A-7114, JANUARY 17, 1925, 4 COMP. GEN. 615
Highlights
IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION AT THE RATES AUTHORIZED BY LAW OF ELEVATOR OPERATORS AND JANITORS FOR SERVICES RENDERED IN QUARTERS LEASED BY THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FOR PARCEL-POST STATIONS. WHERE SUCH SERVICE IS NECESSARY AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE PERFORMED BY THE LESSOR OF THE PREMISES. 1925: I HAVE YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 20. IS CHARGEABLE WITH THE COMPENSATION OF ELEVATOR OPERATORS AND JANITORS HIRED TO SERVE AT A PARCEL -POST STATION OF THE CLEVELAND POST OFFICE AT THE RATES OF $1. IS NOT PROPERLY CHARGEABLE WITH THE EXPENSE IN QUESTION. IT IS UNDERSTOOD FROM YOUR SUBMISSION THAT THE WATCHMEN. LABORERS PROVIDED FOR IN THE APPROPRIATION LAST NAMED AND WHOSE RATE OF COMPENSATION WAS FIXED BY THE ACT OF FEBRUARY 14.
A-7114, JANUARY 17, 1925, 4 COMP. GEN. 615
APPROPRIATIONS - POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT - PERSONAL SERVICES THE APPROPRIATION "MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, FIRST AND SECOND CLASS POST OFFICES, 1925," ACT OF APRIL 4, 1924, 43 STAT. 86, IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION AT THE RATES AUTHORIZED BY LAW OF ELEVATOR OPERATORS AND JANITORS FOR SERVICES RENDERED IN QUARTERS LEASED BY THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FOR PARCEL-POST STATIONS, WHERE SUCH SERVICE IS NECESSARY AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE PERFORMED BY THE LESSOR OF THE PREMISES.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, JANUARY 17, 1925:
I HAVE YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 20, 1924, REQUESTING DECISION WHETHER THE APPROPRIATION ,MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, FIRST AND SECOND CLASS POST OFFICES, 1925," ACT OF APRIL 4, 1924, 43 STAT. 86, IS CHARGEABLE WITH THE COMPENSATION OF ELEVATOR OPERATORS AND JANITORS HIRED TO SERVE AT A PARCEL -POST STATION OF THE CLEVELAND POST OFFICE AT THE RATES OF $1,020 AND $960 PER ANNUM, RESPECTIVELY, THE QUESTION HAVING BEEN RAISED WHETHER THE APPROPRIATION "WATCHMEN, MESSENGERS, AND LABORERS, 1925," ACT OF APRIL 4, 1924, 43 STAT. 86, IS NOT PROPERLY CHARGEABLE WITH THE EXPENSE IN QUESTION.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD FROM YOUR SUBMISSION THAT THE WATCHMEN, MESSENGERS, AND LABORERS PROVIDED FOR IN THE APPROPRIATION LAST NAMED AND WHOSE RATE OF COMPENSATION WAS FIXED BY THE ACT OF FEBRUARY 14, 1923, 42 STAT. 1251, AT $1,350 AND $1,450 PER ANNUM, PERFORM DUTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACTUAL WORK OF THE POSTAL SERVICE, THAT IS, IN THE ACTUAL HANDLING AND CUSTODY OF MAIL; AND THAT, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE WORK OF ELEVATOR CONDUCTORS AND JANITORS IN LEASED QUARTERS, WHICH IS THE SERVICE HERE UNDER CONSIDERATION, IS SIMILAR TO THE WORK PERFORMED BY EMPLOYEES OF THE CUSTODIAL SERVICE IN FEDERAL BUILDINGS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, AND IS OF THE CHARACTER DEFINED IN THE CLASSIFICATION ACT OF MARCH 4, 1923, 42 STAT. 1496, UNDER GRADE 2, CUSTODIAL SERVICE, WITH COMPENSATION RANGING FROM $900 TO $1,140 PER ANNUM.
YOU STATE THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION HAS ALSO MADE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO CLASSES OF EMPLOYEES UNDER CONSIDERATION AND REQUIRES A HIGHER GRADE MENTAL TEST IN THE CASE OF WATCHMEN, MESSENGERS, AND LABORERS IN THE POSTAL SERVICE THAN IS REQUIRED IN THE CASE OF ELEVATOR CONDUCTORS AND JANITORS WHO COME WITHIN THE CLASS OF UNSKILLED LABORERS.
YOU ALSO STATE THAT IT HAS BEEN THE UNIFORM PRACTICE FOR MANY YEARS TO PAY FOR SUCH SERVICE FROM THE APPROPRIATION FOR MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AT FIRST AND SECOND CLASS OFFICES, AND IT IS NOTED THAT THE BUDGET, 1925, SHOWS THAT MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE ENTIRE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE HERETOFORE HAS BEEN USED, AND WAS INTENDED TO BE USED, FOR PERSONAL SERVICES.
IN VIEW OF THE MATTERS HEREIN SET FORTH, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THE APPROPRIATION "MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, FIRST AND SECOND CLASS POST OFFICES, 1925," IS AVAILABLE FOR THE COMPENSATION AT RATES AUTHORIZED BY LAW OF ELEVATOR CONDUCTORS AND JANITORS FOR SERVICE IN LEASED QUARTERS WHERE SUCH SERVICE IS NECESSARY AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE PERFORMED BY LESSOR OF THE PREMISES.