenes In Janu-
airy.
CAPITAL ROUNDUP DIR.
B. H. Jarman, professor Of
education at George Washing
ton University. will discuss
utilization Of Motivation in
Management" at q dinner
meeting Of the Society for the
Advancement Of MANAGEMENT
at 8 pm. tomorrow in the Oc-
cidental Restaurant. Presi-
dent Eisenhower interrfinkad hfs