The Washington times., 1907-02-13
SALARY RAISE
NOW FAVORED,
THREE TO TWO
Subcommittee IS Tied,
However, by General
Bingham'S Absence.

That the subcommittee of the
House Committee on Appropriations
in charge of the Davis bill TO give
Government clerks n 20 per cnet in
crease of salary all along the line
stands 3 to ? in favor of the meas
Ure, was authOritatively stated at
the Capitol today.
But General Bingham, of Penn
Bylvania, who is in favor of the
bill. is seriously i'll. and his alb
sence leaves the vote on the prop
Osition to 2. If he could attend
a meeting of the subcommittee, the
Davis bill would be reported to the
full committee, with the recon-
mendation that It be sent to the
House for passage. Thus, the
clerks would get their chance of a
full vote by the committee.
The two men who stand in the way of
The full! committee passing on the bIll
according to the authoritative state
ment. are Mr. Littauer. Republican. Of
New York. who led the fight TO increase
the salaries Of Representatives and Sen
atOrs 70 per cent. and Mr.. BUrleson.
Democrat. of Texas The three VINO
favor the increases are Mr.. Bingham,
Republican. Of Pennsylvania; Mr.. Brick,
Republican, of Indiana, and Mr.. Living
stone, Democrat. OF Georgia
Postal Employees Raise.
A still more surprising state of af-
fairs came TO light today when il was
found that the pOstofIice appropriation
bill raises the salaries of 1880 Govern
ment employees who would have been
affected by the Davis bill had IT been
given a chance to go to the House.
When Il is remembered that the Davis
bill raises the salaries of $4,000 en-
ployes. 1t can readily be seen that the
Committee on Postoflice and Post Roads.
in raising the pay Of $500 of this total
OF 155O00. has admitted and presented 70
the House a pressing argument in fav-
or Of the Davis plan for increases.
This is more noteworthy when the fur
ther fact is considered that the raises
in the postOffice appropriation bill are
nearly as great as they would be under
the terms Of the Davis bill. For in
stance. rural carriers under the Post
Office Department are raised from S720
to $50 per annum by tho postOfice APP
propriation bill. while under the Davis
bin they would have received only $2f
more per annum.
Fight for Increase.
AT present the maximum pay enjoyed
by any OF the 1900 postal railway clerks
IS 1000. The postoffice bill gives them
n maximum Of SLIGO. while the Davis
bill would have put il AT $500. Such
comparisons apply throughout. and
rorcibly illustrate that the Committee on
Post Roads. of which Mr. Overstreet OF
Indiana is. chairman, realizes that the
time has come for bigger pay for Gov
ernment employees.
A careful calculation today brought
the result that Il would cost the United
States Governmcnt only STc00. 900 TO raise
the salaries Of the remaining $500 clerks
affected by the Davis bill, but not af-
fected by the postofiice appropriation
bill
Friends of the clerks are discussing
all these things today. and their de-
termination 10 win Increases for the
clerks in fight that shall start from
the very outset Of the next Congress has
been expressed by many Representative
Next session will be a long session, and
the opportunity for victory in the fght
is brilliant.