RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF TELEPHONE OPERATORS ON THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

JANUARY 16, 1945.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. COCHRAN, from the Committee on Accounts, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 1427]

The Committee on Accounts, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 1427) relating to the compensation of telephone operators on the United States Capitol telephone exchange, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

H. R. 1427 provides for an adjustment of salary for the chief, assistant chief, and other telephone operators who handle the Capitol switchboard under the Clerk of the House and Sergeant of Arms, and Doorkeeper of the Senate.

Your committee, after a hearing, came to the conclusion this was an emergency and that there should be no delay in placing the subject before the House.

The scale recommended is:

Chief operator, $3,000 per annum.

Assistant chief operator, $2,400 per annum, and $200 per annum additional so long as the position is held by the present incumbent. Others, $1,800 per annum plus

$240 per annum additional in the case of those having more than 25 years of service;

$180 per annum additional in the case of those having more than 20 and not more than 25 years of service;

$150 per annum additional in the case of those having more than 15 and not more then 20 years of service;

$120 per annum additional in the case of those having more than 10 and not more than 15 years of service; and

$60 per annum additional in the case of those having more than 5 and not more than 10 years of service.

There is hardly a person involved who could not go, either with a Government agency, the telephone company, or a private concern in a similar position and earn $50 or more a month than she is now receiving, if she secured benefits that accrue to telephone operators employed other than at the Capitol.

The hearing disclosed telephone company operators are on a 5-day week, time and one-half for the sixth day, double time for the seventh day, as well as double time for holidays and overtime pay.

Our operators are on a 6-day week, required to work every fourth Sunday, no extra pay; also to work holidays with no extra pay, and receive no overtime pay. The Capitol switchboard, prior to the war, was one of the largest in Washington. The calls in 1939 averaged 38,000 a day; in 1944, 44,000 a day, based on a count last July, with no increase in personnel.

There are no facilities for additional lines but there is a steady demand from Members for a second telephone, which cannot be filled until an additional board and equipment is available.

The Clerk of the House was required to ask that all outside calls be dialed by the Members and their secretaries as the operators could not carry the load and at the same time render speedy and efficient service. Members have, cooperated and it has been most helpful.

The compilation of the length of service of the Capitol telephone operators is as follows:

At the present time the basic salary of the operators is $1,620. The chief operator who has served for 46 years, has been ill and her duties for quite a period have been taken over by the assistant chief operator. This assistant chief operator has seen 33 years of continuous service and her basic salary today is but $1,800.

While some of the operators are credited to the House and some to the Senate they operate as a whole under the United States Capitol telephone exchange.

Your committee unanimously recommends favorable action on the bill.

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CONSIDERATION OF H. R. 626

JANUARY 16, 1945.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. SABATH, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. Res. 82]

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House Resolution 82, report the same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution do pass.

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79TH CONGRESS 1st Session

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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REPORT
No. 23

AUTHORIZING THE COMMITTEE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE TO INVESTIGATE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES IN THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT

JANUARY 16, 1945.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. SABATH, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following REPORT

[To accompany H. Res. 66]

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House Resolution 66, reports the same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution do pass.

CONTINUING THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE REPLACEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE

January 16, 1945.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. SMITH of Virginia, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. Res. 75]

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House Resolution 75, reports the same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution do pass.