Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-16

1ouT november IL editorial
on Federal Pay" was greatly
appreciated. The spectacle of
q blanket increase in pay for
Government workers to fol-
low two increases already
granted within a short period
Of time smacks Of greed.
One Of the greatest pieces
OF fiction to be found any,
where Is that Government
workers are underpaid. This
fiction is repeated, nurtured
and banded about until even
honest but unthinking men
accept 1t as fact. Can it be
that the rank and file of
Government workers are so
dedicated to the public inter-
est, so altruistic, so self-sac-
rificing that they remain on
the job when they might i'm
prove both station and pay by
switching to outside employ
ment2 Obviously such is
not the case. Let us be hon.
est-if the fiction of the
underpaid Government
worker were fact there would
be a mass exodus from gov
eminent. Nothing like this
has been seen, nor will 1t be:
the trend is always in the
opposite direction.
Granted that 1t is possible
to find a Government en-
ploye here and there who is
underpaid, but why place so
much emphasis on him when
1t Is at the same time posi-
BILE to find 10 others who are
overpaid?
In opposing this obnoxious
Federal pay bill Senator
Lausche has provided statis-
tics which show beyond per-
adventure that the average
pay Of Federal workers ex-
ceedS that Of workers in pri-
vate employment by a consid-
cradle margin. For this re-
velation the good Senator is
entitled to the gratitude of
all.
The most pernicious Of the
measures contained in the
Federal pay bill is that pro-
viding a $4,000 increase in
the pay Of Congress men
themselves. Any Senator or
Representative who finds
that he cannot make ends
meet on his present salary of
$22,500 a year with perqui-
sites, fringe benefits, free
trips to the four corners of
the world. etc., should feel
free to withdraw at the end
OF his present term and let
someone else have a go at
the Job. There will be no
shortage of those aspiring to
succeed him.
No more inappropriate
time than the present could
be found for Congressman to
vote themselves an increase
in pay. President Truman
had at one time what he cas-
tigated as being a DO Moth
ing Congress" but this
famous do Nothing Con-
greSS" would look like a bee
hive Of industry If compared
with the one now In session.
Members Of Congress have
the privilege of raiding the
public till If so minded but
they must do this at their
own risk; the consequences
may be unpleasant.
Charles F. Preston
Twas dismayed by your edi-
torial opposing the pay bill
reported out by the House
Civil Service Committee. It
seems to me that you have
not adequately assessed eth
er the equities or the realities
of the situation.
You rather grudgingly con-
cede that there is need fol-
some pay increases at what
you describe as "the second
airy level" of Government. Or
the other hand you quote
Senator Lausche in opposi-
ton to a congressional pay
increase. Quite aside from
the merits of such an in
crease, how do you conceive
that the pay of those al
secondary level" could be
raised without raising the
ceiling on congressional pay?
You state that the increas-
es in the bill would come on
top Of substantial pay in
creases already approved and
scheduled to take effect in
January. However, you ig-
more the fact that no such
increases have been approved
for persons above the GS-15
level, the very persons whose