SPECIAL POLICE PAY

Senator HOLLINGS. Before I yield to Senator Cotton, I have here a letter dated April 27, from Congressman Skubitz relative to the police pay of the Library of Congress. I will put that letter into the record. I think you are familiar with the letter. What is your comment? What is the problem? Can't you increase their salaries as they deserve it, as they go along? What is the situation?

[The letter follows:]

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

April 27, 1973

Dear Senator:

I am enclosing herewith a copy of a statement which I had inserted in the Record relating to an injustice that should be corrected. I speak of the inequity that exists in the salary schedule as it applies to the policemen operating under the control of the Library of Congress.

I learned of this matter too late to accomplish anything this year on the House side. I did speak to Congressman Wayne Hays who indicated to me that the injustice should and Would be corrected.

Only 95 men are involved. Their earnings do not increase from the date of entry into the service to retirement; they start at $8,722.00 and end at $8,722.00. Compare that salary with the salary paid to GSA police ($7,951 to $10,264) or to the U.S. Capitol police ($9,520 to $13,600).

I urge you, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative Appropriations, to take the appropriate steps to correct this injustice.

Sincerely,

Joe Skubitz

[From the Congressional Record, Apr. 9, 1973]

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS POLICE SALARIES

(By Hon. Joe Skubitz, of Kansas)

Mr. SKUBITZ. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing a bill whose enactment will correct a longstanding wrong and undo an injustice.

I refer to the pay schedules for policemen operating under the control of the Library of Congress as compared to the salaries of police officers who work for us here in the U.S. Capitol, those who work under the General Services Administration, and those who work for the National Zoological Park.

For example, the starting salary for a Library of Congress policeman is $8,722 and no matter how long he may be employed, that remains his salary level. By contrast, a Capitol policeman starts at $9,520 and may move up eventually to $13,600 per annum. A GSA police officer starts at $7,951 and his maximum salary can become $10,264. A National Zoo policeman begins with a salary of $9,520 and may reach $10,788. This same inequity and unfairness obtains in the pay scales in all the ranks from sergeant through captain for the Library of Congress officers. In my judgment, no basis exists in law or in the scope of duty for this discrimination. I believe it should be remedied promptly. I hope that the measure I am introducing will be considered promptly by the House Committee on Administration, who has responsibility in this field.

A table of comparison follows:

COMPARISON OF STARTING AND ENDING SALARIES OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND OTHER POLICE AS OF

SIR: The Library Police would like your support of H.R. 6585 and H.R. 6749 which has been referred to the Committee on House Administration.

These bills would provide the much needed amendment for salary increases for the Library Police. The passing and enactment of the mentioned bills would finally bring parity to the pay scales of our force in comparison to the Supreme Court Police and the Capitol Police. The Library Police are now below the G.S.A. Special Police pay scale, due to Executive Order 11073, December 1970. We thank you again for your support.

Respectfully,

Lt. GEORGE D. EDELEN,
Library of Congress Police.

COMPARISON OF STARTING AN ENDING SALARIES OF LIBRARY OF

CONGRESS AND OTHER PCL CE AS OF FEBRUARY 20, 1973

SALARIES OF POLICE

Mr. MUMFORD. We have supported legislation that would increase it. If I may, I would like to ask Mr. Croxton, Director of the Administrative Department, to speak in detail to that.

Mr. CROXTON. Under present legislation the Librarian is authorized to pay up to a certain salary level for the various grades of police work in the Library. With respect to Privates, this is authority to pay up to step 5 of GS-5. The net result has been that in order to compete with the other organizations seeking manpower for policing work, we have had to use the total extent of this authorization and hire incoming personnel at this maximum rate. This means, of course, that the individuals in the private rank are not eligible for any increases other than those applying to Government personnel in general. They stay at approximately the same salary throughout their careers, as long as they don't obtain promotions.

Senator HOLLINGS. Have you recommended a change?

Mr. CROXTON. Yes; we have. In the case of the Privates, the recommendation is an increase to grade 7, with the authority to use steps 1 through 10 of that grade.

Senator HOLLINGS. As a result of your recommendations, a bill has been introduced on the House side?

Mr. MUMFORD. A bill has been introduced on the House side, sir. Senator HOLLINGS. Let's follow that. We can put in one on this side to make sure it is done this year.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The first line item, Dr. Mumford, in the main Library of Congress appropriation, salaries and expenses, where you requested some $40,256,000 or a net increase of $3,827,000 over the 1973 appropriations, I noticed in the House Report this request was reduced $1,043,000. You requested 141 new positions and the House allowed you 87 of them. Can you tell us a little bit about this request and the reason for the House action?

Mr. MUMFORD. We are requesting that all positions that we requested in the House be authorized by the Senate. As I indicated in my preliminary statement the original request was carefully considered and was reduced to a minimum before it was transmitted. There were 54 positions not allowed by the House which are divided in several departments which I could enumerate. The one thing that we are not asking your committee to allow in respect to our original request is for the National Program for Acquisitions and Cataloging. Mr. Welsh, Director of the Processing Department, can speak to that. Senator HOLLINGS. You will not need so many in the cataloging? Is that what you are saying?

Mr. WELSH. We have decided not to appeal the total request which is in the amount of approximately $700,000. The House allowed $291,882 and recommended that a survey be undertaken of the program. We have decided not to appeal the reduction and hope that this committee will approve the recommendation of the House in the amount of $291,882.