Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-07
CUTS SALARY ITEMS
Representative Fowler Uses
Points of Order.
ATTACKS LEGISLATIVE BILL
Objects to Provision for Assistant"
in War Department.

Promotions in salaries for high OFF,
Gals of the government service were
threatened with reduction when Repre-
sentative Fowler OF illinois started an
avalanche Of points of order during the
debate on the legislative. executive and
judicial bill this afternoon in the House
Of Representatives.
Representative Fowler succeeded in haN
ing stricken from the bill the assistant
and chief clerk of the War Department
at $4,000. and also the salary of the chief
clerk and solicitor of the Judge advocate
generals office at a salary of $500. and
closed. Representative Fowler and Repre-
sentative Fitzgerald were having wordy
argument upon the subject.
Complain of Fowler.
The House was sitting in committee OF
the whole, with Representative Gardner
Of Texas as chairman. Representative
Fowler's position was bitterly complained
of by Representative Johnson of South
Carolina, chairman of the subcommittee
in charge of the bill, and also by Repre-
sentative Fitzgerald. chairman of the
appropriation committee. Representa-
tive Fitzgerald charged Mr.; Fowler with
a deliberate attempt at hindering legisla-
ton. Mr.. Fowler replied:
Not for anything would l handicap
this party, and j resent the inSinuation.
There is lawful way to proceed in the
matter of salaries, and where statutory
office is created 1t should remain as es-
tablished; and should not be married to
Tom. Dick or Harry without the consent
Of the Congress of the United States"
No Such Offices.
Representative Fowler's reasons for
int af nranv her
are no such offices as assistant and
chief clerk and ''chief clerk and solicit
tor" The salaries of the chief clerks Of
the Office of surgeon general at $40 and
of the Office of chief of engineers at ST.
go were reduced to 5000 under Mr..
Fowler's attack.
Expenses for Internal Revenue.
Expenses for collecting internal revenue
were approved to the extent Of 81 10000
for forty revenue agents; expenses OF
guagers. etc, 81, 565. 600.
The provision in the bill which shields
from publicity the returns Of corporations
under the corporation tax law was APP
proved without comment. This provision
caused a big fight when il was first pro-
posed two years ago.
Representative French Of Idaho start
ed q lively debate when he endeavored
to get back into this bill the six assay
Offices abolished by the same bill last
year. The attempt was lost.
On motion OF Representative Cox of In
DIANA the assay Office at Deadwood. S. D.,
with salaries OF 50, 200, was stricken from
the present bill.
attention to the salary OF the chief clerA
Of the War Department, provided for in
the bill at $4,000. The bill names him
assistant and chief clerk Mr.. Fowler
,fctn flr
sistant secretary OF war at $1,000
There is a law providing for $3.50
chief clerk.
Representative Johnson of South Caro- |
lima defended the item. saying the bill |
complies with the law. Representative |
Fowler read from heavy looking law |
book to support his claim !
Entirely Different Office.
Representative Fitzgerald said:
This $4,000 is not for n chief clerk. |
It's for an entirely different office-that |
Of assistant and chief clerk.
REPRESENTATIVE FOwlers point was suS- \
tanned and the item was stricken out.
The salaries for all other offices and /
EMPLOYEES in the Secretary of Wars Office !
were approved. together with salaries in |
office of adjutant general and in the office |
of the inspector general
Representative Fowler made another /
point of order against the salary OF the /
chief clerk and solicitor in the office of |
the Judge advocate general at $500. Mr.. |
Fowler said there is no such office. but |
that there is an office OF chief clerk
Representative Garner. chairman of the
committee on the whole. sustained Mr..
Fowler. Representative Fitzgerald. see
ing a vision of trouble ahead for the bill
if technical points We're TO be showered
on the floor during the debate. begged
that no further pin holes be pricked into
the bill.
Mr. Fowler, after a discussion, intro
duced an amendment eating down the
salary in question to 5000. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald said if Mr.. Fowler kept up his
tactics a general rule would be asked to