Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-27
House Adopts Conference Re-
| port on Legislative Bill.
JUSTICE TO CLERKS URGED
Cooper and Young for Higher Sal
aries in Departments.
ONE ITEM LEFT IN DISPUTE
Pay of Secretary to the President
Increased From Sc, 900 to
$500 a Year.

BY vote of Isl to 146 the House today
agreed to the conference report on the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill The only debate in the
House on the report was .in connection
with the agreement of the conferees to
fix the salary of the secretary to the
President at $500 year. This position
now pays $1,000, and a Senate amendment
proposed an increase to $4,000. The
House disagreed to this last week by a
large majority and today Representative
Fitzgerald of New York and others criti-
ctsed the House conferees for not hold
ing out against any increase.
''The action of the House conferees,'
said Mr.. Fitzgerald, lis practically a re-
pudiation of what amounted to instruc-
tions on this subject from the House
ITSELF
That criticism is not just" returned
MI Glllett. Just because the House re-
fused to raise the salary of the secretary
to the President to $4,000 i, does not
follow that there is general opposition to
making it $500"
Underpaid Employees.
Representative Cooper of Wisconsin de-
clared it was a good deal more important
to increase the compensation of under
paid government employees than to make
such ST. enuous effort to elevate the sal
ary of the Presidents secretary, who al
ready received at least enough TO provide
for the necessities of life. He thought
1t disgraceful that any such salary as
$50 month, which is paid to watchmen
and other employees OF this grade. should
be found on the government pay roll
a of
was in favor of increasing the salary OF
the Presidents secretary to $1,000 or
SIS, 600, but was against the proposition
Of the conference to make 1t 81, 500. The
Presidents secretary, he thought, should
be a sort of assistant President, with
power to send for cabinet officers and
give them directions and to relieve the
chief executive Of work and responsibility
in other ways.
Justice for the Clerks.
Representative Young Of New York, fol-
lowing the lead Of Representative Cooper
Of Wisconsin, demanded that justice be
done to underpaid government employees
He insisted that the great body of gov
ernment clerks In Washington had no or
ganization and no protection, and were
absolutely dependent on Congress. He
advocated salary of $4,000 a year to
the Presidents secretary.
The debate languished after Represen-
tatiye Rucker of Missouri had referred
10 the warm appeals for justice to gov
eminent employees as "a play to the gal
leries.
.If YOU are in earnest in this matter"
said Mr. Rucker, ''how is 1t that you
have not taken 1t up before and made
some effort to right these alleged wrongs
Now that the democrats are about to
take charge of the House of Represen-
tatives you republicans fall on one an
others necks and weep over the wrongs
of the government employees"
Mr.. Gillett then moved the previous
question and, q vote being taken on roll
call, the conference report was adopted,
l51 to 146.
This leaves only one item. appropriate
ing several thousand dollars for the as
say Office at Charlotte. N. c.. still in dis
agreement.